Elsevier

The Lancet

Volume 347, Issue 9013, 25 May 1996, Pages 1450-1451
The Lancet

Early reports
Effect of ambient solar ultraviolet radiation on incidence of squamous-cell carcinoma of the eye

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(96)91685-2Get rights and content

Abstract

Summary

Background We have investigated the geographic distribution of squamous-cell carcinoma of the eye to assess whether solar ultraviolet light is a risk factor for this disease.

Methods We used routinely collected population-based cancer incidence data and published measurements of ambient solar ultraviolet light in our analysis.

Findings The incidence of squamous-cell carcinoma of the eye declined by 49% for each 10° increase in latitude (p<0·0001), falling from more than 12 cases per million per year in Uganda (latitude 0·3°) to less than 0·2 per million per year in the UK (latitude >50°). Solar ultraviolet radiation decreases with increasing latitude, and the incidence of squamous-cell carcinoma of the eye decreased by 29% per unit reduction in ultraviolet exposure (p<0·0001).

Interpretation Our results are compatible with the hypothesis that exposure to solar ultraviolet light is an important cause of squamous-cell carcinoma of the eye.

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