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World Health Organisation, December 2021This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the associations between occupational exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR), and melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC). The results were based on data extracted from 53 eligible studies that involved over 457,000 participants in 26 countries. In most studies, the exposure to solar UVR was self-reported in questionnaires (e.g., during interviews), whereas the health outcome of skin cancers was based on histopathological diagnoses. The results showed that compared to non-exposed people, occupationally exposed UVR workers were 1.45 times and 1.60 times more likely to have melanoma and NMSC, respectively. Of NMSC subtypes, the risk of the incidence of squamous cell carcinoma was much higher (Risk Ratio 2.42) compared to that of basal cell carcinoma (Risk ratio 1.50). The report concluded that considering methodological limitations, such as bias and confounding, there is limited evidence for an association between occupational exposure to UVR and skin cancer.
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The WHO websiteAlthough the report concluded that there is overall limited evidence for an association between occupational UVR exposure and skin cancer, the results support the current sun protection recommendations of national (e.g., Cancer Council Australia Sun safety | Cancer Council) and international (International Agency for Research on Cancer, IARC) organisations. The IARC classifies solar UVR as a Group 1 carcinogen (IARC, 1992). Skin cancer accounts for the largest number of cancers diagnosed in Australia each year (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2016). ARPANSA recommends that all people including workers should limit their UVR exposures, and a combination of sun protection measures (e.g., clothing and sunglasses, shade and sunscreen) should be used, wherever applicable. For more information see the ARPANSA factsheet, Sun exposure and health.
