Evaluation of weather and environmental factors and their association with cutaneous melanoma incidence: A national ecological study

Abstract

Background

Cutaneous melanoma (CM) is a significant contributor to skin cancer-related mortality globally and in Canada. Despite the well-established link between ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure and skin cancer risk, there remains a gap in population-level interventions and persistent misconceptions about sun exposure and impact of environment on individual behavior.

Objective

The current study provides an ecological analysis using latest available data (2011-2017) to define geographic/environmental contributors to the CM landscape in Canada.

Methods

Utilizing Canadian Cancer Registry and Canadian Urban Environmental Health Research Consortium data, we analyzed 39,605 CM cases occurring in Canada from 2011 to 2017. Environmental data, including UV radiation, greenspace (normalized difference vegetation index), temperature, heat events, and precipitation was used to evaluate the effect of environment on CM incidence rates across Forward Sortation Area postal codes.

Results

Forward Sortation Areas with increased CM incidence were associated with higher annual average temperature, snowfall, heat events, normalized difference vegetation index, and vitamin D-weighted UV exposure. Conversely, factors associated with decreased incidence included an increased annual highest temperature, rain precipitation, and a longer duration of heat events.

Limitations

This study is subject to ecological bias and findings should be interpreted with caution.

Conclusion

This study further substantiates associations between specific environmental factors and CM incidence.