Worldwide Increasing Incidences of Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma

The incidence of cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) has been increasing at a steady rate in fair-skinned populations around the world for decades. Scientists are not certain why CMM has been steadily increasing, but strong, intermittent UVB (290–320 nm) exposures, especially sunburn episodes, probab...

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Main Author: Dianne E. Godar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2011-01-01
Series:Journal of Skin Cancer
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/858425
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author Dianne E. Godar
author_facet Dianne E. Godar
author_sort Dianne E. Godar
collection DOAJ
description The incidence of cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) has been increasing at a steady rate in fair-skinned populations around the world for decades. Scientists are not certain why CMM has been steadily increasing, but strong, intermittent UVB (290–320 nm) exposures, especially sunburn episodes, probably initiate, CMM, while UVA (321–400 nm) passing through glass windows in offices and cars probably promotes it. The CMM incidence may be increasing at an exponential rate around the world, but it definitely decreases with increasing latitude up to ~50°N where it reverses and increases with the increasing latitude. The inversion in the incidence of CMM may occur because there is more UVA relative to UVB for most of the year at higher latitudes. If windows, allowing UVA to enter our indoor-working environment and cars, are at least partly responsible for the increasing incidence of CMM, then UV filters can be applied to reduce the rate of increase worldwide.
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spelling doaj-art-2976f04f0a8949a9bdbfb252424faea82025-02-03T01:12:09ZengWileyJournal of Skin Cancer2090-29052090-29132011-01-01201110.1155/2011/858425858425Worldwide Increasing Incidences of Cutaneous Malignant MelanomaDianne E. Godar0Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Avenue, WO64-4024, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USAThe incidence of cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) has been increasing at a steady rate in fair-skinned populations around the world for decades. Scientists are not certain why CMM has been steadily increasing, but strong, intermittent UVB (290–320 nm) exposures, especially sunburn episodes, probably initiate, CMM, while UVA (321–400 nm) passing through glass windows in offices and cars probably promotes it. The CMM incidence may be increasing at an exponential rate around the world, but it definitely decreases with increasing latitude up to ~50°N where it reverses and increases with the increasing latitude. The inversion in the incidence of CMM may occur because there is more UVA relative to UVB for most of the year at higher latitudes. If windows, allowing UVA to enter our indoor-working environment and cars, are at least partly responsible for the increasing incidence of CMM, then UV filters can be applied to reduce the rate of increase worldwide.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/858425
spellingShingle Dianne E. Godar
Worldwide Increasing Incidences of Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma
Journal of Skin Cancer
title Worldwide Increasing Incidences of Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma
title_full Worldwide Increasing Incidences of Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma
title_fullStr Worldwide Increasing Incidences of Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma
title_full_unstemmed Worldwide Increasing Incidences of Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma
title_short Worldwide Increasing Incidences of Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma
title_sort worldwide increasing incidences of cutaneous malignant melanoma
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/858425
work_keys_str_mv AT dianneegodar worldwideincreasingincidencesofcutaneousmalignantmelanoma