UN Agencies Report High Risk of Skin Cancer from Sun Exposure in Work Settings

New findings from the World Health Organization and the International Labour Organization suggest that working in the sun may be a significant global contributor to skin cancer. According to their latest report in the research journal Environment International, approximately one-third of deaths related to non-melanoma skin cancer result from exposure to ultraviolet radiation during outdoor work.

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The new data ranks occupational ultraviolet radiation exposure, which occurs from performing work duties outdoors in the sun, as the third most significant occupational cause of cancer. This places it just below asbestos and silica dust. According to Frank Pega, an epidemiologist at WHO and the lead author of the study, this is a significant finding as it provides the first global estimates of work-related skin cancer. Solar radiation is widely recognized as a known occupational carcinogen.

Non-melanoma skin cancer encompasses a range of cancers that form in the outer layers of the skin, beyond the melanocyte cells responsible for producing skin pigment. This category includes basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

Exposure to ultraviolet radiation from sunlight is a recognized risk factor for skin cancers. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that solar radiation can harm skin cells and lead to the development of skin cancer over time.

As a result, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organization (WHO) has classified solar radiation as a Group 1 carcinogen, indicating its known ability to cause cancer in humans.

According to Pega, it has taken a total of seven years to gather sufficient comprehensive data in order to release the new estimates.

Researchers analyzed instances of non-melanoma skin cancer resulting from occupational exposure to solar radiation in almost 200 countries. They conducted a comprehensive study by pooling data from 763 labor force surveys, consisting of a total of 166 million observations collected in 2000, 2010, and 2019. This study is regarded as one of the most extensive investigations on the correlation between sunlight exposure in the workplace and cancer. Pega emphasized the rigorous criteria for evidence required for these estimates to be considered valid before further action can be taken.

The findings of the report revealed that in 2019, approximately 1.6 billion individuals were exposed to ultraviolet radiation in their occupational settings. This accounts for nearly 30% of the global workforce, primarily within industries such as agriculture, construction, and fishing. It was observed that males and young adults constituted the majority of those exposed. However, the overall number of individuals exposed to ultraviolet radiation in the workplace decreased by 32% from 2000 to 2019.

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The researchers discovered that although there was a decline in overall cases, the number of occupational UV radiation-related skin cancer deaths increased by approximately 90%. In 2019 alone, workplace UV radiation exposure resulted in 18,960 fatalities from non-melanoma skin cancer, primarily affecting men. The study emphasizes that this form of occupational exposure is widespread and leads to a significant and growing burden of non-melanoma skin cancer, which is both substantial and unequal.

In addition, Pega mentioned that many workers who are exposed to solar radiation are part of the informal economy, meaning they are self-employed and earn income from activities such as collecting recycling materials or working in outdoor markets. Those who work in environments with reflective surfaces, such as fishermen surrounded by water, are also at a higher risk of developing skin cancer due to the higher intensity of radiation.

Previous estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO) have shown that occupational exposure to UV radiation increases the chances of developing non-melanoma skin cancer by 60%. However, the research team led by Pega did not have enough reliable data to make similar conclusions about melanomas.

Skin cancer is typically most prevalent in high-income countries like Europe, North America, and Australia, according to Pega. However, the latest data reveals a higher incidence of occupational skin cancer in low- and middle income countries, particularly in various regions in Africa. Pega finds this unexpected, as the usual concentration of skin cancer is in wealthier nations in the global north.

The risks of sun exposure in the workplace, however, can be minimized, according to Pega. Employers and policymakers have the ability to take measures that decrease workers' chances of being exposed to harmful UV radiation. One such measure could be adjusting the work hours of outdoor employees to avoid the peak sunlight period around noon.

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Additionally, employers should make efforts to offer shaded areas for outdoor workers, and labor regulations could enforce the use of protective clothing such as wide-brimmed hats and long-sleeve shirts. Using sunscreen is also recommended, according to Pega.

Pega emphasized the need for enhanced availability of early screening for skin cancer at a medical level, to facilitate prompt detection and treatment of the disease. He pointed out the significance of medical interventions for individuals in informal economies, especially those engaged in outdoor work without an employer and beyond the scope of labor regulations. Further, Pega suggested that countries should consider adding skin cancer resulting from occupational sunlight exposure to their official catalog of work-related illnesses. This step would enable affected employees to access workers compensation benefits.