Occupational risks for uveal melanoma results from a case-control study in nine European countries.
OBJECTIVE
Uveal melanoma is a rare disease with poor prognosis and largely unknown etiology. We studied potential occupational risk factors.


METHODS
A population based case-control study was undertaken during 1995-1997 in nine European countries using population and colon cancer controls with personal interviews. Occupational exposure to sunlight and artificial UV radiation was assessed with a job exposure matrix. In total, 320 uveal melanoma cases were eligible at pathology review, and 292 cases were interviewed, participation 91%. Out of 3357 population controls, 2062 were interviewed, 61%, and out of 1272 cancer controls 1094 were interviewed, 86%.


RESULTS
Using population controls, occupational exposure to sunlight was not associated with an increased risk (RR=1.24, 95% CI=0.88-1.74), while an excess risk found with use of colon cancer controls was attributed to confounding factors. An excess risk in welders was restricted to the French part of the data. Cooks, RR=2.40; cleaners, RR 2.15; and laundry workers, RR=3.14, were at increased risk of uveal melanoma.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study does overall not support an association between occupational sunlight exposure and risk of uveal melanoma. The finding of an excess risk of eye melanoma in cooks in several European countries is intriguing.
Lutz
Jean-Michel
JM
Registre Genevois des Tumeurs, Geneva, Switzerland.
Cree
Ian
I
Sabroe
Svend
S
Kvist
Tine Kajsa
TK
Clausen
Lene Bjørk
LB
Afonso
Noemia
N
Ahrens
Wolfgang
W
Ballard
Terri J
TJ
Bell
Janine
J
Cyr
Diane
D
Eriksson
Mikael
M
Févotte
Joëlle
J
Guénel
Pascal
P
Hardell
Lennart
L
Jöckel
Karl-Heinz
KH
Miranda
Ana
A
Merletti
Franco
F
Morales-Suarez-Varela
Maria M
MM
Stengrevics
Aivars
A
Lynge
Elsebeth
E
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D011379:Prognosis; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects; D014604:Uveal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology