title: Influence of having a home garden on personal UVR exposure behavior and risk of cutaneous malignant melanoma in Denmark.
abstract: There is a need for more knowledge concerning the association of higher socioeconomic status (SES) with cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM). Having a home garden is associated with a higher SES. We aimed to study the influence of having a home garden on UVR exposure behavior and risk of CMM. Register study: We collected information from Danish national registers about gender, age, type of home and CMM among persons aged 16-75 in 2002-2006. A total of 5,118 CMM cases were identified. Risk of CMM of the trunk was increased by 46% (p < 0.001, 95% confidence interval (CI): 31-63) and risk of CMM of the extremities by 34% (p < 0.001, 95% CI: 20-49) among people with home gardens. Dosimeter study: During a summer season 194 participants living in the Capital area, Denmark, equally distributed in homes with and without a garden, wore personal electronic UVR dosimeters measuring time-stamped UVR doses continuously and filled in sun exposure diaries. While no difference was found in estimated yearly UVR dose between groups, participants with a home garden had more days exposing shoulders or upper body, and upper extremities outdoors than those without a garden (p = 0.026, age adjusted). People with a home garden are at increased risk of CMM of the trunk and extremities-body sites that seems to be exposed to a higher extent among people with home gardens. People with a higher SES are more likely to have a home garden. This may partly explain the well-known association of higher SES with CMM incidence.
authors: Dermatological Research Department D92, Bispebjerg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen NV, Denmark. luise.idorn@gmail.com
authors: Luise Winkel
authors: LW
authors: Idorn
authors: Elisabeth
authors: E
authors: Thieden
authors: Peter Alshede
authors: PA
authors: Philipsen
authors: Hans Christian
authors: HC
authors: Wulf
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D051639:Gardening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D012306:Risk; D012737:Sex Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D012923:Social Class; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*