Abstract
Depletion of the ozone layer and climate change by the increasing greenhouse effect are distinctly different processes. It is becoming quite clear, however, that the two global environmental problems are interlinked in several ways [D. L. Albritton, P. J. Aucamp, G. Mégie, R. T. Watson, Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion, 1998, World Meteorological Organization, Global Ozone Research and Monitoring Project, Report No. 44 (WMO, Geneva, 1998)]. In the present analysis we deal with the possibility of such an interlinkage within one effect on human health, namely, skin cancer. The increase in the incidence of skin cancer is one of the most extensively studied effects of increasing ultraviolet radiation by ozone depletion (F. R. de Gruijl, Skin cancer and solar radiation, Eur. J. Cancer, 1999, 35, 2003-2009). We wondered if this impact could also be influenced by increasing environmental temperatures. Here we show that it is likely that such an influence will occur. For the same reason, it is likely that the baseline incidence of skin cancer will be augmented by rising temperatures, which may become significant in magnitude.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
J. Scotto and T. R. Fears, Incidence of Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer in the United States, NIH Publication 82-2433, US Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC, 1981.
J. A. Bain and H. P., Rusch, Carcinogenesis with ultraviolet radiation of wave length 2,800-3,400 Å Cancer Res., 1943 3, 425–430.
J. A. Bain, H. P. Rusch and B. E., Kline, The effect of temperature upon ultraviolet carcinogenesis with wave lengths 2,800-3,400 Å Cancer Res., 1943 3, 610–612.
R. G. Freeman and J. M., Knox, Influence of temperature on ultraviolet injury Arch. Dermatol., 1964 89, 858–864.
F. R. de Gruijl, J. C. van der Leun, Estimate of the wavelength dependency of ultraviolet carcinogenesis in humans and its relevance to the risk assessment of a stratospheric ozone depletion Health Phys., 1994 67, 319–325.
H. Slaper, G. J. M. Velders, J. S. Daniel, F. R. de Gruijl, J.C. van der Leun, Estimates of ozone depletion and skin cancer incidence to examine the Vienna Convention achievements Nature, 1996 384, 256–258.
D. B. Sandalow and I. A., Bowles, Fundamentals of treaty-making on climate change Science, 2001 292, 1839–1840.
J. D. Longstreth, F. R. de Gruijl, M. L. Kripke, Y. Takizawa, J. C. van der Leun, Effects of increased solar ultraviolet radiation on human health Ambio, 1995 24, 153–165.
B. C. Vitasa et al., Association of nonmelanoma skin cancer and actinic keratosis with cumulative solar ultraviolet exposure in Maryland watermenCancer, 1990, 65, 2811–2817.
P. Goss and P. G., Parsons, Temperature-sensitive DNA repair of ultraviolet damage in human cell lines Int. J. Cancer, 1976 17, 296–303.
P. Boukamp et al., Tumorigenic conversion of immortal human skin keratinocytes (HaCaT) by elevated temperature Oncogene, 1999, 18, 5638–5645.
H., Roffo, Ueber die physikalisch-chemische Aetiologie der Krebskrankheit Strahlentherapie, 1939 66, 328–350.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
van der Leun, J.C., de Gruijl, F.R. Climate change and skin cancer. Photochem Photobiol Sci 1, 324–326 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1039/b201025a
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/b201025a