Background
Little information exists on the epidemiology of melanoma and the role of solar radiation in the development of melanoma in pigmented populations.
Objective
To evaluate the relationship between exposure to solar radiation and the incidence of melanoma in US Hispanics and blacks.
Design
Population-based ecological study.
Setting
State cancer registries of New York, New Jersey, Illinois, California, Texas, and Florida.
Subjects
Patients with invasive melanoma recorded by cancer registries.
Main Outcome Measures
We obtained age-adjusted, race/ethnicity- and sex-specific incidence rates of melanoma from similar time periods from the 6 cancer registries.The incidence rate s were correlated with the annual mean UV index and the latitude of residency.
Results
For both Hispanics and blacks, the incidence of melanoma was positively associated with the UV index and negatively associated with the latitude ofresidency. Statistically significant correlation between melanoma and theUV index (R = 0.93; P =.01) and latitude (R = −0.80; P = .05) was observed in black males. Hispanics and blacks have a significantly lower incidence of melanoma than whites, with blacks having the lowest ratesof melanoma.
Conclusions
Exposure to solar radiation appears to play a role in the developmentof melanoma in both Hispanics and blacks. Sun protection and melanoma riskeducation should be performed in these populations.