Please login or create an account. If you do not have access to this content, you will be shown a 30 second preview and licensing options.
- Presentation
Weathering The Storm: Protecting Your Skin In A Changing Climate
Description
The presentation addresses the rising incidence of skin cancer, connecting it to climate change and pollution. It outlines how the depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer, primarily caused by synthetic chemicals like chlorofluorocarbons, has contributed to increased UV radiation exposure, particularly in regions like Australia. Climate change intensifies storms and raises temperatures, creating conditions that are likely to increase skin cancer risks. The speaker emphasizes that air pollution poses a significant health risk, with pollutants being absorbed by the skin, leading to a higher cancer risk compared to inhalation. Chronic inflammation induced by pollution and UV exposure is also highlighted as a contributor to skin malignancies. Studies show associations between air quality and non-melanoma skin cancer rates, indicating that particulate matter increases skin cancer risk. Furthermore, global warming significantly correlates with an uptick in skin cancer incidence due to increased UV radiation that accompanies higher temperatures. Overall, the presentation argues that climate change and pollution are interconnected factors aggravating skin cancer risks, advocating for increased awareness and preventive measures in public health.
View moreConclusions
- The increasing incidence of skin cancer is closely linked to environmental factors such as climate change and pollution.
- Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is a complete carcinogen that can initiate and promote skin cancer independently.
- Ozone depletion leads to increased UVB rays reaching the Earth's surface, enhancing the risk of skin cancer.
- Climate change intensifies UV exposure and raises temperatures, further contributing to a rise in skin cancer cases.
- Higher temperatures are associated with increased skin cancer incidence, suggesting a direct correlation with climate change.
- Air pollution, particularly from tobacco smoke and other pollutants, significantly elevates the risk of skin cancer due to oxidative stress and inflammation.
- Epidemiological studies indicate that certain pollutants increase the relative risk of non-melanoma skin cancer and show protective effects from green areas.
- The synergy between pollutants and UV radiation exacerbates skin damage and increases cancer risk.
- Mitigating the impact of climate change and pollution is crucial for improving skin cancer prevention efforts and overall public health.
- Tejera-Vaquerizo A, et al. Actas Dermosifiliogr. 2016;107:318-28.
- Molina MJ, Rowland FS. Stratospheric sink for chlorofluoromethanes: chlorine atom-catalysed destruction of ozone. Nature 1974;249(5460):810-2.
- WMO et al ., 2019
- Newman and McKenzie, 2011
- X. Gu et al. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 278 (2024) 116429
- Karagas MR, Stukel TA, Greenberg R, et al. JAMA. 1992; 267(24):3305-10.
- Grodstein F, Speizer FE & Hunter DJ. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1995; 87(14):1061-6.
- Aubry F & MacGibbon B. Cancer. 1985; 15(4):907-11.
- De Hertog SA, Wensveen CA, Bastiaens MT, et al. Relation between smoking and skin cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2001; 19(1):231-38.
- Rollison DE, Iannacone MR, Messina JL, et al. Case-control study of smoking and non-melanoma skin cancer. Cancer Causes Control. 2012; 23(2):245-54.
- Silva Filho et al ., 2022; Steil et al ., 2022
- Yoshida T, Yamauchi H & Sun GF. Chronic health effects in people exposed to arsenic via the drinking water: dose-response relationships in review. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2004; 198(3):243-52.
- Smith AH, Lingas EO & Rahman M. Contamination of drinking-water by arsenic in Bangladesh: a public health emergency. Bull World Health Organ. 2000; 78(9):1093-103.
- Mazumder DNG, Haque R, Ghosh N, et al. Arsenic levels in drinking water and the prevalence of skin lesions in West Bengal, India. Int J Epidemiol. 1998; 27(5):871-77.
- Bourgart et al ., 2019; Hopf et al ., 2018, Bourgart et al ., 2019; Crallan et al ., 2005; Mokrzy' nski et al ., 2022; Xia et al ., 2015
- Fabbrocini et al ., 2010, Bain et al ., 1943; Freeman and Knox, 1964
- Datzmann et al ., 2018