Skin Cancer Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Skin Cancer, including details on identification, causes, prevention, treatment.

The association between residential pesticide use and cutaneous melanoma.

Fortes C, Mastroeni S, Melchi F, Pilla MA, Alotto M, Antonelli G, Camaione D, Bolli S, Luchetti E, Pasquini P

Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata (IDI-IRCCS), Via dei Monti di Creta, 104, 00167 Rome, Italy. c.fortes@idi.it

Occupational pesticide exposure has been linked to cutaneous melanoma in epidemiological studies. We studied the association between cutaneous melanoma and the residential use of pesticides. This is a case-control study of cutaneous melanoma (287 incident cases; 299 controls). Data on pesticide use was obtained with a standardised interview. An increased risk of melanoma was found for high use (4 times annually) of indoor pesticides (odds ratio (OR)=2.18; 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.07-4.43) compared to low use (1 times annually), after adjustment for sex, age, education, sun exposure and pigmentary characteristics. Subjects exposed for 10 years or more had two and a half times the risk (OR=2.46; 95% CI 1.23-4.94) of those exposed for less than 10 years. A dose response was observed for the intensity of pesticides use (p(trend)=0.027). The results indicate that residential pesticide exposure may be an independent risk factor for cutaneous melanoma.

Published 2 April 2007 in Eur J Cancer, 43(6): 1066-75.
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