The inverse relationship between the incidence of solar induced eye disease and reported skin cancer rates at high elevation in the tropical Andes, Ecuador, South America
Presentation
Paper/Presentation Title | The inverse relationship between the incidence of solar induced eye disease and reported skin cancer rates at high elevation in the tropical Andes, Ecuador, South America |
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Presentation Type | Presentation |
Authors | Downs, Nathan J. (Author), Garzon Chavez, Daniel R. (Author), Quentin, Emmanuelle (Author), Harrison, Simone L. (Author), Parisi, Alfio V. (Author) and Butler, Harry (Author) |
Number of Pages | 2 |
Year | 2018 |
Place of Publication | Canada |
Web Address (URL) of Paper | http://www.uvandskincancer2018.org/ |
Conference/Event | 4th International Conference on UV & Skin Cancer Prevention 2018 |
Event Details | 4th International Conference on UV & Skin Cancer Prevention 2018 Event Date 01 to end of 04 May 2018 Event Location Toronto, Canada |
Abstract | Introduction: The populated regions of the high tropical Andes experience near zenith daily solar elevations year-round and are often located several thousand metres above sea level. Consequently, the tropical Andes are a global hot spot for potential solar induced diseases. The 2010 National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC, Ecuador) reported high skin cancer rates in elevated topical parishes calculated from hospital registers and situated in the Andes mountains, confirming the potential risk for residents in the world’s most extreme ultraviolet climate. These climates are also associated with elevated incidence rates of Senile cataract as is evident in ageing populations with a past history of exposure to high levels of solar ultraviolet radiation. Methods: Annual surface ultraviolet exposure was determined for each parish on a 0.17o x 0.17o grid from remotely sensed satellite parameters including Surface reflectivity, Ozone, Aerosol and Cloud fraction. Data from the INEC was examined for 1040 parishes of Ecuador across a total population of more than 16 million residents to establish localized incidence of both Pterygium and Senile Cataract by average annual surface ultraviolet exposure. Results: An association with both Pterygium and Senile cataract was established with increasing annual average solar ultraviolet irradiance. Maximum incidence rates reached between 16.17 and 34.39 cases per 100 000 for Senile Cataract and Pterygium respectively. These rates were established for lowland coastal sites and contrast markedly with respective Senile Cataract and Pterygium incidence rates of 2.90 and 6.89 per 100 000 for residents living in high Andean mountain parish districts. These trends are the opposite of what has previously been reported for skin cancer in Ecuador from the same INEC data set. Conclusion: High elevation and increased peak intermittent solar ultraviolet may provide an explanation for high skin cancer rates in the mountains. However, long-term cumulative exposures obtained largely by surface reflections under brighter skies in lowland environments are likely to be responsible for greater instances of solar induced eye disease. |
Keywords | pterygium, cataract, ultraviolet, skin cancer, Ecuador |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 420605. Preventative health care |
420299. Epidemiology not elsewhere classified | |
370999. Physical geography and environmental geoscience not elsewhere classified | |
Public Notes | Abstract published in conference programme. |
Byline Affiliations | Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences |
James Cook University | |
National Institute for Public Health Research, Ecuador | |
School of Agricultural, Computational and Environmental Sciences | |
Institution of Origin | University of Southern Queensland |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q4qwx/the-inverse-relationship-between-the-incidence-of-solar-induced-eye-disease-and-reported-skin-cancer-rates-at-high-elevation-in-the-tropical-andes-ecuador-south-america
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