RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Could ultraviolet B irradiance and vitamin D be associated with lower incidence rates of lung cancer?
JF Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
JO J Epidemiol Community Health
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 69
OP 74
DO 10.1136/jech.2006.052571
VO 62
IS 1
A1 S B Mohr
A1 C F Garland
A1 E D Gorham
A1 W B Grant
A1 F C Garland
YR 2008
UL http://jech.bmj.com/content/62/1/69.abstract
AB Background: This study examines whether insufficient ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiance, a marker of vitamin D inadequacy, might contribute to lung cancer incidence.Methods: The association of latitude and UVB irradiance with age-adjusted incidence rates of lung cancer in 111 countries was investigated. Independent associations with UVB irradiance, cloud cover, anthropogenic aerosols, and cigarette smoking, were assessed using multiple regression.Results: Latitude was positively related to incidence rates in men (R2  =  0.55, p<0.01) and women (R2  =  0.36, p<0.01). In men, cigarette consumption (p<0.001) was positively related to risk, whereas UVB irradiance was inversely associated (p = 0.003). There were positive associations with UVB absorbers, in particular cloud cover (p = 0.05) and aerosol optical depth (p = 0.005). The R2 for the model was 0.78 (p<0.001). UVB irradiance was also inversely associated with incidence rates in women (p = 0.0002), whereas cigarette consumption (p<0.001), total cloud cover (p = 0.02) and aerosol optical depth (p = 0.005) were positively associated. The R2 for the model was 0.77 (p<0.001).Conclusions: Lower levels of UVB irradiance were independently associated with higher incidence rates of lung cancer in 111 countries.