Ultraviolet Radiation and Incidence of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma among Hispanics in the United States

Abstract

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is one of the most common cancers among American Hispanics. Several studies suggest that solar UV radiation (UVR) may be an environmental risk contributing to the rise of NHL over the past decades. These studies focused primarily on lightskinned Caucasian populations; it is unknown what role UVR plays in NHL for Hispanics. We described the incidence of NHL in Hispanics from selected states in the United States between 1989 and 2000. To evaluate the role of UVR, we correlated cancer rates with the UV index and latitude of residency. Variations in NHL incidence rates with estimated amount of UVR among whites and blacks from the selected states were also analyzed. We found that NHL occurred less frequently in Hispanics than in whites. Hispanic men had higher incidence of NHL than Hispanic women. Incidence rates of NHL in Hispanics were inversely associated with estimated amount of UVR as an increase in NHL was observed with decreasing UV index (r ‫؍‬ ؊0.7 in men; r ‫؍‬ ؊0.41 in women) or increasing latitude of residency (r ‫؍‬ 0.59 in men; r ‫؍‬ 0.48 in women). This trend, although it did not reach statistical significance, was also observed in whites and blacks. Our findings do not support previous reports of a positive association between solar radiation and NHL. The inverse relationship between UVR and incidence of NHL is unexplained but presents the need for generation of hypotheses regarding the epidemiology of causal factors for NHL in the United States. Additional studies should be conducted to clarify whether sunlight exposure contributes to the development of NHL. IntroductionNon-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is a subgroup of neoplasms arising from the lymphopoietic system. It includes a wide range of either B-cell or T-cell lymphomas, with the exception of Hodgkin's disease. The incidence of NHL has risen by Ͼ100%

Sun exposure and malignant lymphoma: A population‐based case–control study in Germany

“…These results are consistent with recently published studies. [19][20][21][22][23]31 However, several previous studies, in contrast, found a positive association between sun exposure and lymphoma, 17,18 or they did not show any associations. 32,33 Strengths and limitations of the study Strengths of our large population-based study include the detailed exposure assessment, calculation of cumulative UV-exposure during the entire lifetime and adjustment for some potential confounders.…”

Pigmentary Characteristics, UV Radiation Exposure, and Risk of Non–Hodgkin Lymphoma: a Prospective Study among Scandinavian Women

“…Consequently, it was first assumed that sun exposure was a risk factor also for the development of NHL. However, results of ecologic studies on solar radiation in different geographical regions and NHL have been mixed (4,(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31). Two large case-control studies (5,6) found inverse associations between NHL and measures of personal sun exposure, especially recreational sun exposure, with 20%-to-40% lower risk among the most heavily exposed compared with the least exposed.…”

The non-Hodgkin lymphomas: A review of the epidemiologic literature

“…In a large US ecological study, Hartge et al 355 reported no consistent latitude gradient with risk of NHL, and suggested that mortality rates do not reflect higher levels of UV radiation; however, McMichael and Giles 356 reported a moderate correlation between UV radiation level or geographic latitude and NHL incidence based on international comparisons. Hu et al 357 reported nonsignificant inverse correlations between UV indices and NHL incidence among Hispanic, white and black Americans.…”