Cutaneous malignant melanoma and exposure to sunlamps and sunbeds: a descriptive study in Belgium

Two recently published case-control studies have highlighted the possibility of an association between the development of cutaneous malignant melanoma and exposure to sunlamps and sunbeds. Little is known about the behaviour patterns with regard to exposure to sunlamps and sunbeds in Western Europe. This descriptive study compares usage patterns of sunlamps and sunbeds of melanoma patients with the general population in Belgium. Evidence is given that melanoma patients are greater users of artificial ultraviolet sources than the general population, and that the incidence of melanoma in different geographical areas increases proportional to the percentage of people using tanning devices. Although this descriptive study may well be biased or refuted, it does advocate the need for further epidemiological research addressing specifically the issue of melanoma and exposure to artificial sources of ultraviolet radiation.