Professional risk for skin cancer development in male mountain guides--a cross-sectional study

For reasons of their outdoor work, mountain guides (MG) are heavily exposed to ultraviolet radiation during their work.

A standardized interview and examination were performed on 283 male MG (median 41 years) from Germany, Switzerland and Austria and 309 age-matched controls. The median occupation time as MG was 17 years; 39.9% were working full-time.

The incidence of skin cancer and precancerous lesions was obtained. Precancerous lesions as solar keratosis (SK) were significantly more frequent in MG (25.4% vs. 7.4%). There was no skin cancer [BCC, SSC, melanoma (MEL)] in the control subjects. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) was diagnosed in 20 MG (7.1%) and SSC in four MG (1.4%). There were 10 highly suspicious melanocytic lesions; one MG had a histologically confirmed malignant MEL. Risk factors for SK in the multivariate analysis included occupation (P < 0.0001), age (P < 0.0001) and skin type (P = 0.0002). Within the MG group, age (P < 0.0001) and hair colour (P = 0.0058) were independent risk factors for SK. Severe lifetime sunburns (P = 0.0007) and skin type (P = 0.041) were the significant risk factors for BCC, within the MG group in addition to the number of guiding days (P = 0.010). The risk factor for skin cancer (BCC, SCC and MEL) was the number of heavy sunburns during lifetime (P = 0.0014).

The present study demonstrates an association between high occupational ultraviolet-exposure and an increased prevalence of precancerous skin lesions and skin cancer. MG may be considered as an example for other outdoor professionals. Skin cancer of outdoor workers is likely to be an occupational disease. Primary and secondary prevention should be enforced.