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A Prospective Study of Toenail Trace Element Levels and Risk of Skin Cancer
Natalie H Matthews1,2,3, Michelle Koh1, Wen-Qing Li1,4
1Department of Dermatology, The Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
Summary
Higher toenail mercury levels are linked to increased risk of basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and melanoma. These findings suggest mercury may contribute to skin cancer development.
Area of Science:
- Environmental epidemiology
- Dermatology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Epidemiologic studies on trace element exposure and skin cancer risk are limited.
- Understanding environmental factors influencing skin cancer is crucial for public health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between toenail trace element levels and the risk of developing basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and melanoma.
- To examine mercury, selenium, chromium, iron, and zinc exposure in relation to skin cancer incidence.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from 6,708 women (Nurses' Health Study) and 3,730 men (Health Professionals Follow-up Study).
- Measured toenail levels of selected trace elements.
- Employed Cox proportional hazards models to assess skin cancer risk over 26-28 years of follow-up, documenting 2,433 BCC, 334 SCC, and 130 melanoma cases.
Main Results:
- Elevated toenail mercury levels showed a significant positive association with increased risk for BCC, SCC, and melanoma.
- Specifically, the top quintile of mercury exposure was associated with a 34% higher risk of BCC.
- Chromium was linked to increased BCC risk in women only; no other metal associations were observed.
Conclusions:
- Prospective analysis indicates a correlation between higher toenail mercury concentrations and elevated skin cancer risk.
- These findings suggest mercury may play a role in the development of skin cancer, warranting further investigation.
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