Occupational risks for cutaneous melanoma among men in Sweden

A population-based linked-registry was used to evaluate incidence of malignant melanoma of the skin among Swedish men by industry and occupation. There were 3850 cutaneous melanoma cases identified in the 19-year follow-up of men employed in 1960. New associations were observed for men employed in the breweries and malt-processing industry and in shoe fabrication from leather and skins. Several findings supported associations previously reported in other countries, including an excess risk among workers in basic chemical production and the printing industry and among professional, technical, and white-collar workers. Risk overall was not increased among farmers, despite a significant excess of melanoma of the face, neck, and scalp. Although this linked registry analysis lacked information about specific agents, duration of employment, and occupational and recreational sun exposures, it did provide leads for new associations and confirmed previous ones. Nevertheless, because of these limitations, etiologic clues must be interpreted cautiously.