Occupational exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation has been linked to a higher risk of skin cancer in a nationwide cohort of Danish workers.
A large record-based study of Danish workers found an exposure-response relationship between… Occupational solar UV exposure and cutaneous melanoma, reinforcing concerns that working for long periods outdoors may contribute to the risk of developing melanoma.
The national group included 2.9 million individuals working between 1977 and 2015. Occupational histories were associated with a first skin cancer diagnosis recorded in the Danish Cancer Registry, allowing researchers to assess skin cancer incidence via long-term work-related exposure to solar UV radiation.
A nationwide group of workers tracks long-term exposure
Cumulative occupational exposure to solar UV radiation was estimated by relating occupational histories to a European occupation exposure matrix. Exposure has been expressed in cumulative standard erythema dose for years, providing a measure of the burden of work-related solar UVB over time.
The workers were followed for an average of 19 years. During follow-up, 11,344 individuals developed cutaneous melanoma. The average cumulative occupational exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation was 5.99 years of standard erythema dose.
Risk estimates were calculated using discrete risk models, with exposure-response relationships additionally modeled by restricted cubic splines. Analyzes were adjusted for age, sex, calendar year, smoking, skin or immune diseases, organ transplantation, parental history of melanoma, and medications.
Occupational exposure to solar UV radiation shows a dose response
The incidence of melanoma increased with increasing cumulative occupational solar UV exposure. In the stratified analysis, the risk peaked at an incidence rate of 1.59 at 14.80 years of standard erythema dose. Workers in the highest exposure quartile had an adjusted incidence rate ratio of 1.57 compared with those in the lowest exposure quartile.
The results suggest that occupational exposure to solar UV radiation may represent a measurable and preventable contributor to skin cancer risk among workers with continuous outdoor exposure. Although solar UV radiation is already known to be a major risk factor for cutaneous melanoma, evidence for occupational exposure has remained limited.
Sun protection in the workplace needs to be a greater priority
For doctors, the study reinforces the importance of occupational history when assessing skin cancer risk, especially for people who work outdoors or have done so over many years. Questions about cumulative sun exposure, job type, and workplace protection may help identify individuals who could benefit from targeted prevention counseling and skin monitoring.
The researchers concluded that the observed exposure-response relationship highlights the urgent need for sun protection policies in the workplace. For employers and public health leaders, prevention strategies may include access to shade, protective clothing, schedule changes, and education about solar ultraviolet radiation as an occupational hazard.
reference
Christensen I et al. Occupational exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation and risk of cutaneous melanoma among Danish workers: a nationwide cohort study. Eur J Cancer. 2026;244:116884.
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