Article publication date
December 2025
ARPANSA review date
December 2025
Summary
This Swiss cohort study evaluated the association between different occupational exposures, including radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields, extremely low frequency magnetic fields, ionising radiation and ultra-violet (UV) radiation, and the incidence of melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The study population was identified from the Swiss national census (an estimated coverage of 98.6% of the population in 2000), which collected data on occupation, migration, and demographics. The census data was linked to cancer registries data from six Swiss regions. The study included 1,077,487 adults aged 20 to 65 years. Occupational exposure of the subjects was assessed using the Canadian Job Exposure Matrix (CANJEM).
The study found a statistically significant association between UV and melanoma (hazard ratio (HR): 1.23, 95% confidence interval (CI):1.02-1.50). No association was observed between UV exposure and SCC (HR: 1.08, 95% CI: 0.84-1.40). RF, magnetic fields and ionising radiation were not associated with melanoma or SCC.
Published in
The Science of the Total Environment
Link to study
Occupational exposures and skin cancer incidence in six Swiss cantons
ARPANSA commentary
The study reports that occupational exposure to UV was associated with melanoma, which aligns with the findings of the WHO systematic review and meta-analysis. However, the WHO systematic review also found an association with non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC), which would include SCCs. The current study did not find an association between UV exposure and SCC, inconsistent with results from the WHO systematic review.
The absence of an association between ionising radiation and melanoma or SCC is consistent with previous research, including the recent review by Caramenti et al (2024). Similarly, the study found no association between RF or magnetic fields and either melanoma or SCC. Evidence on these exposures remains limited and generally of low quality. For example, the UK Biobank study reported no association between RF exposure and melanoma but observed a small association with NMSC. In contrast, a Danish cohort study by Poulsen et al (2013) found no link between RF exposure and SCC, and Khan et al (2021) reported no overall increased risk of skin cancer associated with magnetic field exposure among individuals living near power transformers. Overall, the evidence suggests that associations between RF or magnetic fields and skin cancer are weak, and no plausible biological mechanism has been identified to explain such an association.
