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Less Sunlight Can Increase Risk of Lung Cancer

by Gloria Gamat on December 23rd, 2007

In cancer, sometimes I wonder which one’s gotta give. Less of something may reduce risk of one cancer but will increase risk of another cancer type.

Like sunlight. It is already a given that more exposure to its bad rays will most likely give you skin cancer. And now, the lack of it may increase the risk of lung cancer – as suggested by a study of rates of the disease in over 100 countries.

The researchers looked at the association between latitude, exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) light, and rates of lung cancer according to age in 111 countries across several continents.

They took account of the amount of cloud cover and aerosol use, both of which absorb UVB light, and cigarette smoking, the primary cause of lung cancer

Smoking was most strongly associated with lung cancer rates, accounting for between 75% and 85% of the cases.

But exposure to sunlight, especially UVB light, the principal source of vitamin D for the body, also seemed to have an impact, the findings showed.

The amount of UVB light increases with proximity to the equator. And the analyses showed that lung cancer rates were highest in those countries furthest away from the equator and lowest in those nearest.

See? Ultraviolet B (UVB) light is the same element that is the risk factor of skin cancer. So you don’t get skin cancer with less UVB exposure, but you get lung cancer instead?

There is no lesser evil her, both are cancers that can both be fatal.

Find more details from Science Daily.

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