News Excerpt:

Nearly one in every three deaths from nonmelanoma skin cancer is caused by working under the sun, according to a joint report released by the UN World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO).

Key Highlights of the report:

• According to the report, nearly one-third of non-melanoma skin cancer deaths are linked to outdoor work under the sun.
• As per the joint findings, a staggering 1.6 billion working-age individuals (15 years or older) were exposed to solar ultraviolet radiation while working outdoors in 2019, representing 28% of the global working-age population.
• Shockingly, in that same year (2019), almost 19,000 people across 183 countries succumbed to non-melanoma skin cancer due to their occupational sun exposure, with the majority (65%) being male.

About Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer:

• Nonmelanoma skin cancer refers to a group of cancers that develop in the upper layers of the skin. 
• The two main subtypes of this cancer are basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

• • Basal cell carcinoma – starts in the cells lining the bottom of the epidermis and accounts for about 75% of skin cancers.

• • Squamous cell carcinoma – starts in the cells lining the top of the epidermis and accounts for about 20% of skin cancers.

• The term ‘non-melanoma’ distinguishes these more common kinds of skin cancer from the less common skin cancer known as melanoma, which spreads faster in the body.
• The first sign of non-melanoma skin cancer is usually the appearance of a lump or patch on the skin that doesn’t heal after a few weeks.
• In most cases, cancerous lumps are red and firm, while cancerous patches are often flat and scaly.

• Causes:

• It is mainly caused by overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. UV light comes from the sun, as well as artificial sunbeds and sunlamps.
• In addition to UV light overexposure, certain things can increase your chances of developing non-melanoma skin cancer, such as -
• a family history of the condition
• pale skin that burns easily
• a large number of moles or freckles

Way Forward:

• Policy recommendations include providing shade, adjusting working hours away from the solar noon period, education and training, and equipping workers with sunscreen and personal protective clothing.
• Additionally, measures should be taken when the ultraviolet index, a measure of skin-damaging ultraviolet radiation, reaches level three or higher.