Health impact modelling: ultraviolet radiation and melanoma skin cancer

As part of the EU-funded INTARESE project, which contributed to the development of this Toolbox, a case study was carried out to assess health impacts of exposures to ultra-violet radiation (UVR) under different climate change scenarios.

 

The assessment considered two sets of scenarios for the years 2030 and 2050: the IPCC SRES B1 scenario and SRES A2 scenario.  Health outcomes considered were basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and malignant melanoma (CMM).   Changes in UVR exposure were estimated, taking account of changes in stratospheric ozone associated with decreasing emission of ozone depleting substances and increasing emissions of CH4 and N2O.  Allowance was also made for future demographic changes.

Below the methods used to model non-melanoma skin cancer are decribed.  Details of the working procedures are given in the attached spreadsheet.