Indicator: A-15 Skin melanoma rates
Data
Skin melanoma rates by gender, 1983-2001
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Interactive cancer data
Age standardised rates of skin melanoma, 1983-2001
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and Australiasian Association of Cancer Registries, Interactive cancer data
Incidence rates of melanoma by states and territories, 2000
Source: Australian Institure of Health and Welfare and Australiasian Association of Cancer Registries 2003, Cancer in Australia 2000, Australian Institure of Health and Welfare, Canberra.
What the data mean
The data shows an upward trend in the incidence of melanoma rates over the reporting period, 1983 to 2001. Overall there has been a 65 percent increase over that period. The increase in incidence among males is far greater than the incidence in females, with an increase of 96 percent over the reporting period for males versus a 36 percent increase for females.
The age cohorts over age 65 show the largest increases. This is to be expected with the dangers of exposure to UV radiation not being widely understood by the public until the late 1970s and the long lead-time between exposure to UV radiation and the occurrence of skin cancer.
In 2000 Queensland had the overall highest melanoma incidence rates of all the states and territories. Western Australia and New South Wales were the next highest.
Data Limitations
Nil known.
Issues for which this is an indicator and why
Atmosphere — Stratospheric ozone - General stratospheric ozone
One of the harmful effects of less ozone in the stratosphere is an increase in the incidence of melanoma rates. This indicator measures to what extent these harmful effects are impacting on human health.
Other indicators for this issue:
- A-10 stratospheric chlorine from the major ozone-depleting substances
- A-11 Summer mean total ozone column
- A-12 Trend in the area of the ozone hole
- A-13 Surface ultraviolet radiation in Australia
- A-14 Consumption of ozone-depleting substances - Australian consumption of ozone-depleting substances
Further Information
Key
Links to another web site
Links to data in the DRS
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