A melanoma trend forecast from 2002 – What happened then?

ABSTRACT

In 2002, a paper was published that highlighted the strong correlation noticed between melanoma incidence and the number of surrounding frequency modulation (FM) transmitters in the Nordic countries since 1955. In the report the development of future numbers of melanoma cases in Estonia were estimated since they got the FM broadcasting system rolled out not until 1992. Here, we report what happened since then in Estonia regarding melanoma cases per year. We also comment on the recent development in the Nordic countries, which is not very reassuring from a public health point of view. The last 10 years of melanoma incidence trends, increasing at an exponential rate, suggest that responsible authorities now need to consider possible influences also from other radiation sources in addition to UV radiation from the sun.

KEYWORDS:

• Body-resonant
• DNA repair
• high-frequency FM-transmitter
• incidence
• melanoma
• model
• melanoma increase
• radiation

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the valuable support with cancer data provided by Dr. Margit Mägi, Estonian Cancer Registry, National Institute for Health Development, Hiiu 42, 11,619 Tallinn, Estonia. Mr. Brian Stein, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, UK, The Irish Campaign against Microwave Pollution, and the Irish Doctors Environmental Association (IDEA; Cumann Comhshaoil Dhoctúirí na hÉireann) are gratefully acknowledged for their general support.

Declaration of interest

This work was funded by the authors. Olle Johansson also received external funds from the Karolinska Institute, the Cancer and Allergy Foundation (Cancer- och Allergifonden), and Mr. Einar Rasmussen, Kristiansand S, Norway.