{"title":"Occupational Solar UV Exposure and Skin Cancer: A Quantitative Framework for Individual Causal Attribution in Dermatology Practice","authors":"Eytan Ellenberg, Arieh Ingber, Akshaya S. Bhagavathula, Eldad Katorza, Yuval Ramot","doi":"10.1016/j.shaw.2026.05.001","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Occupational solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure is a major risk factor for keratinocyte carcinomas in outdoor workers. Individual causal attribution for medico-legal purposes requires partitioning risk contributions between occupational exposure and individual susceptibility factors—a question distinct from population-level burden estimation. This study is primarily a quantitative/methodological application of FAIR to occupational UV-related skin cancer.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This methodological framework study applies the FAIR approach (Filtering evidence, Association quantification, Individual partitioning, Reasoned interpretation) to occupational solar UVR and skin cancer. Meta-analyses (1995–2025) were reviewed and adjusted for phototype, sex, and immune status. Individual attribution was estimated using game-theory–based decomposition (Shapley values) and stochastic Monte Carlo simulation to propagate uncertainty. Preventive scenarios incorporated sector-specific compliance and long-term economic modeling.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Mean occupational causal shares were 35% for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), 25% for basal cell carcinoma (BCC), 10% for melanoma, and 50% for actinic keratosis. The probability of exceeding the 20% medico-legal attribution threshold reached 85% for SCC and 75% for BCC. Prevention reduced expected cases by 10-15% and healthcare costs by 8-12%.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The FAIR framework provides a transparent, reproducible approach for integrating epidemiological evidence with individual attribution. These quantitative thresholds support the clinical and medico-legal recognition of work-related skin cancers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56149,"journal":{"name":"Safety and Health at Work","volume":"17 3","pages":"Pages 340-347"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2000,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Safety and Health at Work","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2093791126000405","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2026/5/22 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background
Occupational solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure is a major risk factor for keratinocyte carcinomas in outdoor workers. Individual causal attribution for medico-legal purposes requires partitioning risk contributions between occupational exposure and individual susceptibility factors—a question distinct from population-level burden estimation. This study is primarily a quantitative/methodological application of FAIR to occupational UV-related skin cancer.
Methods
This methodological framework study applies the FAIR approach (Filtering evidence, Association quantification, Individual partitioning, Reasoned interpretation) to occupational solar UVR and skin cancer. Meta-analyses (1995–2025) were reviewed and adjusted for phototype, sex, and immune status. Individual attribution was estimated using game-theory–based decomposition (Shapley values) and stochastic Monte Carlo simulation to propagate uncertainty. Preventive scenarios incorporated sector-specific compliance and long-term economic modeling.
Results
Mean occupational causal shares were 35% for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), 25% for basal cell carcinoma (BCC), 10% for melanoma, and 50% for actinic keratosis. The probability of exceeding the 20% medico-legal attribution threshold reached 85% for SCC and 75% for BCC. Prevention reduced expected cases by 10-15% and healthcare costs by 8-12%.
Conclusions
The FAIR framework provides a transparent, reproducible approach for integrating epidemiological evidence with individual attribution. These quantitative thresholds support the clinical and medico-legal recognition of work-related skin cancers.
期刊介绍:
Safety and Health at Work (SH@W) is an international, peer-reviewed, interdisciplinary journal published quarterly in English beginning in 2010. The journal is aimed at providing grounds for the exchange of ideas and data developed through research experience in the broad field of occupational health and safety. Articles may deal with scientific research to improve workers'' health and safety by eliminating occupational accidents and diseases, pursuing a better working life, and creating a safe and comfortable working environment. The journal focuses primarily on original articles across the whole scope of occupational health and safety, but also welcomes up-to-date review papers and short communications and commentaries on urgent issues and case studies on unique epidemiological survey, methods of accident investigation, and analysis. High priority will be given to articles on occupational epidemiology, medicine, hygiene, toxicology, nursing and health services, work safety, ergonomics, work organization, engineering of safety (mechanical, electrical, chemical, and construction), safety management and policy, and studies related to economic evaluation and its social policy and organizational aspects. Its abbreviated title is Saf Health Work.