The Relation of Solar Radiation to Cancer Mortality

[Bill]

Ever heard of Frank Apperley? In 1940, Dr. Apperley wrote a paper for the Journal of Cancer titled, "

The Relation of Solar Radiation to Cancer Mortality

in North America." It was published in March of 1941. It is a 5 page .pdf document that can be found here. It is worth the time to read it.

The conclusion of the paper is here.

CONCLUSIONS
i. The apparent discrepancy between the views of those who claim that skin cancer and the general cancer rates vary inversely when different localities are compared, and of those who claim a direct relationship between these two groups of cancer, is shown to be a matter of climate. In hot climates the relation is an inverse one, in cold climates a direct one.
2. The total cancer mortalities of the various American states and Canadian provinces are shown to fall with increasing solar radiation and with the number of people exposed thereto, and are independent of the production of skin cancer. The fall of skin cancer with increased exposure in cool climates is merely one example of this general rule. In warmer climates, however, skin cancer may indeed rise in spite of the relatively increased general immunity. In other words the production of skin cancer is not necessary for the appearance of general cancer immunity, as claimed by some observers, but is merely an occasional accompaniment.
3. It is suggested that we may be able to reduce our
cancer deaths by inducing a partial or complete immunity by exposure of suitable skin areas to sunlight or the proper artificial light rays of intensity and duration insufficient to produce an actual skin cancer. A closer study of the action of solar radiation on the body might well reveal the nature of cancer immunity.

Source

[Neon Beach]

Interesting

[Bill]