1943

Background: People living in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador (NL), Canada, are exposed to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) despite prolonged foggy weather. NL cancer statistics report a high number of skin cancer cases. However, there is no population-level data on any association between skin cancers and exposure to UVR. This study is aimed to estimate the risk of skin cancers due to exposure to UVR and additional financial burden due to an excessive number of cancer cases. Methods: Daily UV index (UVI) monitoring data (March 2013-January 2019) for 37 meteorological centers of NL were collected from the Environment and Climate Change Canada. Monitoring centers having UVI 6 or more for 600 days (~100 days/year) and above were considered as high-risk centers, and the rest were selected as low-risk centers. Communities located within a 50-km radius of each center were selected for the study. Cancer data were extracted from the NL Cancer Registry for cases diagnosed between 2007-2016. Histology and topography of cancers and demographic information of cases (sex, year of birth, and residence at the time of diagnosis) were extracted. Risk ratios (RR) of prevalence rates of cancer in both areas, an excess number of cancer cases in high-risk areas, and average cost of cancer care (hospitalization and intervention) were calculated. Results: Relative to low-risk areas, people in the high-risk areas had a higher prevalence of skin cancers (RR 1.63, 95% CI 1.55-1.73). The average cost of care for each cancer case associated with exposure to UVR was C$16,100, and the total estimated financial burden for the excess number of cancer cases was more than C$16 million. Conclusion: Results suggested a modest elevation in skin cancer in high-risk areas associated with exposure to UVR and additional financial burden to the province’s already stretched health budget, though the estimates were imprecise.