25pc of farmers get skin cancer

About one in four New Zealand farmers have suffered skin cancer, new research reveals.

The survey, commissioned by MoleMap, a melanoma surveillance programme, showed that farmers spent an average of eight hours a day outdoors for more than 10 years.

MoleMap general manager Gavin Foulsham said the study showed farmers were taking sun protection seriously - but long outdoor hours made sunburn "unavoidable".

About 83 per cent said they had "frequently" experienced skin peeling after sunburn.

"Three-quarters of farmers regularly wear wide-brimmed hats and the vast majority take other steps like applying sunscreen, wearing sunglasses and covering up," Mr Foulsham said.

"Even with this approach, the long days and years of sun exposure still make their mark, with half having experienced skin cancer personally or through an immediate family member."

About 25 per cent of farmers surveyed said they had had skin cancer themselves, Mr Foulsham said.

"Our rates are many times higher than in the Northern Hemisphere."

For instance, a recent study in Ireland, which has a similar population to New Zealand, found there were around 200 cases of skin cancer a year, and about 30 deaths.

In New Zealand, there are 1800 cases a year, with 250 deaths.

"Many of us come from similar genetic stock [to the Irish]," Mr Foulsham pointed out. But we are getting absolutely hammered with ultraviolet rays from the hole in the ozone layer, and our skies are very clean, so we don't get the protective benefits of pollution either, which ironically caused the hole in the first place."

New Zealand receives about 42 per cent more ultraviolet rays than the Northern Hemisphere.

Mr Foulsham said farmers and other outdoor workers were obviously more at risk from skin cancer.

The survey found that 84 per cent of farmers spent more than five hours a day, and 56 per cent more than eight hours, in the sun.

It also showed that 84 per cent had spent more than 10 years doing outdoor work.

Women were more likely to protect their skin than men, and higher-risk fair-skinned people were more active at protecting themselves.

Two-thirds had checked their skin for changes and one-third had been checked by a health professional.

Farmers in Gisborne, Taranaki and Hawke's Bay were most likely to take steps to protect themselves.

Older farmers generally perceived themselves to be at lower risk of melanoma than younger ones, possibly not recognising the cumulative impact of the sun.

Mr Foulsham said this could be the result of the younger generation growing up with the "Sunsmart message".

"We have to acknowledge for farming and many other outdoor professions, staying away from the sun is just not possible and in general New Zealand farmers are taking practical precautions when they can," he said.

"Given the high incidence of skin cancer amongst this group, we would actively encourage them to check their skin for changes and to get their skin examined by an expert every year."

Federated Farmers president Charlie Pedersen said farmers often jokingly called skin cancer "an occupational hazard".

But many of them had experienced the impact the disease had and were taking a responsible attitude to protecting themselves and their workers.

- NZPA