CANCERS OF SKIN, BONE, CONNECTIVE TISSUES, BRAIN, EYE, THYROID AND OTHER SPECIFIED AND UNSPECIFIED SITES IN INUIT

Low rates of skin cancer, both melanoma and non-melanoma, were observe d in Inuit after 20 years of observation, Tumours of the brain and cen tral nervous system, of the thyroid, bone and connective tissues and o ther specified sites occurred with rates similar to those in compariso n populations in Denmark, Connecticut and Canada, These findings suppo rt that neither UV and ionizing radiation from nuclear fall-out, nor p ollution of herbicides and pesticides in the Arctic area have yet had any noticeable impact on cancer risk, However, unspecified and seconda ry neoplasms constititute 7-8% of the total Circumpolar cancer inciden ce and the pattern of rare cancers must be enterpreted with caution, I ncreased diagnostic efforts with a higher precision in the future are warranted.