Melanoma incidence in Connecticut by town of residence

In an analysis of 2,935 cases of invasive melanoma of the skin diagnosed am ong residents of Connecticut's 169 towns in 1990-1994, 12 of the 17 towns w ith statistically significantly elevated standardized incidence ratios (SIR s) were on or near the ocean shoreline (in the extreme southern part of the State). The distribution of melanoma thickness did not support the hypothe sis of greater detection of clinically less significant cancers in the ocea n shoreline area with high SIRs, In multiple regression analyses, town loca tion (on the ocean shoreline) was a statistically significant predictor of SIR by town, independent of socioeconomic indiators and racial composition. Although the effects of shoreline residence and latitude were difficult to separate, the results should be useful in planning analytic epidemiologic (i.e. case-control) studies in specific geographic areas for testing etiolo gic hypothesis as a basis for planning public health interventions. (C) 199 9 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.