Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

European Code Against Cancer, 5th edition – ultraviolet radiation, radon and cancer

Ritchie, David ; Crowley, Quentin ; Greinert, Rüdiger ; Albin, Maria LU ; Baldi, Isabelle ; Consonni, Dario ; Fervers, Béatrice ; Hoek, Gerard ; Jochems, Sylvia H.J. and Röösli, Martin , et al. (2026) In Molecular Oncology 20(1). p.49-67
Abstract

The European Code Against Cancer (ECAC) provides evidence-based recommendations to help individuals reduce their cancer risk. For the 5th edition (ECAC5), recommendations on ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and indoor radon exposures were updated, and complementary recommendations for policymakers were introduced. UVR and radon are classified as carcinogenic to humans (group 1 carcinogens) in the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monographs. Solar UVR and, to a lesser extent, artificial forms of UVR exposure are major causes of skin cancer, while radon gas is a leading cause of lung cancer. This paper summarises the evidence for retaining and refining these recommendations. For individuals, ECAC5 advises avoiding excessive... (More)

The European Code Against Cancer (ECAC) provides evidence-based recommendations to help individuals reduce their cancer risk. For the 5th edition (ECAC5), recommendations on ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and indoor radon exposures were updated, and complementary recommendations for policymakers were introduced. UVR and radon are classified as carcinogenic to humans (group 1 carcinogens) in the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monographs. Solar UVR and, to a lesser extent, artificial forms of UVR exposure are major causes of skin cancer, while radon gas is a leading cause of lung cancer. This paper summarises the evidence for retaining and refining these recommendations. For individuals, ECAC5 advises avoiding excessive sun exposure, especially in children, using sun protection, and never using sunbeds; for radon, checking local radon maps, seeking professional measurement where appropriate and taking remedial action, if necessary, are recommended. For policymakers, ECAC5 encourages harmonised UVR protection measures across the European Union, enforcement of regulations concerning indoor tanning devices, and enabling access to testing of radon levels, and support for mitigation and remediation. These recommendations provide actionable, evidence-based recommendations to help reduce cancer risk and align with Europe's Beating Cancer Plan.

(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; and , et al. (More)
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; and (Less)
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
cancer prevention, cutaneous melanoma, European Code Against Cancer, indoor tanning devices, lung cancer, public health policy, radon, skin cancer, ultraviolet radiation
in
Molecular Oncology
volume
20
issue
1
pages
19 pages
publisher
John Wiley & Sons Inc.
external identifiers
  • scopus:105027705968
  • pmid:41542817
ISSN
1574-7891
DOI
10.1002/1878-0261.70171
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
5a740c79-0528-484b-8433-921a6e49005e
date added to LUP
2026-02-26 10:58:09
date last changed
2026-03-12 12:23:07
@article{5a740c79-0528-484b-8433-921a6e49005e,
  abstract     = {{<p>The European Code Against Cancer (ECAC) provides evidence-based recommendations to help individuals reduce their cancer risk. For the 5th edition (ECAC5), recommendations on ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and indoor radon exposures were updated, and complementary recommendations for policymakers were introduced. UVR and radon are classified as carcinogenic to humans (group 1 carcinogens) in the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monographs. Solar UVR and, to a lesser extent, artificial forms of UVR exposure are major causes of skin cancer, while radon gas is a leading cause of lung cancer. This paper summarises the evidence for retaining and refining these recommendations. For individuals, ECAC5 advises avoiding excessive sun exposure, especially in children, using sun protection, and never using sunbeds; for radon, checking local radon maps, seeking professional measurement where appropriate and taking remedial action, if necessary, are recommended. For policymakers, ECAC5 encourages harmonised UVR protection measures across the European Union, enforcement of regulations concerning indoor tanning devices, and enabling access to testing of radon levels, and support for mitigation and remediation. These recommendations provide actionable, evidence-based recommendations to help reduce cancer risk and align with Europe's Beating Cancer Plan.</p>}},
  author       = {{Ritchie, David and Crowley, Quentin and Greinert, Rüdiger and Albin, Maria and Baldi, Isabelle and Consonni, Dario and Fervers, Béatrice and Hoek, Gerard and Jochems, Sylvia H.J. and Röösli, Martin and van Tongeren, Martie and Vilahur, Nadia and Feliu, Ariadna and Zeeb, Hajo and Schüz, Joachim and D'Souza, Erica and Espina, Carolina and Kromhout, Hans}},
  issn         = {{1574-7891}},
  keywords     = {{cancer prevention; cutaneous melanoma; European Code Against Cancer; indoor tanning devices; lung cancer; public health policy; radon; skin cancer; ultraviolet radiation}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{49--67}},
  publisher    = {{John Wiley & Sons Inc.}},
  series       = {{Molecular Oncology}},
  title        = {{European Code Against Cancer, 5th edition – ultraviolet radiation, radon and cancer}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/1878-0261.70171}},
  doi          = {{10.1002/1878-0261.70171}},
  volume       = {{20}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}