Mortality from malignant melanoma in Australia: effects due to country of birth.

Mortality from malignant melanoma is much higher among native born Australians than among people born in other countries. For immigrants death rates increase with period of residence in Australia. Our analysis fails to reveal any increased risk associated with fair skin or Celtic origin. Geographic and socio-economic patterns of mortality from melanoma are similar for Australian-born individuals and those born elsewhere. These mortality difference parallel incidence patterns for the disease. Our findings support the theory that sunlight is a major determinant of melanoma and are compatible with the hypothesis that it is initiated by traumatic sunburn.