Occupational Cancer Research Papers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

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- Epidemiology, Cancer, Environmental Health, Medicine

Occupational cancer research methods was identified in 1996 as 1 of 21 priority research areas in the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA). To implement NORA, teams of experts from various sectors were formed and given the charge to further define research needs and develop strategies to enhance or augment research in each priority area. This article is a product of that process. Focus on occupational cancer research methods is important both because occupational factors play a significant role in a number of cancers, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality, and also because occupational cohorts (because of higher exposure levels) often provide unique opportunities to evaluate health effects of environmental toxicants and understand the carcinogenic process in humans. Despite an explosion of new methods for cancer research in general, these have not been widely applied to occupational cancer research. In this article we identify needs and gaps in occupational cancer research methods in four broad areas: identification of occupational carcinogens, design of epidemiologic studies, risk assessment, and primary and secondary prevention.

- by Steven Bayard
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- Research Design, Environmental Health, Environmental Monitoring, Risk assessment

Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is the most common cancer in western countries. Legislative bodies and stakeholders like WHO and EU strongly promote protection against solar UVR, especially in workers. Occupational health prevention must be introduced as a strong instrument in workers protection also with regard to occupational disease issues. To date, criteria for both occupational health prevention and occupational disease are missing and the identification of risk groups has no metric basis. Here I report a criteria analysis based on the largest comprehensive data set of occupational ultraviolet radiation exposure of outdoor workers. With detailed research on occupation-specific dosimetric measurements of 45.000 measurement days in 176 occupations and sub-occupations, it is possible to map criteria for occupational health prevention specifically and to identify affected occupations. The number of employees affected can be elucidated worldwide. For the first time, a direct link to...

- by Marc Wittlich
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- Environmental Health, Medicine, Occupational Safety and Health, Occupational Cancer

Desde principios de 2022, los trabajadores del sector de las vidrieras de toda Europa hemos seguido con inquietud la evolución de la legislación de la UE sobre el uso del plomo. Algunos afrontábamos este período con ecuanimidad, convencidos de que estaríamos exentos de cualquier restricción. Al final, las últimas posiciones de la Comisión Europea parecen dar la razón a los que menos se preocuparon. Sin embargo, los tiempos cambian y nunca ha habido mayor presión para regular el uso de este metal, que sigue siendo esencial para nosotros. Por lo tanto, en el futuro, deberemos permanecer vigilantes.

- by ARCOVE La Revista
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- Stained Glass, Vitraux, Vitrales, Glasmalerei

The purpose of this study was to review the existing studies on lymphohematopoietic (LHP) cancer in Korea, estimate the prevalence of workers exposed to carcinogens, and determine the population attributable fraction (PAF) of leukemia. Two case series and 4 case reports were reviewed. Using official statistics, the prevalence of benzene exposure and ionizing radiation exposure was estimated. Based on the prevalence of exposure and the relative risk, The PAF of leukemia was calculated. Between 1996 and 2005, 51 cases of LHP cancer were reported from the compensation system. Greater than 50% of occupational LHP cancer was leukemia, and the most important cause was benzene. In a cohort study, the standardized incidence ratio was 2.71 (95% CI, 0.56-7.91). The prevalence of exposure was 2.5% and 2.2% in 1995 and 2000, respectively. Using the 1995 prevalence, 3.6-4.8% and 0.1% of cases with leukemia were attributable to benzene and ionizing radiation exposure, respectively, which resulted in 39.7-51.4 cases per year. Benzene is the most important cause of occupational leukemia in Korea. Considering the estimated PAF in this study, the annual number of occupational LHP cancer (51 cases during 10-yr period), might be underreported within the compensation system.

- by Eun A Kim
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- Incidence Geometry, Cancer, Leukemia, Occupational Medicine

The legal scope and criteria for occupational cancer in Korea was out of date. The aim of this study was to review the current criteria for occupational cancer and amend the existent criteria on the basis of recent scientific evidence. The scientific evidence and the legal list of occupational cancer were analyzed to identify the causes of occupational cancer on a global scale. The relationship between compensated occupational cancer cases and carcinogen exposure in Korea was examined. The factors associated with specific causes and target cancers were determined to produce additional criteria. Five-hundred and nineteen cases of 2,468 were awarded compensation for occupational cancer including lung, malignant mesothelioma, lymphohematopoietic, and liver cancers from

- by Eun A Kim
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- Cancer, Health insurance, Medicine, Lung Cancer

Objectives This study was conducted to compare the cancer incidence in inorganic lead exposed workers with the Korean general population, and to explore the relationship between cancer mortality and blood lead levels. Method Using from the Korean annual medical surveillance for exposure to lead, a cohort comprising 74 659 inorganic lead exposed workers working between January 1 st , 2000 and December 31 st , 2004 was compiled. This cohort was merged with the Korea National Central Cancer Registry (KNCCR) and death registry of the Korea National Statistical Office (KNSO) in order to evaluate the cancer morbidity for these workers between 2000 and 2008. Results There were 793 cases cancer and, the incidence of stomach cancer (SIR 1.17, 95% CI=1.01-1.36) was found to be elevated in lead chromate workers. Excesses were observed for kidney (2.15. 1.19-3.88) and bladder cancers (2.29. 1.149-4.58) in lead exposed workers ≥20 years of job duration., kidney cancer (2.25. 1.21-4.18) in workers with ≥10 ug/dl of blood lead level and lung cancer in female workers with ≥10 ug/dl. Workers with≥40 ug/dl of blood lead levels had a significantly higher risk of overall cancer mortality (RR: 2.75; 95% CI: 1.06-1.98) compared with workers who had less than 10 ug/dl. Conclusions Our study showed incidence excess of lung cancer in female workers, stomach cancer in lead chromate exposed workers and a possible dose-response relationship between d kidney cancers and lead exposure. Also overall cancer mortality excess was observed in high lead exposed workers.

- by Rachel Denholm
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- Geography, Environmental Health, Medicine, Clinical Sciences
- by Sarah Gehlert
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- Breast Cancer, Employment, Medicine, Multidisciplinary
- by Laurent Vogel
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- Political Science, Sciences sociales, Santé et sécurité au travail
- by Laurent Vogel
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- Political Science, Sciences sociales, Santé Au Travail
- by Laurent Vogel
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- Humanities, Art, Political Science, Droit Européen

Le PPE représente 29,43 % de l'hémicycle devant le S&D avec 25,43% et le groupe ADLE (8,92%). 2. Ce chiffre important est obtenu par l'addition des voix du groupe ECR, troisième formation en nombre de députés (70 membres), eurosceptique mais démocrate, constitué autour des conservateurs britanniques (19 membres) et du PiS polonais (19 membres). Ensuite viennent les europhobes de l'EFD avec 48 membres, fondé par l'UKIP britannique de Nigel Farage. Et, enfin, les non-inscrits (52 membres, dont les 23 élus du Front national de Marine Le Pen) qui n'ont pour l'instant aucune prise sur la bonne marche du Parlement européen. 8 WP 2015.04 Éric Van den Abeele sanitaire 3 a été dressé autour des europhobes, l'influence des eurosceptiques se fait sentir, notamment, par certaines voix de l'ECR qui a négocié deux présidences de commission parlementaire, dont celles, très sensibles, du marché intérieur et de la défense. Le rapport de force issu des élections européennes a installé Jean-Claude Juncker, le Spitzenkandidat du PPE, à la présidence de la Commission. D'emblée, celui-ci tenait à mettre les choses au point : « Je ne mettrai rien dans le programme de travail de la Commission ni n'inscrirai aucune initiative à l'ordre du jour du Collège sans le feu vert de Frans Timmermans », at -il écrit dans la lettre de mission transmise à son bras droit lors de la formation du nouveau Collège, en novembre 2014. Frans Timmermans, le premier vice-Président, précisait à son tour que son objectif, et celui du Président Juncker, n'était rien d'autre que d'introduire un changement culturel au sein des méthodes de travail de la Commission mais aussi dans la manière dont les trois institutions interagiront. L'idée que « légiférer, c'est exister » est, pour le vice-Président, beaucoup trop prégnante au sein des institutions. Il convient d'abandonner cette fausse croyance et de se concentrer sur les domaines précis dans lesquels une législation européenne peut apporter une plus-value sur la base d'éléments probants au regard des législations nationales existantes, en se fondant sur d'autres modes de régulation (codes de bonne conduite, co-régulation et autoréglementation notamment) ou sur d'autres formes d'intervention (mise en oeuvre, contrôle, action communautaire, etc.). 6. Ce phénomène de surréglementation est aussi connu sous la dénomination de « gold plating ». « Mieux légiférer » : une simplification bureaucratique à visée politique WP 2015.04 13 22. Sur ce thème voir notamment Benjamin Huybrechts, Centre d'économie sociale, université de Liège, consulté sur la page Internet le 8.05.2015.

- by Eric Van den Abeele
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- Public Administration, Political Science, Politics, Law and Economics

The identification and monitoring of occupational cancer is an important aspect of occupational health protection. The Italian law on the protection of workers (D. Leg. 81/2008) includes different cancer monitoring systems for high and low etiologic fraction tumors. Record linkage between cancer registries and administrative data is a convenient procedure for occupational cancer monitoring. We aim to: (i) Create a list of industries with asbestos exposure and (ii) identify cancer cases who worked in these industries. The Italian National Mesothelioma Registry (ReNaM) includes information on occupational asbestos exposure of malignant mesothelioma (MM) cases. We developed using data from seven Italian regions a methodology for listing the industries with potential exposure to asbestos linking ReNaM to Italian National Social Security Institute (INPS) data. The methodology is iterative and adjusts for imprecision and inaccuracy in reporting firm names at interview. The list of asbesto...

- by Giorgia Stoppa
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- Environmental Health, Ovarian Cancer, Medicine, Multidisciplinary
- by Patrick Levallois
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- Environmental Health, Leukemia, Occupational Medicine, Medicine

Background and Aims: To examine the risk for cancer mortality among workers exposed to coal tar and coal tar pitch volatiles in a man-made graphite electrode factory. The risk for cancer mortality in this type of factory is still inconclusive, although coal tar and coal tar pitch are recognised as human carcinogens. Methods: The study cohort consisted of 332 male employees who served more than five years in the period 1951-74. The cohort was traced until 1988. Analyses used standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) to compare cause specific mortality with that in the general and local population. Effect of smoking was estimated based on the information collected from the subgroup of the cohort. SMRs for leading causes of death were compared among different job titles, duration of employment, time since first employment, and observation subperiods. Exposure level for tar and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) in the factory was also discussed, based on measurements done by other researchers in the past. Results: During the study period, 52 deaths were identified (SMR 0.68), including 22 cancer deaths (SMR 1.01). The SMR for lung cancer was significantly increased in comparison with the general population (SMR 2.62). It was slightly decreased in comparison with the local population, but remained significant (SMR 2.35). Excess deaths were also observed for lymphatic and haematopoietic cancers (SMR 3.46). Smoking habits in the subgroup were similar to those in the general population; thus the increased SMR for lung cancer was unlikely to be explained by smoking. Conclusion: Previous environmental measurements suggested that considerable exposure to tar and BaP had existed in the factory. The results suggest a possible risk for lung cancer among the cohort, but the limitations of the study, such as the small study population and insufficient information on exposure, indicate that further study is required.

- by Ippei Mori
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- Cancer, Cancer Epidemiology, Japan, Medicine

The risk of occupational cancer is still a matter of concern for occupational safety and health in Europe. The authors propose transparency of residual risks of Binding Occupational Exposure Limit Values (BOELV) for carcinogens and the establishment of a risk-based approach in Directive 2004/37/EC, the Carcinogens and Mutagens Directive, as important steps to further minimise the risk of occupational cancer. BOELV from the EU in their current form do not clearly identify residual risks as such. This may lead to a false sense of safety for employers and employees. Based on the good experience with a risk-based approach in Germany and other European countries, the authors support the introduction of a harmonised risk-based target level for carcinogens in the European Union.

- by Annette Wilmes
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- European Union, Risk assessment, Risk Assessment, Directive

The Role of Biomarkers in Detecting Early Changes Relating to Exposure to Occupational Carcinogens: Judith Shaham et al. Occupational Cancer Unit, Occupational Health and Rehabilitation Institute at Loewenstein Hospital—Increasing evidence points to the role of chemical exposure in the etiology of cancer. Approximately 4% (1‐10%) of all deaths due to cancer are caused by occupational carcinogens. In recent years carcinogenic mechanisms have been equated with a continuum multistage process driven by carcinogen induced genetic and epigenetic damage. This process reflects the natural history of chemically induced neoplasia and is translated into the latency period. The development and implementation of laboratory techniques to detect biomarkers that reflect these changes provide opportunities for early diagnosis of both occult and preneoplastic tumors. In order to facilitate the use of biomarkers in the assessment of health risk, they have been divided into categories that represent th...

- by Joseph P Ribak
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- Occupational Health, Biomarkers, Medicine, Molecular Epidemiology

Backgroung: The amount of radiation absorbed and measured is called radiation dose. It is mandatory to monitor the radiation dose of the radiation worker, which should be less than the internationally allowed values. A cancer center has three radiation departments: diagnostic radiology, nuclear medicine, and radiotherapy. The workers in these departments are classified as radiation workers. Methodolgy: The medical workers were monitored to determine their average annual effective dose using film badges for 4 years. The subdivision of radiation workers in a cancer center is medical staff/supervisors, technicians, and nurses. Results: The results are compared with national and international published data. The results of the measured annual dose were well below the international recommended dose limit of 20 mSv. Conclusion: The results suggest that the radiation safety standards are being practiced at

- by A Kalim Khan
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- Medical Physics, Medicine, Occupational Cancer, Medical Radiation

Aim The purpose of this study was to compare site-speciWc cancer death rates in male workforce across major occupational groups in Greece. Methods Data on cancer mortality in men aged 25-69 years during the period 2000-2005 were obtained from National Statistical Service of Greece. Age-and site (ICD-10)-speciWc cancer death rates and the ratio of standardized cancer death rates (i.e. the comparative mortality ratio and 95% conWdence interval) across seven major occupational groups (ISCO-88) were calculated. Results The proportion of total deaths due to cancer was ranged between 6.6, 24.3, 37.4, and 39.4% for the age groups of 15-39, 40-49, 50-59, and 60-69 years, respectively. Respiratory and gastrointestinal malignancies constituted 70% of the total cancer mortality in our population. Groups of elementary occupations, skilled agricultural workers, and plant workers showed very high mortality ratios of respiratory cancer while low ratios were found for the groups of professionals, legislators, senior oYcials, and managers and paradoxically for craft and related workers. Compared to the other groups, skilled agricultural and elementary groups showed higher rates of gastrointestinal and other or no determined malignancies in the age groups of 40-49 and 50-59 years old. Plant workers and machine operators/assemblers exhibited high mortality rates for most cancer sites especially in the elders group (60-69 years) and a mortality ratio of genitourinary cancer that diVered signiWcantly compared to any other group. Conclusions Up to 3.5-fold variations were found in site-speciWc cancer mortality ratios among men in Greece across broad occupational groups. The extent of the variation attributed to speciWc socioeconomic and/or occupational factors could not be estimated in the current study but the observed diVerences might stimulate thinking and preventive actions as well as point to potential hypotheses to pursue using research methods in which job and life related factors should be directly measured and controlled.

- by Dimitra Tanagra
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- Archives, Occupational Medicine, Medicine, Greece

Background: Previous studies tried to assess the association between socioeconomic status and laryngeal cancer. Alcohol and tobacco consumption explain already a large part of the social inequalities. Occupational exposures might explain a part of the remaining but the components and pathways of the socioeconomic contribution have yet to be fully disentangled. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of occupation using different occupational indices, differentiating between physical, psycho-social and toxic exposures and trying to summarize the occupational burden into one variable. Methods: A population-based case-control study conducted in Germany in 1998-2000 included 208 male cases and 702 controls. Information on occupational history, smoking, alcohol consumption and education was collected with face-to-face interviews. A recently developed job-classification index was used to account for the occupational burden. A sub-index focussed on jobs involving potentially carcinogenic agents (CAI) for the upper aero digestive tract. Results: When adjusted for smoking and alcohol consumption, higher odds ratios (ORs) were found for lower education. This OR decreased after further adjustment using the physical and psycho-social job indices (OR = 3.2, 95%-CI: 1.5-6.8), similar to the OR using the sub-index CAI (OR = 3.0, 95%-CI: 1.4-6.5). Conclusions: The use of an easily applicable control variable, simply constructed on standard occupational job classifications, provides the possibility to differentiate between educational and occupational contributions. Such an index might indirectly reflect the effect of carcinogenic agents, which are not collected in many studies.

- by Andreas Dietz
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- Education, Biostatistics, Environmental Health, Medicine

Background Studies of occupational exposures and ovarian cancer, often limited by few subjects or proportionate mortality data, have yielded inconsistent results. Methods Swedish women employed in 1960, 1970, or during both years were followed from 1971 to 1989 using census data linked to nationwide cancer and death registries. A total of 9,591 ovarian cancer cases were identified among 1,670,517 women. Poisson regression was used to estimate the relative risk of ovarian cancer in specific occupational groups and in women exposed to particular occupational exposures defined by job exposure matrices. We lacked data on reproductive factors. Results Jobs associated with elevated ovarian cancer rates in this and previous studies include dry cleaning, telegraph and telephone work, paper packaging, and graphic and printing work. In contrast to results of some previous studies, we found that hairdressers and beauticians were not at increased risk of ovarian cancer. Organic dusts, aromatic amines, aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons are suggested as specific etiologic agents. Conclusions In this large study, we have confirmed some results from smaller studies and identified some new relationships that need to be confirmed elsewhere.

- by Tahere moradi
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- Environmental Health, Occupational Medicine, Ovarian Cancer, Medicine

This is the first description of the Norwegian Fire Departments Cohort. Among male firefighters in the cohort, incidence of urinary tract cancer, laryngeal cancer, and mesothelioma was elevated. The observed risk patterns may reflect firefighters' occupational exposures to carcinogens, and efforts to reduce exposure through improved quality and use of protective equipment should be maintained.

- by Kristina Kjærheim
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- Psychology, Incidence Geometry, Cancer, Norwegian

The Lowell Center for Sustainable Production (LCSP) uses rigorous science, collaborative research, and innovative strategies to promote communities, workplaces, and products that are healthy, humane, and respectful of natural systems. The Center is composed of faculty, staff, and graduate students at the University of Massachusetts Lowell who work collaboratively with citizen groups, workers, businesses, institutions, and government agencies to build healthy work environments, thriving communities, and viable businesses that support a more sustainable world. This paper was produced by LCSP's Environmental Health Initiative, which seeks to better understand relationships between environmental exposures and human health, to prevent exposures that may be harmful, and to reverse rates of chronic disease.

- by D. Clapp
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- Medicine, Public Administration and Policy, Occupational Cancer

To estimate the current occupational cancer burden due to past exposures in Britain, estimates of the number of exposed workers at different levels are required, as well as risk estimates of cancer due to the exposures. This paper describes the methods and results for estimating the historical exposures. All occupational carcinogens or exposure circumstances classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as definite or probable human carcinogens and potentially to be found in British workplaces over the past 20-40 years were included in this study. Estimates of the number of people exposed by industrial sector were based predominantly on two sources of data, the CARcinogen EXposure (CAREX) database and the UK Labour Force Survey. Where possible, multiple and overlapping exposures were taken into account. Dose-response risk estimates were generally not available in the epidemiological literature for the cancer-exposure pairs in this study, and none of the sources available for obtaining the numbers exposed provided data by different levels of exposure. Industrial sectors were therefore assigned using expert judgement to 'higher'and 'lower'-exposure groups based on the similarity of exposure to the population in the key epidemiological studies from which risk estimates had been selected. Estimates of historical exposure prevalence were obtained for 41 carcinogens or occupational circumstances. These include exposures to chemicals and metals, combustion products, other mixtures or groups of chemicals, mineral and biological dusts, physical agents and work patterns, as well as occupations and industries that have been associated with increased risk of cancer, but for which the causative agents are unknown. There were more than half a million workers exposed to each of six carcinogens (radon, solar radiation, crystalline silica, mineral oils, non-arsenical insecticides and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzop-dioxin); other agents to which a large number of workers are exposed included benzene, diesel engine exhaust and environmental tobacco smoke. The study has highlighted several industrial sectors with large proportions of workers potentially exposed to multiple carcinogens. The relevant available data have been used to generate estimates of the prevalence of past exposure to occupational carcinogens to enable the occupational cancer burden in Britain to be estimated. These data are considered adequate for the present purpose, but new data on the prevalence and intensity of current occupational exposure to carcinogens should be collected to ensure that future policy decisions be based on reliable evidence.

- by Lesley Rushton
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- Epidemiology, Environmental Health, Risk assessment, Medicine

Purpose of Review Population attributable fractions (PAFs) are increasingly used for setting cancer prevention priorities. Our review aims, first, to gather published estimates of the percentage of cancer attributed to causal agents in the workplace and, second, to analyze them from the perspective of their potential effects on population health inequities. Recent Findings The estimates generally ranged from less than 2% to more than 8%, with an average of 4-5%. While most authors acknowledge that exposures concentrate in lower-socioeconomic status and more vulnerable workers, the literature has never considered the occupational group as a source of variation in the calculations. This knowledge gap is linked to the paucity of data describing the occupational patterning of exposures and cancer. More globally, the social gradient in cancer is often interpreted in the light of behavioral factors alone, a tendency linked by historians to the very foundations of modern epidemiology. Yet, there is accumulated evidence that work affects health and the risk of death through different pathways, which are also relevant to cancer. Summary While the epidemiologic literature addressed conceptual and validity issues surrounding PAFs, it seldom questioned their potential impacts. There is in particular a lack of consideration of factors beyond individual behaviors and a paucity of attention to population health inequities. We hence propose to further the discipline's reflexivity by changing the focus, scope, and metrics in order to assess the burden of work-related cancer in a way that is more meaningful to the most disadvantaged workers.

- by Emilie Counil
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- Psychology, Population, Modelling occupational exposures, Socioeconomic Status

Previous studies find significant negative effects of cancer on employment, with stronger effects for less-educated workers. We investigate whether the effect of cancer varies by skill requirement in the pre-cancer occupation, whether such heterogeneity can explain educational gradients, and whether cancer is associated with changes in job characteristics for cancer survivors who remain employed four years after the diagnosis. We combine Danish administrative registers with detailed skill requirement data and use individuals without cancer as a control group. Our main findings are the following: the negative effect of cancer on employment is stronger if the pre-cancer occupation requires high levels of manual skills or low levels of cognitive skills; the educational gradient diminishes substantially if we allow the effects of cancer to also depend on pre-cancer skill requirements; and cancer is not associated with occupational mobility, indicating potential for policies that reduce ...

- by Susumu Imai
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- Psychology, Health Economics, Cancer, Employment

Introduction Workers are potentially exposed to known and suspected carcinogens in the workplace, many of which have not been fully evaluated. Despite persistent need, research on occupational cancer appears to have declined in recent decades. The formation of the Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC) is an effort to counter this downward trend in Ontario. The OCRC conducted a survey of the broad stakeholder community to learn about priority issues on occupational cancer research. Methods The OCRC received 177 responses to its survey from academic, health care, policy, industry, and labour-affiliated stakeholders. Responses were analyzed based on workplace exposures, at-risk occupations and cancers by organ system, stratified by respondents’ occupational role. Results Priority issues identified included workplace exposures such as chemicals, respirable dusts and fibres (e.g. asbestos), radiation (e.g. electromagnetic fields), pesticides, and shift work; and occupations such as ...

- by Shelley Harris
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- Environmental Health, Medicine, Biomedical Research, Asbestos

The contribution of occupation-related diseases to the global burden of disease is greatly underestimated, mainly due to a shortage of occupational exposure data. This problem is particularly salient in Switzerland, where no estimates of occupation-related disease burden exist, even for the well-recognised occupational cancers, such as malignant pleural mesothelioma and lung cancer. To overcome this situation, we launched a research project "Examining Cancers and Labour Indicators to assess the Burden" (ExCaLIBur). Within this project, we aimed to assess the need for and quality (i.e., completeness, accuracy and precision) of occupation registration in all cancer registries of Western Switzerland. We also aimed to find a relevant and feasible strategy to collect this information in the future. We applied a mixed research method. We observed that, independently of the level of precision (5-3-2-1-digit aggregation level), the accuracy was lesser in the registries that were able to actively search and verify occupational information. Overall, the distinction of occupations based on the 3-digit code presents an acceptable compromise in terms of precision. Having such occupations registered in all, or most, Swiss cancer registries routinely would obviously be valuable for epidemiological surveillance of occupational cancers in Switzerland. However, it seems less obvious how these data could fulfill the research objectives, since a better precision than 3-digit occupational coding is challenging to achieve. Currently, the collection of occupational data by the Swiss cancer registries remains feasible in the frame of specific research projects on occupational cancers. However, available data sources, as well as lack of financial and human resources, will continue to affect quality of the collected occupation data. Therefore, the usage of the standard-ised questionnaire retracing the individual occupational history to enable further assessment of individual exposure to potential occupational hazards is recommended. However, this approach will disable the Swiss registries to insuring their epidemiological surveillance mission with respect to occupational cancers in Switzerland, for which national statistics remain limited.

- by Jean-luc Bulliard
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- Medicine, Clinical Sciences, Occupational Cancer

A sound knowledge base is required to target resources to reduce workplace exposure to carcinogens. This project aimed to provide an objective estimate of the burden of cancer in Britain due to occupation. This volume presents extensive analyses for all carcinogens and occupational circumstances defined as definite or probable human occupational carcinogens by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. This article outlines the structure of the supplement-two methodological papers (statistical approach and exposure assessment), eight papers presenting the cancer-specific results grouped by broad anatomical site, a paper giving industry sector results and one discussing work-related cancer-prevention strategies. A brief summary of the methods and an overview of the updated overall results are given in this introductory paper. A general discussion of the overall strengths and limitations of the study is also presented. Overall, 8010 (5.3%) total cancer deaths in Britain and 13, 598 cancer registrations were attributable to occupation in 2005 and 2004, respectively. The importance of cancer sites such as mesothelioma, sinonasal, lung, nasopharynx, breast, non-melanoma skin cancer, bladder, oesophagus, soft tissue sarcoma and stomach cancers are highlighted, as are carcinogens such as asbestos, mineral oils, solar radiation, silica, diesel engine exhaust, coal tars and pitches, dioxins, environmental tobacco smoke, radon, tetrachloroethylene, arsenic and strong inorganic mists, as well as occupational circumstances such as shift work and occupation as a painter or welder. The methods developed for this project are being adapted by other countries and extended to include social and economic impact evaluation.

- by Lesley Rushton
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- Cancer, Environmental Health, Cancer Research, Adolescent

Objectives: Work-related cancers are largely preventable. The overall aim of this project is to estimate the current burden of cancer in Great Britain attributable to occupational factors, and identify carcinogenic agents, industries and occupations for targeting risk prevention. Methods: Attributable fractions and numbers were estimated for mortality and incidence for bladder, lung, non-melanoma skin, and sinonasal cancers, leukaemia and mesothelioma for agents and occupations classified as International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Group 1 and 2A carcinogens with ''strong'' or ''suggestive'' evidence for carcinogenicity at the specific cancer site in humans. Risk estimates were obtained from published literature and national data sources used for estimating proportions exposed. Results: In 2004, 78 237 men and 71 666 women died from cancer in Great Britain. Of these, 7317 (4.9%) deaths (men: 6259 (8%); women: 1058 (1.5%)) were estimated to be attributable to work-related carcinogens for the six cancers assessed. Incidence estimates were 13 338 (4.0%) registrations (men: 11 284 (6.7%); women 2054 (1.2%)). Asbestos contributed over half the occupational attributable deaths, followed by silica, diesel engine exhaust, radon, work as a painter, mineral oils in metal workers and in the printing industry, environmental tobacco smoke (non-smokers), work as a welder and dioxins. Occupational exposure to solar radiation, mineral oils and coal tars/pitches contributed 2557, 1867 and 550 skin cancer registrations, respectively. Industries/occupations with large numbers of deaths and/or registrations include construction, metal working, personal and household services, mining (not metals), land transport and services allied to transport, roofing, road repair/ construction, printing, farming, the Armed Forces, some other service industry sectors and manufacture of transport equipment, fabricated metal products, machinery, non-ferrous metals and metal products, and chemicals. Conclusions: Estimates for all but leukaemia are greater than those currently used in UK health and safety strategy planning and contrast with small numbers (200-240 annually) from occupational accidents. Sources of uncertainty in the estimates arise principally from approximate data and methodological issues. On balance, the estimates are likely to be a conservative estimate of the true risk. Long latency means that past high exposures will continue to give substantial numbers in the near future. Although levels of many exposures have reduced, recent measurements of others, such as wood dust and respirable quartz, show continuing high levels. METHODS Occupational carcinogens assessed At two international workshops held as part of the project to discuss the methodology (

- by Lesley Rushton
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- Cancer, Environmental Health, Medicine, Lung Cancer

Bladder cancer refers to any of several types of malignant growths of the urinary bladder, about 90-95% of which are transitional cell carcinomas (TCC); the remaining are squamous cell carcinomas and adenocarcinomas (Quinn et al, 2001). Every year in the United Kingdom almost 10 200 people are diagnosed with bladder cancer, with 44800 deaths, accounting for around 1 in 20 of all cancer registrations and 1 in 30 cancer deaths (Cooper and Cartwright, 2005). In GB, the age-standardised incidence rates increased throughout the 1970s and 1980s to reach a peak in the late 1980s, although the numbers of deaths have remained steady in recent years (Quinn et al, 2001). In most European countries, including England and Wales, bladder cancer is at least three times less frequent in women than in men, which has been seen as partly due to different smoking habits and also an indication for an occupational origin (Lilienfeld and Lilienfeld, 1980; Parkin and Muir, 1992). Patients with superficial non-penetrating tumours have an excellent prognosis with 5-year survival rates between 80 and 90%, whereas patients with muscle-invasive tumours have 5-year survival rates of o50%. Population-based bladder cancer survival rates have changed very little between the late 1980s and the late 1990s, with men having a persistent 6-10% survival advantage (Shah et al, 2008). Many studies have suggested B40 potentially high-risk occupations (Silverman et al, 2006). Despite this, the relationship between many of these occupations and bladder cancer risk is unclear, with evidence of a strong association for a few occupations: aromatic amine manufacturing workers, dyestuffs workers and dye users, painters, leather workers, aluminium workers and truck drivers (Silverman et al, 2006). Tobacco smoking and occupational exposure to aromatic amines (AAs) are two established environmental risk factors for bladder cancer, and controlling exposure to these has been an important contributor to the reduction in mortality, particularly among men (Pelucchi et al, 2006). Up to 40% of all male and 10% of female cases might be ascribable to smoking (Cooper and Cartwright, 2005); the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has suggested that the proportion of cases attributable to prolonged smoking in most countries is of the order of 50% in men and 25% in women (IARC, 1986). The relative risks (RR) are around 2-to 4-fold (

- by Lesley Rushton
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- Cancer, Risk assessment, Medicine, Carcinogens

Background The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) recently classified glyphosate, the most used herbicide worldwide, as a probable human carcinogen. We inquired into the association between occupational exposure to glyphosate and risk of lymphoma subtypes in a multicenter case-control study conducted in Italy. Methods The Italian Gene-Environment Interactions in Lymphoma Etiology (ItGxE) study took place in 2011–17 in six Italian centres. Overall, 867 incident lymphoma cases and 774 controls participated in the study. Based on detailed questionnaire information, occupational experts classified duration, confidence, frequency, and intensity of exposure to glyphosate for each study subject. Using unconditional regression analysis, we modelled risk of major lymphoma subtypes associated with exposure to glyphosate adjusted by age, gender, education, and study centre. Results Very few study subjects (2.2%) were classified as ever exposed to glyphosate. Risk of follicular ...

- by Marina Padoan
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- Environmental Health, Medicine, Lymphoma, Pesticides

- by Giovanni Ferri
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- Environmental Health, Medicine, Lymphoma, Pesticides

Labor conditions of junior medical staff at oncological institutions and risks arising in the course of their work are considered in the present article.Topicality. Monitoring of hygienic conditions of labor which was conducted at cancer oncological institutions of Ukraine has shown that 80-85% of junior medical staff’ work conditions do not correspond to requirements of occupational health and safety standards and refer to harmful and dangerous category of work.That’s why research focused on health protection of junior medical staff during work with carcinogens as well as introduction of newest health and safety procedures into learning process are very actual and advanced.Research statement. Most anticancer drugs that are used for oncology patients’ treatment have expressed non-selective, toxic effects on the body as well as mutagenic, carcinogenic influence. However, not only treated patient’s organism is affected by such exposure but junior medical staff that prepares, admin...

- by olha malyshevska
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- Medicine, Occupational Safety and Health, Carcinogenesis, Occupational Cancer

- by Evangelos C Alexopoulos
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- Archives, Occupational Medicine, Medicine, Greece

- by Elizabeth Ward
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- Research Design, Environmental Health, Environmental Monitoring, Risk assessment

Construction laborers have some of the highest death rates of any occupation in the United States. There has been very little systematic research focused exclusively on "laborers" as opposed to other workers in the construction industry. We reviewed the English language literature and various data bases describing the occupational tasks, exposures, and work-related health risks of construction laborers. The sources of information included 1) occupational mortality surveillance data collected by the states of California and Washington and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH); 2) National Occupational Exposure Survey; 3) national fatality data; 4) cancer registry data; and 5) case reports of specific causes of morbidity. While the literature reported that construction laborers have increased risk for mesothelioma, on-the-job trauma, acute lead poisoning, musculoskeletal injury, and dermatitis, the work relatedness of excess risks for all-cause mortality, cirrhosis, cerebrovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ischemic heart disease, and leukemia is less clear. Furthermore, while laborers are known to be potentially exposed to asbestos, noise, and lead, and the NIOSH Job Exposure Matrix describes other potential hazardous exposures, little research has characterized other possible exposures and no research has been found that describes the exposures associated with specific job tasks. More advanced study designs are needed that include a better understanding of the job tasks and exposures to construction laborers, in order to evaluate specific exposure-disease relationships and to develop intervention programs aimed at reducing the rate of work-related diseases.

- by Paul Schulte
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- Occupational Health, Environmental Health, Medicine, Construction Industry
- by Jorma Rantanen
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- Environmental Health, Medicine, Population, Estimation

In recent years, several new burden projects have been initiated with increased methodological sophistication. Previous studies have varied with respect to methods used to identify the prevalence and relevant levels of exposure, but many have relied on CAREX estimates. In this presentation, we will focus on the impact of incorporating more detailed exposure assessments with quantitative estimates as part of the Canadian burden of cancer project. The Canadian exposure estimation process relies on data from CAREX Canada, taking into account industry and occupation at a more detailed level than previously. For many common carcinogens, the Canadian Workplace Exposure Database is used to account for changes in exposure levels over time and quantitative exposure-response relationships from the literature are used to assign relative risks relevant to the mean level of each exposure group. Historical employment trends are based upon census data at multiple time-points with province, sex, in...

- by Lesley Rushton
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- Geography, Exposure Assessment, Estimation, Clinical Sciences
- by Lesley Rushton
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- Environmental Health, Occupational Medicine, Medicine, HAZARD

The aim of this project is to estimate the future burden of occupational cancer and to forecast the impact of alternative policy decisions as they affect future workplace exposure levels. Methods The method builds on an approach using attributable fractions (AFs) developed to estimate the current burden of occupational cancer. Risk exposure periods (REPs) are projected forward in time, to estimate AFs for forecast target years up to 2060 to allow for cancer latency. The estimates take into account past and projected exposure trends and also targeted reduction scenarios, using adjustment factors for changes in exposed numbers and levels applied in estimation intervals within the REPs. Comparative estimates can be made even where exposure data are limited. The method has been applied to exposures that account for 86% of current occupational cancers. Scenarios tested include reducing numbers exposed or excess risk, and the introduction of exposure standards or of improving compliance to current standards. Results Forecasts are presented of cancers attributable to occupational exposure to asbestos, ETS, radon, solar radiation, coal tars and pitches (PAHs), crystalline silica, arsenic, strong inorganic acid mists, tetrachloroethylene, DEE, TCDD, and employment as a painter, welder or on night shift work, plus estimates of cancers that could be avoided given appropriate interventions to reduce exposure. Conclusions The method can be used to highlight carcinogens, industries and occupations where risk remains high, and to demonstrate the comparative effectiveness of the timing and nature of intervention and the importance of compliance to existing and proposed standards.

- by Lesley Rushton
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- Environmental Health, Medicine, Estimation, Clinical Sciences

Reducing the burden of occupational cancers (OCs) is currently one of the most challenging Occupational Health (OH) issues. The European Union (EU) has made efforts to improve the existing legal framework and developed specific legislation aimed at reducing the burden of OC. However, available data suggest that OC are underreported. In August 2019, the European Association of Schools of Occupational Medicine (EASOM) adopted a statement that highlighted the importance of improving the education and training of Medical Doctors (MDs) to facilitate improvements in recognizing and reporting OC. To achieve this, EASOM proposes to promote OH education and training of MDs at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, foster harmonization of OH education and teaching standards and programs across EU countries, and enhance cooperation between universities and international scientific associations. Finally, we suggest that occupational data should be recorded in cancer and medical registers. By en...

- by Begoña Martinez-Jarreta
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- Political Science, European Union, Medicine, Multidisciplinary

1,3-Butadiene is classified as carcinogenic to humans by inhalation. This study aimed to assess cancer and non-cancer risk following occupational exposure to 1,3-butadiene. This cross-sectional study was conducted in a petrochemical plant producing acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer in Iran. Occupational exposure to 1,3-butadiene was measured according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 1024 method. Cancer and non-cancer risk assessment were performed according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency method. The average occupational exposure to 1,3-butadiene during work shifts among all participants was 560.82 ± 811.36 µg m−3. The average lifetime cancer risk (LCR) in the present study was 2.71 × 10−3; 82.2% of all exposed workers were within the definite carcinogenic risk level. Also, the mean non-cancer risk (hazard quotient (HQ)) among all participants was 10.82 ± 14.76. The highest LCR and HQ were observed in the safety and fire-figh...

- by Ali Sajedian
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- Environmental Toxicology, Toxicology, Cancer, Environmental Health

- by vahid ahmadi
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- Environmental Toxicology, Toxicology, Cancer, Environmental Health

- by Farideh Golbabaei
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- Environmental Toxicology, Toxicology, Cancer, Environmental Health

Les publications de l'ETUI sont produites dans le but de susciter des commentaires et d'encourager le débat. Les opinions qui y sont exprimées sont celles de l'auteur/des auteurs et ne reflètent pas nécessairement les positions de l'ETUI... more

- by Laurent Vogel
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- European Studies, European Law, Occupational Health & Safety, Cancer

Cancer au travail : le principal défi de la nouvelle stratégie communautaire Chaque année, dans l'Union européenne, environ 2,5 millions de nouveaux cas de cancer sont diagnostiqués. Leur répartition dans la population est liée à... more

- by Laurent Vogel
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- Political Science, Sciences sociales, Santé publique
- by Laurent Vogel
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- Art, Cancer, Santé Au Travail, Inégalités sociales de santé

This publication presents a critical appraisal of the principal EU legislation adopted so far. In so doing, it identifies significant gaps in the central feature of this legislation, which is the directive concerning the protection of workers against carcinogens. The aspects of this directive which most require attention and revision are discussed in each of the different contributions to this paper. First and foremost, binding limit values for workplace exposure need to be redefined in order to cover the principal situations of exposure. Another key point is the necessity of expanding the directive's scope to cover other toxic substances, some of the most worrying being those that present risks to reproduction. Laurent Vogel 6 WP 2016.05 European legislation and prevention of occupational cancers 7 WP 2016.05 7 Laurent Vogel 8 WP 2016.05 8 1. Decision of 8 December 1982 of the Council of the OECD concerning the minimum premarketing set of data in the assessment of chemicals [C(82)196(Final)]. 2. Since the adoption of REACH, the rate of restrictions has slowed down. There has been a move from two new measures a year on average to one measure a year (Musu, 2013). European legislation and prevention of occupational cancers 9 WP 2016.05 9 3. Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 on the classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures. 4. For numerous nanomaterials, the production volumes are less than one tonne per year per producer. In this case, no registration is obligatory under the terms of REACH. Also, producers tend to underestimate the fact that the physico-chemical properties of nanomaterials differ appreciably from those of larger particles with the same chemical composition. Laurent Vogel 10 WP 2016.05 10 5. In this text, a preparation is defined as a mixture or solution comprising two substances or more. In the current terminology, reference is made to mixtures. 6. The negotiations for enlargement also involved Norway. Norway's accession was rejected by referendum in the Autumn of 1994. Laurent Vogel 12 WP 2016.05 12 8. With the formation of the new Commission chaired by J.-Cl. Juncker in 2014, the role of DG Environment in European policies concerning chemical risks has been greatly reduced. The biocides dossier has been removed from it. This reversal was criticised by environmental protection associations, which detected a sign of strengthening of the role of industry lobbies. 9. Mr Geert Dancet, the first director of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) based in Helsinki came from the ranks of DG Enterprise and Industry. After the end of a first term of five years, he was reappointed in 2012. Laurent Vogel 18 WP 2016.05 18 17. A harmonised classification of formaldehyde as carcinogen 1B came into force in the EU in April 2015. 18. There are no European data comparable with SUMER. The CAREX programme intended to evaluate the number of workers exposed to carcinogenic substances in Europe supplied data for the '90s (Kauppinen, 2010). It was then interrupted. Since 2000, the European Commission has no longer supplied any statistical data on this matter. The European survey on working conditions does not draw any distinction between exposure to carcinogenic agents and other exposure to chemical risks. European legislation and prevention of occupational cancers 25 WP 2016.05 25 23. As of January 2015, 13 Member States of the European Union had not yet ratified this convention. These are Austria,

- by Laurent Vogel
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- Business, Engineering, European Law, Occupational Health