How work causes cancer
Wednesday June 20th, 2012
About 8,000 people a year in the UK are dying from cancer linked to their place of work, researchers warn today.
About five per cent of the total of cancer deaths is linked to work, particularly exposure to asbestos, diesel engine fumes, silica or carrying out shift work, researchers say.
Just under half of these deaths were among construction workers.
Details appear in the British Journal of Cancer today (June 20). The authors, led by Dr Lesley Rushton of Imperial College London, UK, examined work-related cancer causing substances that had been identified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
About 13,600 new cases of cancer each year are estimated to be triggered by work-related risk factors. Night shift-work is thought to be linked to 1,960 female breast cancer cases a year. Mineral oil from metal and printing industries may cause 1,730 cases of bladder, lung and non-melanoma skin cancers. Sun exposure at work could cause 1,540 skin cancer cases. Exposure to silica may trigger 910 cancer cases, and exposure to diesel engine exhaust, 800 cases.
"This study gives us a clear insight into how the jobs people do affect their risk of cancer," said Dr Rushton. "We hope these findings will help develop ways of reducing health risks caused by exposure to carcinogens in the workplace."
Dr Rushton added that the team believe the true figures could be even higher than these estimates, because new work-related risk factors are often being identified.
The cancer with the greatest number of cases and deaths linked to work is lung cancer, which is hard to detect early and has a poor survival rate. The experts say that one of the best ways to beat lung cancer is prevention via reduced smoking rates as well as limiting work-place risks.
Occupation and cancer in Britain. Rushton, L. et al. The British Journal of Cancer June 20 2012.
Tags: Cancer | General Health | UK News
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