International Agency for Research on Cancer – IARC
Involved in occupational cancer research
Evaluates and classifies chemicals, occupations, physical effects, industrial processes, according to their carcinogenetic potential
Group 1 – definitely carcinogenic
113 substances
Alcohol
Smoking
UV radiation
Processed meat
Group 2A – probably carcinogenic
Red meat
Fried food
Group 2B – possibly carcinogenic
Coffee
Welding fumes
Group 3 – not classifiable as carcinogenic
Due to lack of enough evidence
Magnetic fields
Tea
Group 4 – probably not carcinogenic
Only 1 substance
Annually registered cases of occupation cancer in Hungary – 10 to 30 cases
Massive underreporting
CAREX database – holds data on the occupational carcinogen exposure in Europe
Occupational cancer is the main cause of occupational death in Europe
Occupational cancer accounts for 8% of cancers
23% of the workforce is exposed to occupational carcinogens on a daily basis
Most frequent occupational carcinogenic exposures
Solar (UV) radiation
Tobacco smoke
Silica crystals
Diesel exhaust
Cancer initiators
One-time exposure is sufficient
Bind to DNA and cause mutations
Irreversible effect
Examples
PAH
Tobacco
Nitrosamines
Cancer promoters
Repeated exposure is necessary
No carcinogenic effect without an initiator
Does not bind to DNA
Reversible effect
Examples
DDT
PCB
Tobacco smoke
Carcinogens are stochastic, i.e. there is no “safe” level of exposure to the carcinogens, and the probability of cancer increases with dose
Many environmental carcinogens are also encountered in occupations, so the distinction between environmental and occupational carcinogens is not always straight forward
Aflatoxin, cyclophosphamide, UV radiation, PAH, etc.
Most frequent occupational cancers
Lung and pleura
Bladder
Skin
Lung cancer
Occupations
Miners
Construction workers
Shipyard workers
Occupational carcinogens
Asbestos
Radon
PAHs
Arsenic
Prevention of asbestos exposure
Find out where asbestos is
Only qualified workers should remove it
It’s more dangerous to remove it than to leave it (as that releases it into the air)
