Occupation and cancer in Britain

Abstract

Background: Prioritising control measures for occupationally related cancers should be evidence based. We estimated the current burden of cancer in Britain attributable to past occupational exposures for International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) group 1 (established) and 2A (probable) carcinogens. Methods: We calculated attributable fractions and numbers for cancer mortality and incidence using risk estimates from the literature and national data sources to estimate proportions exposed. Results: 5.3% (8019) cancer deaths were attributable to occupation in 2005 (men, 8.2% (6362); women, 2.3% (1657)). Attributable incidence estimates are 13 679 (4.0%) cancer registrations (men, 10 063 (5.7%); women, 3616 (2.2%)). Occupational attributable fractions are over 2% for mesothelioma, sinonasal, lung, nasopharynx, breast, non-melanoma skin cancer, bladder, oesophagus, soft tissue sarcoma, larynx and stomach cancers. Asbestos, shift work, mineral oils, solar radiation, silica, diesel engine exhaust, coal tars and pitches, occupation as a painter or welder, dioxins, environmental tobacco smoke, radon, tetrachloroethylene, arsenic and strong inorganic mists each contribute 100 or more registrations. Industries and occupations with high cancer registrations include construction, metal working, personal and household services, mining, land transport, printing/publishing, retail/hotels/restaurants, public administration/defence, farming and several manufacturing sectors. 56% of cancer registrations in men are attributable to work in the construction industry (mainly mesotheliomas, lung, stomach, bladder and non-melanoma skin cancers) and 54% of cancer registrations in women are attributable to shift work (breast cancer). Conclusion: This project is the first to quantify in detail the burden of cancer and mortality due to occupation specifically for Britain. It highlights the impact of occupational exposures, together with the occupational circumstances and industrial areas where exposures to carcinogenic agents occurred in the past, on population cancer morbidity and mortality; this can be compared with the impact of other causes of cancer. Risk reduction strategies should focus on those workplaces where such exposures are still occurring.

Human Papilloma Virus Attributable Head and Neck Cancer in the Sudan Assessed by p16INK4AImmunostaining

“…However, a link has been demonstrated between social class and HPV-related cancers. Data indicates that cervical cancer incidence is considerably higher among women of working age in manual than in non-manual classes (Rushton et al, 2010;Parkin, 2011). The impact of occupational exposures, together with the occupational circumstances and industrial areas where exposures to carcinogenic agents occurred in the past, on population cancer morbidity and mortality; this can be compared with the impact of other causes of cancer (Parkin, 2011).…”

Intervening to Reduce the Future Burden of Occupational Cancer in Britain: What Could Work?

“…To account for cancer latency a risk exposure period (REP) was defined for each carcinogen as the exposure period relevant to a cancer appearing in a specific target year (10-50 years for solid tumors, 0-20 years for lymphohaematopoetic tumors). As exposure-response risk estimates and proportions exposed at different levels are not generally available, risk estimates and proportions exposed were obtained wherever possible for "high," "medium," and "low" exposure levels with a "background" level, where appropriate, assumed to have 0 excess risk [these categories have been expanded from "high" and "low" only which were used to estimate current burden (1)]. Estimated AFs were applied to total British deaths (for 2005) and registrations (for 2004) to give attributable cancer numbers.…”

Bladder cancer prevention

“…It is estimated to account for 5.3% of all diagnosed cases and 7.1% of those found in men [16]. The most important industrial chemical compounds implicated in the process of carcinogenesis include aromatic amines (e.g.…”