2. Introduction:
• Cancer: Cancer is the uncontrolled growth and spread of cells. It can
affect almost any part of the body. The growths often invade surrounding
tissue and can metastasize to distant sites. – WHO.
• Occupational cancer: It is cancer, caused by occupational hazards.
Several cancers have been directly tied to occupational hazards,
including chimney sweeps' carcinoma, mesothelioma and others.
• Occupational carcinogens: Occupational carcinogen is any substance,
radionuclide, or radiation that promotes carcinogenesis, the formation of
cancer. This may be due to the ability to damage the genome or to the
disruption of cellular metabolic processes.
3. Historical Background:
80 Million years ago Dinosaur bones show evidence of cancer.
3000 BC Egyptian mummies show bone cancer.
300 BC Hippocrates named tumors as carcinoses or carcinoma, those
tumors spread out like legs of a crab.
1775 Percival Pott discovered occupational cancer of scrotum in
chimney sweepers.
1895 Bladder cancer in workers in aniline dye industry.
1974 Creech and Johnson identified angiosarcoma of the liver
among vinyl chloride workers.
4. Common occupational carcinogens:
• Nickel
• Chromium
• Arsenic
• Mustard gas
• Volatile tars
• Isopropyl sulfates
• Bis (chloromethyl) ether
• Radioactive ores
5. The most common cancers in occupational settings:
Cancers Percentages
Lung 6.3-13%
Bladder 3-19%
Mesothelioma 85-90% (men) 23-90% (women)
Leukemia 08-2.8%
Laryngeal 01-20% (men)
Skin Cancer 1.5-6% (non-melanoma) (men)
Sinonasal and nasopharyngeal 31-43% (men)
Kidney 0-2.3%
6. The most common cancers in occupational settings:
Type of cancer Related to occupational exposure
estimated %
Lung 6.3 – 13 %
Bladder 3 – 19 %
Mesothelioma 85 – 90 % (Men), 23 – 90 % (Women)
Leukemia 08 – 2.8 %
Laryngeal 01 – 20 % (Men)
Skin Cancer 1.5 – 06 % (Men – Non-Melanoma)
Sino-nasal & Nasopharyngeal 31 – 43 % (Men)
Kidney 0 – 2.3 %
7. Characteristics of occupational cancers:
• Appear after prolong exposure.
• The period between exposure and development of the disease may be as long as 10
to 25 years.
• The disease may develop even after cessation of exposure.
• The average age incidence is earliear than that for cancer in general.
• The localisation of the tumours is usually constant in any one occupation.
• Personal hygiene is important in the prevention of occupational cancer.
9. Causes of cancers in occupational setting:
Cancer Source Examples of Occupations
Bladder
Benzidine, beta-naphthylamine,
4-aminobiphenyl, arsenic
Rubber, leather, paving, roofing,
printing and textile industries; paint/
dyeing products; chimney sweeping;
machinists; hairdressers and barbers;
truck drivers
Kidney
Cadmium, trichloroethylene, herbicides,
wood dust
Painting; metalworking; petroleum,
plastics, and textile industries
Larynx Asbestos, wood dust, paint fumes
Metal working; petroleum, rubber,
plastics, and textile industries
Leukemia
Formaldehyde, benzene, ethylene
oxide, pesticides
Rubber manufacturing; oil refining;
shoemaking
Liver Arsenic, vinyl chloride, aflatoxins Plastic manufacturing
Lung
Radon, secondhand smoke, asbestos,
arsenic, cadmium, chromium compounds,
diesel exhaust, sulfur mustard
Rubber manufacturing, paving,
roofing, painting, chimney sweeping,
iron and steel foundry work, welding
Lymphoma
Benzene, 1, 3-butadiene, ethylene
oxide, herbicides, insecticides
Rubber manufacturing, painting,
hairdresser or barber
Mesothelioma Asbestos
Mining, railroad, automotive,
plumbing, painting and construction
industries; factory workers
Nasal cavity & sinus
Mustard gas, nickel dust, chromium
dust, leather dust, wood dust, radium
Textile and baking industry, flour
milling, nickel refining, furniture and
cabinet builders, shoemaking
Skin
Arsenic, coal tars, paraffin, certain oils,
sunlight
Chimney sweeping; outside jobs that
involve a lot of sun exposure
10. Existing situation:
• One of every two or three individuals in the industrialized world will
develop some type of cancer during their lifetimes.
• Approximately 3-10% of all human cancers are thought to be caused by
occupational exposure to carcinogens.
• It is estimated that approximately 20,000 cancer deaths and 40,000 new
cases of cancer each year in the U.S. are attributable to occupation.
• Occupational carcinogens is important because they are completely
preventable.
11. Prevention of cancers in occupational setting:
• Banning the use of an occupational carcinogens.
• Regulation to keep to certain minimum standards to minimize the
exposure to carcinogens.
• Known carcinogens should be strictly regulated at workplaces through
standards and regularly monitored.
• Substitution of a new, less hazardous material for a material of known
carcinogenicity, if possible, eliminate carcinogen.
• Restriction of the use of carcinogens & improve work place technology.
• Use of Personal Protective Equipment- Carefully designed equipment
should be properly used and maintained.
• Periodical biological monitoring and medical screening of workers to
estimate the levels of exposure and to assess the early health effects.
