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Hazards

Cancer - what causes it?

Cancer can be caused by a number of chemicals, groups of chemicals, industries or industrial processes. Some chemicals are naturally found in foods and others are used for medicinal purposes. Some viruses can also cause cancer.The scientific consensus is that on average, 8% of cancer deaths are work-related. For some, like bladder and lung cancer, the figure is even well above 10%.  
 
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimates the human toll at over 600,000 deaths a year – one death every 52 seconds. The ILO calculates that approximately 13% of all cancers in developed countries are the result of preventable, predictable workplace exposure. Today, more people face a workplace cancer risk than at any other time in history. According to international unions, the cancers are due in large part to the almost 100,000 synthetic chemicals that have been introduced into workplaces, resulting in worker exposure over the last century. Of all these substances, asbestos is fingered as ‘the world’s biggest ever industrial killer’, as it is responsible for 100,000 deaths each year, a toll that could eventually amount to 10 million deaths worldwide.

Australian researchers, Dr Tim Driscoll, senior lecturer at the University's School of Public Health and Dr Lin Fritschi from Queensland Cancer, found in a 2006 study that one in ten male workers and one in 50 female workers developed cancer every year due to workplace exposure to carcinogens. See also article in the Sydney Morning Herald, October 2007:  Workplace cancer a hidden toll
 
Occupational causes of cancer
 
Cancer Examples of principal carcinogenic occupational exposures
Lung cancer
Asbestos; silica; nickel; indoor radon; diesel fumes; environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) at the workplace; production and refining of: arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, aluminium and chromium; mining of uranium; copper smelting; iron and steel founding; vineyard workers; roofers; asphalt workers; painters
 
Bladder cancer
2-naphtylamine; benzidine; 4-aminobipheyl; manufacturing of: magenta, auramine, p-chloro-o-toluidine, pigment chromate, and dyes; sythetic latex production; tyre curing; calendar operatives; reclaim; cable makers; gas-retort workers; painters
 
Mesothelioma
Asbestos
 
Leukaemia
External ionizing radiation; benzene; ethylene oxide; rubber industry; boot and shoe manufacturing and repair
 
Laryngeal cancer Sulfuric acid; mineral oils and asbestos; pickling operations
Skin cancer
Intensive solar radiation; coal-tar pitches; coal tar; shale oils; arsenic; mineral oils; polycyclic-aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH); production of coke; vineyard workers; fishermen
 
Sinonasal and nasopharyngeal cancer
Wood dust; nickel compounds; hexavalent chromium; boot and shoe manufacturing and repair; manufacturing of isopopanol using strong acid process; furniture and cabinet making; carpenters; formaldehyde
 
Kidney cancer
Coke production
 
Liver cancer
Vinyl chloride; occupational infections with hepatitis B and C; health care workers
 
 
(Table from Issue 11 - 2006, Global Occupational Health Network Newsletter {WHO])
 
The World Health Organisation, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) regularly updates its monographs which list these according to the following catergories:
  • Group 1: Chemicals, groups of chemicals, industries or industrial processes for which there is sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in humans
  • Group 2A: Probably carcinogenic to humans
  • Group 2B: Possibly carcinogenic to humans
  • Group 3: Not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity in to humans.
  • Group 4: Probably not carcinogenic to humans. 
The list of agents from each group can be accessed from this IARC webpage. (For those interested in checking out Wikipedia's page: List of IARC Group 1 carcinogens however, exercise some caution with some of the information)

In October 2007 scientists met at IARC to consider the carcinogenicity of painting, shiftwork and firefighting.  Their conclusions, which have now been reflected in the IARC classifications:

  • Painting: "there is sufficient evidence in humans that occupational exposure as a painter causes cancers of the lung and urinary bladder." In addition, there is also limited evidence that painting is associated with childhood leukaemia.  Overall, occupational exposure as a painter is carcinogenic to humans - Group 1
  • Shiftwork: on the basis of "limited evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of shiftwork that involves nightwork, and sufficient evidence in experimental animals for the carcinogencity of light during the daily dark period (night)", shift-work that involves circadian disruption is probably carcinogenic to humans - Group 2A
  • Firefighting: on the basis of "limited evidence of carcinogenicity in humans", occupational exposure as a firefighter is possibly carcinogenic to humans - Group 2B

Workers with cancer

Almost one in three Australians are or will be directly affected by cancer - many of them workers.  Being diagnosed with cancer causes fear and affects every aspect of a person's life, including their ability to work.  While many cancers can be cured, the tests and treatments, such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, may mean time spent in hospital and recuperating.  In addition, the symptoms of cancer or the side effects of treatment may affect a person's ability to work as effectively as before their illness. 
 
Some people may wish to continue to work, if they can, or return to work as soon as possible.  Others may decide to retire early or may be unable to continue to work in any capacity.
 
Workplaces should consider developing a cancer and working policy.  This is something that either health and safety representatives, and/or OHS committee could raise for consideration at their workplace.  This policy could apply equally to any employee with a critical illness and be helpful in encouraging an open environment where workers who are affected can raise concerns and not be stigmatised.  A very useful publication has been developed by a group of UK organisations: Cancer and Working - Guidelines for Employers, HR and Line Managers [ pdf ].  The publication includes a template policy and provides useful and practical advice for workplaces. 
 
(Acknowledgement: This material in this section has been taken - with thanks - from the guidelines which were produced as a collaboration between UK groups Cancerbackup; the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development [CIPD] and the Working with Cancer [WwC] group)
 
See Also:
Union materials
  • The list of Scheduled Carcinogens (referred to under Chapter 4.2 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (2007) are Schedules 1 & 2 of the  National Model Regulations for the Control of Scheduled Carcinogenic Substances.  This document can be downloaded at the bottom of this page.  WorkSafe Victoria has now created a webpage listing the substances in the two schedules referred to under the Victorian regulations.
  • Information in the Hazard section and other information on this site
  • UK's Trade Union Congress (TUC) Hazards Occupational Cancer pages with information and resources
  • Occupational cancer/Zero Cancer: A union guide to prevention (2007) [pdf]. International Metalworkers’ Federation. 
  • From the Canadian Labour Congress, an information kit that helps workers learn about exposure to cancer-causing materials on the job and helps to build a campaign to make their workplace and their communities safer. Preventing Cancer: A Campaign for Workers [pdf document] is a detailed manual aimed at helping workers learn about workplace exposure to cancer-causing materials and ways to prevent the loss and suffering caused when cancer strikes. There is also a Campaign Guide for Workers [pdf]
  • The European Trade Union Institute  (formerly  the European Trade Union Technical Bureau for Health and Safety [TUTB]) has recently launched a section on Occupational Cancers. The Health and Safety Department of the European Trade Union Institute - Research, Education, Health and Safety (ETUI-REHS) aims at promoting high standards of health and safety at the workplace throughout Europe.

Other

  • The UK's HSE targets cancer as part of its Disease Prevention Program, and has a website specifically addressing this.
  • WHO cancer profiles - The World Health Organisation (WHO) has created country-by-country cancer profiles. According to the WHO profile on Australia  cancer killed approximately 38,000 people here in 2005.
    Go to this WHO page to select any other country.
  • The International Agency for Research on Cancer. (Note that there are often difficulties getting on to this site) Includes the IARC Cancer Databases and other Resources
  • CAREX International Information on Occupational Exposure to Carcinogens
  • Australasian Occupational Cancer Guidelines (September 2004) These guidelines have been prepared by the Australasian Faculty of Occupational Medicine (AFOM). They provide information on identifying the industries, occupations and exposures which may be associated with cancer, as well as prevention, assessment and investigation.  These can be downloaded at the bottom of this page.
  • From the Canadian Cancer Society:   Insight on Cancer [large pdf] - a report dealing with occupational and environmental cancer risks which has useful sections on asbestos, pesticides, air pollution, metals, endocrine disrupters and other issues.
  • Issue 11 (2006) of the  WHO's Global Occupational Health Network Newsletter [pdf] is almost entirely on occupational cancer and has some very good information.
  • The Cancer Prevention and Education Society - a UK site with a wealth of information
  • From the Silent Spring Institute - a US organisation researching women's health - Five-fold variation in breast cancer incidence rates across the globe tells us that living in developed areas increases risk

Last updated February 2008.

 

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