Work-related cancer

Cancer is an insidious group of diseases that pose a major threat to human health. These diseases can have many different causes, including different exposures at work. Work-related cancers are hugely tragic, because most of them are entirely preventable.

Cancer poses a major threat to human health. In 2020, cancer was the second most common cause of death worldwide. In 2018, there were 18 million new cancer cases worldwide. By 2040 this number is expected to reach 29 million new cancer cases per year.

The burden of cancer is increasing in all countries. However, predicted increases will be proportionately greatest in low- and middle-income countries. The increasing trend is a matter of particular concern in developing countries where health care systems often are lacking resources to deal with complex and expensive cancer treatments.

A work-related cancer is a cancer induced by a particular exposure in the workplace. The huge tragedy is that most of these cancers are entirely preventable. Work-related cancers are increasing in numbers because increasing numbers of industries all over the world are using carcinogenic agents. This is aggravated by the lack of preventive measures in many work places. The lack of knowledge, associated with the fact that cancer develop slowly over years of exposure, has resulted in little worker protection initiatives.

Estimates of percentages of cancers attributable to occupations differ widely from study to study, ranging from less than 1 % to about 40 %. This reflects the different types of cancer and different hazardous working conditions. According to The Cancer Atlas 3–6% of all cancers worldwide are caused by exposures to carcinogens in the workplace. Fewer women than men are diagnosed with work-related cancer, suggesting that there is less exposure to carcinogenic agents in occupations traditionally regarded as women’s work.