Occupational exposure to carcinogens in the European Union

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Environmental Epidemiology
• Toxicology

Background:

• Carcinogen exposure poses significant risks to worker health.
• Estimating the scale of occupational carcinogen exposure across diverse industries is crucial for public health.
• Previous data on worker exposure to carcinogens in the European Union (EU) was limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a computer-assisted information system, CAREX (carcinogen exposure), for estimating worker exposure to carcinogens in EU member states.
• To quantify the number of workers exposed to established and suspected human carcinogens.

Main Methods:

• A database (CAREX) was created, incorporating data on agents evaluated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and ionizing radiation.
• Occupational exposure data for 1990-1993 was estimated using national labor force data and exposure prevalence from reference countries (Finland and the US).
• Estimates were refined by national experts to reflect country-specific exposure patterns.

Main Results:

• Approximately 32 million workers (23% of the EU workforce) were exposed to agents within the CAREX system.
• At least 22 million workers were exposed to IARC group 1 carcinogens.
• The most prevalent exposures included solar radiation (9.1 million), environmental tobacco smoke (7.5 million), crystalline silica (3.2 million), and diesel exhaust (3.0 million).

Conclusions:

• Preliminary estimates indicate substantial worker exposure to carcinogens in the EU during the early 1990s.
• The CAREX system provides a valuable tool for assessing and managing occupational cancer risks.
• Further research and targeted interventions are needed to mitigate these exposures.