Exposure to carcinogens and work-related cancer: a review of assessment methods

Type of item
EU & international information
Country
EU
Year of publication
2014

English

Čeština

German

Greek

Spanish

French

Croatian

Hungarian

Lithuanian

Latvian

Dutch

Polish

Portuguese, Portugal

Slovak

Slovenian

Description

Estimates of the recent and future burden of occupational diseases indicate that occupational cancer is still a major problem and will remain so in the future as a result of workers' exposure to carcinogens. Occupational cancer is a problem that needs to be tackled across the European Union. This report provides an overview of the assessment tools for exposure to cancer risk factors and looks into relevant occupational factors: chemical, physical and biological exposures, as well as other possibly carcinogenic working environments (such as shift and night work). It also examines the potential opportunities for identifying new causes and/or promoters of cancer and evaluates existing sources of information, with the aim of identifying major knowledge gaps and describing some new approaches needed to assess and prevent occupational cancer risks. It also describes occupational cancer prevention measures at European, national and workplace levels and makes recommendations for how the gaps in the relevant knowledge can be filled to effectively prevent  future risks of occupational cancer. The issue of vulnerable groups of workers (for example women, young workers, workers experiencing high exposure to carcinogens and workers in precarious conditions) is also addressed.

Other data

Provider
Provider name (English)
European Agency for Safety and Health at Work
Provider name (Original)
European Agency for Safety and Health at Work
Tasks covered
Not applicable
Biological hazard
Not applicable
Hazard - physical state
Aerosols
Dusts
Fibres
Gases
Liquids
Nanoparticles (airborne liquids/solids including smoke or mist)
Solids
Vapours
Hazard - health effects
Carcinogens
Exposure route
Dermal contact
Ingestion
Inhalation
Ocular (through eyes)
Substance Description

Gases: Vinyl chloride, Formaldehyde. Liquids, volatile: Trichloroethylene, Tetrachloroethylene, Methylchloride, Styrene, Benzene, Xylene.
Liquids, non-volatile; Metalworking fluids; Mineral oils; Hair dyes. Solids, dust: Silica, Wood dust, Talc containing asbestiform fibres.
Solids, fibres: Asbestos Man-made mineral fibres, for example ceramic fibres. Solids: Lead, Nickel compounds, Chromium VI compounds, Arsenic, Beryllium, Cadmium, Carbon black, Bitumen.
Fumes, smoke: Welding fumes, Diesel emissions, Coal tar fumes, Bitumen fumes, Fire, combustion emissions, PAHs, Tobacco smoke.
Solvents.  
Halogenated organic compounds: DDT, Ethylene dibromide.
Antineoplastic drugs: MOPP (Mustargen, oncovin, procarbazine and prednisone, a combination chemotherapy regimen used to treat Hodgkin’s disease),  Anaesthetics

CAS Number
75-01-4
50-00-0, 30525-89-4, 68294-73-5
100-42-5
79-01-6
71-43-2, 1076-43-3
1330-20-7
7440-41-7
7440-43-9
EC number
200-831-0, 618-338-8, 924-145-2
200-001-8, 608-494-5
202-851-5
201-167-4
200-753-7
215-535-7
231-150-7
231-152-8
Prevention measures
Level 1. Elimination of hazards
Level 1. Substitution
Level 2. Technical measures, e.g. local exhaust ventilation
Level 2. Reducing / minimising the risk by organisational measures, e.g. reducing the number of workers exposed
Level 3. Reducing / minimising the risk by personal measures (PPE)
Training / guidance
Hygiene measures
Purpose of the material
Awareness raising
General information
Measurement and assessment
Policy paper
Risk assessment
Target group
Employers
Managers
Occupational health physician
OSH consultant
Policy makers
Researchers
Safety officers
Workers