Occupation and cancer in the UK

This page presents information on occupation and cancer risk. Table 7.1 shows a summary of what we know about occupational exposure to carcinogens and the cancers they are related to.

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The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies more than 60 exposures as cancer causing and a further 55 as probably cancer causing. Some of these exposures take place in occupational settings ( Table 7.2).

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Studies of occupational exposures and cancer have been carried out for the British population in the year 2004 and the French and Nordic populations in the year 2000. 1-3

The British study estimated that 6% of cancer deaths in men were caused by occupation and 1% of cancer deaths in women, reflecting their lower exposure to occupational carcinogens ( Table 7.3). In addition, it estimates that almost 5,000 skin cancer cases - which are rarely fatal - were caused by occupational exposure to solar radiation, mineral oils and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). 1

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The Nordic study estimated that 11% of all cancer cases in men in the year 2000 were caused by occupational exposures, while the French study estimated that 4% of all cancer deaths in men were caused by occupation. 2, 3 For all the studies, the estimate of the proportion of cancer cases or deaths in women caused by occupation were no higher than 1%, reflecting the lower exposure to occupational carcinogens among women. 1-3

The cancer most strongly linked to occupation is mesothelioma. It is estimated that 80-90% of mesothelioma cases or deaths in men are caused by occupational exposure to asbestos ( Table 7.3). A smaller proportion of mesotheliomas in women are attributed to occupational asbestos exposure (20-40% of mesothelioma deaths, according to the French and British studies).

There is a lag of about 30 years between asbestos exposure and development of mesothelioma, and due to gradual phasing out of its use in the second half of the previous century, the number of cases in the UK is expected to peak in 2013. 4 Industries which used to involve high exposure to asbestos include shipbuilding and construction ( Table 7.2). 3

The next most strongly linked occupational cancer is that of the nasal cavity and sinuses. It is estimated that up to 34% of deaths or cases from cancer of the nasal cavity and sinuses in men are caused by occupational exposures.

According to the Nordic study, the proportion of nasal cavity and sinus cancer caused by occupation in women is less than 1%. 3 However, the French and British studies estimated that about 7% and 11% of deaths from nasal cavity and sinus cancer in women were caused by occupational exposures. Important workplace exposures for this cancer are leather dust, wood dusts and metals. 2, 3

Lung cancer also has a strong occupational component, with up to 17% of deaths in men and 5% in women caused by workplace exposures, according to the British study. 1

The Nordic study made a similar estimate for the proportion of lung cancers caused by occupation in men, while the French study gave a lower estimate ( Table 7.3). The proportion of lung cancer deaths/cases in women caused by occupation are calculated as 4% and less than 1% in the French and Nordic studies, respectively ( Table 7.3). 1-3

The major causes of occupation-related lung cancer are metals, asbestos, radon, arsenic and PAH ( Table 7.2). The French study also includes silica exposure as a cause of a small proportion of lung cancer deaths. 5

A smaller proportion of bladder and laryngeal cancer and leukaemia are also linked to occupation. In the case of bladder cancer, relevant occupational exposures are PAH and the rubber industry and other sources of exposure to aromatic amines. Laryngeal cancer is linked to PAH, and leukaemia to benzene and other solvents.

Other occupational exposures

Other occupational exposures which are known or suspected to cause cancer include vinyl chloride, which causes liver cancer, 6 diesel engine exhaust, which is associated with lung cancer, 7 and shift work, which has been linked to breast cancer. 8

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