Which jobs are most at risk of cancer? Every year 12 thousand cases in Italy- breaking latest news

Of the approximately 377,000 new cases of cancer diagnosed every year in Italy, more than a third could be prevented only by following a handful of “good rules”: do not smoke (or quit with concrete benefits at any age), exercise regularly, follow a balanced nutrition and not having extra kilos. Only 5% of cancers are a consequence of the environment in which we live and linked to pollution and even fewer are the neoplasms caused by the substances with which some categories of workers come into contact on a daily basis, but the list of occupational carcinogenic substances is long .

Occupational exposure to carcinogens and tumors: the numbers

«There are about 9,000 men and 3,000 women who every year in Italy fall ill with a tumor caused by exposure to carcinogens in the workplace – he replies Diego Serraino, director of the Oncological Epidemiology Unit of the IRCCS CRO oncological reference center in Aviano -. These are statistical estimates which, however, present substantial uncertainties due to the difficulties in classifying and reporting such tumors. In 2018, for example, INAIL was notified of 684 occupational cancers in men and 91 in women, a fraction of those expected based on scientific evidence. It should always be borne in mind that these neoplasms are not the result of recent exposures, but of those that occurred up to 40 years before diagnosisbut one consideration above all summarizes the impact of cancers of occupational origin: almost all of the serious or fatal cases of occupational diseases are cancers, with heavy social consequences especially for the families of male and female workers ».

Which jobs are most at risk for cancer?

Which workers are most at risk of which type of cancer? pleura and peritoneum (two very thin serous membranes that envelop the lungs and intestines) and those ofrespiratory system account for 80% of all occupational cancers. It is well known that occupational exposure to asbestos fibers in recent decades is the main cause of occupational cancers (the use of asbestos has been prohibited in Italy for many years): pleural, peritoneal mesothelioma and lung cancers. There are numerous activities that in the past have exposed workers to the risk of asbestos-related diseases: in shipyardsin maintenance of means of transportas well as in the refineryin electricity generationin textile industry and in other sectors. Since 2009, aOvarian cancer was also added to the list of cancers caused by exposure to asbestos. Other occupational cancers include those of nasal cavities (wood industry, leather processing), of bladder (refineries, leather processing),digestive system (metal industry) ».

What should the stakeholders do?

«It is essential that they are informed – underlines Serraino -. At the institutional level, national and international organizations and bodies have issued rules, directives and guidelines that pay specific attention to control and prevention measures against occupational cancers. The national prevention plan 2021-2025 foresees in line 8 (“PP08 Prevention of occupational cancer risk”) a specific program for occupational cancers. In addition, male and female workers must play an active role by turning to employers for compliance with the legislation and to local health companies that carry out regular checks in the workplace. If the prevention and monitoring of oncological risks in the workplace are beyond the reach of the individual worker and require legislative and social health interventions, it is equally important that those directly involved scrupulously respect the rules of protection at work and regularly submit to the required checks ».

Is there a risk for family members?

“Yes, especially in the past for the wives of workers exposed to asbestos fibers – concludes the expert -. Today the danger is very low thanks to the prohibition of the use of asbestos fibers and the current regulations to protect health. When it is indicated, for workers and employees at risk and for their families, the doctors provide for specific visits and examinations ».