Carcinogens are big factor in inequalities


Occupational cancers are more likely to kill cleaners, nurses and labourers than engineers, managers or bankers, says new research from the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI).


“Exposure to carcinogens at work are the cause of major social inequalities in health in Europe, as in the rest of the world,” said ETUI senior researcher Tony Musu, co-author of Cancer and work — understanding occupational cancers and taking action to eliminate them. 


A “socio-occupational map” could be drawn for the different types of cancer, he said. These kill more than 100,000 people, cost between ¤270 billion and ¤610 billion a year in the EU and make up 8% of all new cancer cases.


The ETUI launched the new report at the Women, Work and Cancer conference in December. 


Those gathered at the event heard that epidemiological research in this area focuses far more often on men than on women, but the myth that occupational cancer is only an issue for male professions in traditional industries still persists.


The report also finds that funding for research into occupational cancer amounts to “peanuts”.

https://www.etui.org/Publications2/Books/Cancer-and-work-understanding-occupational-cancers-and-taking-action-to-eliminate-them