Jobs and cancer

Results from a major Scandinavian study have enhanced understanding of the link between occupation and certain cancers.

The Nordic Occupational Cancer project (NOCCA) examined the health details of 15 million 30- to 64-year-olds in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, and the occurrence of 2.8 million cancers. It confirmed, for example, that plumbers, seamen and mechanics are more likely to suffer from mesothelioma (as a result of exposure to asbestos); fishermen, gardeners and farmers engaged in outdoor work have a high prevalence of lip cancer (although a low prevalence of other cancers); and woodworkers and miners (exposed to radon and silica) suffer from lung cancer.

The study also showed new connections. For example, it revealed that female chemical process workers have a high incidence of tongue and vagina cancer; printers are more likely to contract skin, breast and ovarian cancer; packers and hairdressers suffer from fallopian tube cancer; drivers have a high incidence of penis cancer: and female farmers suffer from thyroid cancer.