Workplace-related cancer in the spotlight on World Cancer Day.

For twenty-five years, 4 February has been an important date for raising awareness of cancer prevention, research and treatment. The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) used this year's World Cancer Day to once again draw attention to the most important results of the workers' exposure survey on cancer risk factors in Europe (WES).

Although WES was conducted two years ago in Germany, Finland, France, Ireland, Spain and Hungary, the information gathered on the wide-ranging health issues caused by workplace-related cancer remains relevant. This is also reflected in the fact that the detailed analysis of the collected results is still ongoing and the final report of WES is not expected earlier than May 2025.

Special features of the survey

The most common cancer risk factors include occupational exposure to solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation, diesel engine exhaust, benzene, respirable crystalline silica and formaldehyde. These findings are not new. Nevertheless, the data from WES has significant added value compared to data from other studies. WES is the first to address multiple exposures to chemical and physical risk factors. It has also included employees such as the self-employed or workers in micro and small enterprises. They are not normally taken into account by other studies.

As a result, the findings of WES are crucial for providing up-to-date and reliable data on workers' exposure to work-related cancer. On the one hand, they provide information on the particular level of exposure. For example, respirable crystalline silica, diesel engine exhaust and wood dust are the most significant risk factors to which a large proportion of employees are most likely to be exposed. On the other hand, WES also provides information on the exposure of workers to various risk factors. The data assessed for the survey relates to the respondents' last working week.

Dealing with cancer risk factors in the EU

The review of Europe's Beating Cancer Plan, which was also published on World Cancer Day, emphasises that the implementation of the Beating Cancer Plan is showing good progress and that the vast majority of measures have been initiated or implemented. However, if we take a closer look at the achievements in the field of work-related cancer prevention, we come to a different conclusion. The European Union has made good progress in the prevention of risk factors in the workplace. Nevertheless, the most common cancer risk factors are only being recorded bit by bit.

This can be seen in the latest amendments to the Carcinogens, Mutagens or Reprotoxic Substances Directive (CMRD), which sets out minimum requirements for the protection of workers from occupational risks to their health and safety. The directive already includes diesel engine exhaust, formaldehyde (both 2019) and benzene (2022), while respirable crystalline silica is on the list for any future amendments to the CMRD. In contrast, there are hardly any implemented or planned EU measures on the greatest risk factor of solar UV radiation.