Cancer Sites Associated with Occupational Exposures
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Is exposure to a specific carcinogen associated with a certain type of cancer?
Back to topIn many cases, certain types of cancer are associated with specific carcinogens. The table below lists some of these associations.
Please note: This list was complied from information available from reputable sources, but it is not complete. It represents associations that have been reported in literature between certain types of cancer and specific carcinogen exposures.
Exposure to a carcinogen does not necessarily mean that you will develop cancer. The OSH Answers on Occupational Cancer has more information.
| Some Cancer Sites Associated with Occupational or Environmental Carcinogen Exposures | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cancer Site | Examples of High-risk Substances or cancer-causing agents | Examples of High-risk Processes, Industries and Occupations with Increased Risks |
| Bladder (urinary) | Aromatic amines (e.g., Aniline, 4,4'-Methylene bis(2-chloroaniline) (MOCA), para-Chloroaniline, 2,6-Dimethylaniline (2,6-Xylidine), ortho-Toluidine); Arsenic and inorganic arsenic compounds; Benzidine and benzidine-based dyes; Benzo[a]pyrene; Coal tars & pitches; Diesel engine exhaust; Mineral oils; Nitrobenzene; Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); Polychlorinated biphenyls; Tetrachloroethylene | Barbers; Beverage workers; Cable makers; Calendar operatives; Chemical or petroleum workers; Chimney sweeps; Cooks; Coke production; Dry cleaners; Firefighters; Gas-retort house workers; Hairdressers; Machinists; Miners; Nurses; Painters; Pipefitters; Plumbers; Sheet metal workers; Waiters and waitresses; Working with tobacco Coal gasification; Dry cleaning, Dyestuffs industry; Manufacturing of: aluminum, magenta, auramine, p-chloro-o-toluidine, pigment chromate, textiles, and dyes; Petroleum refineries; Printing processes; Rubber and plastic production; Shoe and boot manufacturing and repair; Synthetic latex production; Textile manufacturing; Tire curing |
| Bone and connective tissue (a rare cancer site) | Ionizing radiation | Accelerator sector: Chemical and Radiation Control, Construction, Electrical and mechanical maintenance; Scientists, etc. Industry sector: Aircrew, Dial painter, Fuel processor, Ground transportation, Industrial radiographer, Instrument technician, Scientist, engineer, etc. Medical sector: Chiropractor; Dentist, Dental hygienist. Dental assistant, Dental nurse; Gynecologist, Medical Laboratory technician, Medical physicist, Nuclear medicine technologist, Nurse, Radiation therapist, Radiological technologist, Veterinarian, etc. Mining sector: Uranium mine electricians, mill workers, office staff, support workers, surface maintenance, etc. Nuclear sector reactor: chemical and radiation control, electrical maintenance, fuel handling, health physics, industrial radiographer, mechanical maintenance, scientists, etc. Radiopharmaceutical industry |
Bone and connective tissue (a rare cancer site) | Lubricants | Petroleum refineries |
| Brain and Central Nervous System (CNS) | Ionizing radiation | Accelerator sector: Chemical and Radiation Control, Construction, Electrical and mechanical maintenance; Scientists, etc. General industry sector: Aircrew, Dial painter, Fuel processor, Ground transportation, Industrial radiographer, Instrument technician, Scientist, Engineer, etc. Medical sector: Chiropractor, Dentist, Dental hygienist. Dental assistant, Dental nurse, Gynecologist, Medical Laboratory technician, Medical physicist, Nuclear medicine technologist, Nurse, Radiation therapist, Radiological technologist, Veterinarian, etc. Mining sector: Uranium mine electricians, mill workers, office staff, support workers, surface maintenance, etc. Nuclear sector reactor: chemical and radiation control, electrical maintenance, fuel handling, health physics, industrial radiographer, mechanical maintenance, scientists, etc. Radiopharmaceutical industry |
Brain and Central Nervous System (CNS) | Lubricating oil Epichlorohydrin Non-arsenical insecticides | Petroleum refineries – maintenance workers, boiler makers, operators, pipe fitters Chemical plants, laboratory workers, researchers |
| Breast | Ethylene oxide; Ionizing radiation; Polychlorinated biphenyls | Shiftwork that involves circadian disruption |
| Colon and rectum | Asbestos; Ionizing radiation; Soot | Automobile repair workers Beverage production industry (brewery workers) Steel and metal workers Repair and installation of machinery labourers Petrol stations Possibly: communication and other utilities, trade, educational services and mining |
| Esophagus | Ionizing radiation | Dry cleaning; Rubber production industry |
| Eye | Possibly Solar radiation, UV radiation from manmade sources such as sunlamps, sun beds, tanning booths, and electrical arc welding. | Engine operators; dentists; farmers; mechanics; military personnel; physicians; transport workers; welders |
| Kidney | Arsenic and inorganic arsenic compounds; Cadmium and cadmium compounds; Perfluorooctanoic acid; Trichloroethylene | Printing processes |
| Larynx | Acid mists, strong inorganic; Asbestos | Insulation material production (pipes, sheeting, textiles, clothes, masks, asbestos cement products); Insulators and pipe coverers; Isopropanol manufacture (strong-acid process); Rubber production industry; Shipyard and dockyard workers |
| Leukemia and/or lymphoma | Benzene; 1,3-Butadiene; Diazinon; Formaldehyde; Ethylene oxide; Lindane; Ionizing radiation; Malathion; Methylene chloride; Styrene; Trichloroethylene | Boot and shoe manufacturing and repair; Firefighters; Painting; Petroleum refining; Rubber industry |
| Liver and bile duct | Arsenic and inorganic arsenic compounds; 1,2-Dichloropropane, Methylene chloride; Ionizing radiation; Occupational infections with hepatitis B and C; Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs); Trichloroethylene | Beverage workers; Cooks; Building caretakers and cleaners; Electricians; Health care workers; Journalists; Pest control workers; Smelter and metal foundry workers; Seamen; Tobacco manufacture workers; Waitresses and waiters; Wood workers Smelting of ores containing arsenic; Vinyl chloride production; Wood preservation |
| Lung | Arsenic and arsenic compounds; Asbestos; Benzo[a]pyrene; Beryllium; 1,3-Butadiene; Cadmium & cadmium compounds; Chromium (hexavalent) compounds; Coal tars & pitches; Diesel engine exhaust; Epichlorohydrin; Fibrous silicon carbide; Ionizing radiation; Lead; Mineral oils (untreated and mildly treated); Nickel and nickel compounds; Pesticides; Radon; Silica (crystalline); Solar radiation; Soots; Strong inorganic acid mists containing sulfuric acid; Talc containing asbestiform fibers; 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD); Tobacco smoke - Involuntary (passive) smoking; Welding fumes | Agriculture workers (e.g., vineyard workers) Asphalt workers; Building maintenance workers Construction workers (residential, industrial, commercial, road) Electricians Mechanics Metal workers Oil and gas workers Painters Pest control workers Plumbers Pulp and paper mill Roofers Welders Aluminum production; Coal gasification; Copper smelting; Hematite mining (underground) with radon exposure; Iron and steel founding; Isopropanol manufacture (strong acid process); Printing processes; Rubber production; Uranium mining; |
| Mesothelioma | Asbestos; Talc containing asbestiform fibres | Blasters; Boilermakers; Bricklayers; Building maintenance workers; Construction workers; Drillers; Electricians; Insulation workers; Machinists; Mechanics; Metalworkers; Miners; Pipefitters; Plumbers; Pulp and paper mill and wood products; Manufacturing workers; Roofers, Seamen; Sheet metal workers; Shipbuilding workers; Smelters; Thermoelectric power plant workers; Welders Manufacturers of cement; Manufacturers of textiles; Oil refining; Petroleum industry; Cigarette and filter manufacturing; Railroad industry |
| Nasal cavities and paranasal sinuses | Chromium (hexavalent) compounds; Formaldehyde; Selected nickel compounds including combinations of nickel oxides and sulfides in the nickel refining industry; Wood dust | Boot and shoe manufacturing and repair; Carpenters; Construction workers; Furniture and cabinet making; Isopropanol manufacture (strong acid process); Miners; Plumbers; Pulp and paper mill workers; Textile workers; Welders; Wood workers |
| Nasopharynx | Formaldehyde; Wood dust | Artistic workers; Beverage manufacturer workers; Cooks; Chimney sweeps; Embalmers; Furniture and cabinet makers; Healthcare workers and medical personnel; Laboratory workers; Pulp and paper mill and wood products manufacturing workers; Seamen Formaldehyde production; Plywood production / particle-board production |
| Ovary | Asbestos; Ionizing radiation; Leather dust; Man-made vitreous fibres; Diesel, gasoline and engine exhausts; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); Talc; Hair dyes | Accountants; Hairdressers, barbers, beauticians; Occupations in retail trade; Postal workers; Printers; Sewers and embroiders; Teaching occupations |
| Prostate | Arsenic and inorganic arsenic compounds; Cadmium and cadmium compounds; Ionizing radiation; Malathion | Agriculture occupations; Dentists; Firefighting occupations; Shift work; Whole‐body vibrations Rubber production industry |
| Skin | Arsenic and inorganic arsenic compounds; Coal tar distillation; Creosotes; Ionizing radiation; Mineral oils (untreated and mildly treated); Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) like benzo[a]pyrene, benz[a]anthracene, and dibenz[a,h]anthracene; Shale oils or shale-derived lubricants; Solar radiation; Soots | Construction workers Coal gasification; Coke production; Petroleum refining |
| Stomach | Asbestos; Lead compounds, inorganic; Airborne particles of cement and silica dust; Ionizing radiation | Chimney sweeps Electrical workers Fisherman Insulators and pipe coverers; Mechanics Miners Shipyard and dockyard workers Asbestos mining; Insulation material production (pipes, sheeting, textiles, clothes, masks, asbestos cement products); Rubber production industry |
Adapted from:
Current perspectives on occupational cancer risks. P. Bofetta, et al. International journal of occupational and environmental health, Vol. 1, no. 4 (1995). p. 315-325
Carex: Most Common Occupational Exposures to IARC Agents- Ontario/British Columbia, Canada 2001 Census Data - 09-Jan-08
Occupational Medicine Clinical Update - Occupational Carcinogens - What makes it on the list. Fall 2005 - Occupational Health Workers for Ontario Workers Inc. (OHCOW)
ILO SafeWork Papers - Safety in the Use of Chemicals. Chapter 2 - Health and Safety Problems Caused by Chemicals
Listing occupational carcinogens. J. Siemiatycki, et al. Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol. 112, no. 15 (2004). p. 1447-1459
Perceptions of the causes of bladder cancer, nasal cancer, and mesothelioma among cases and population controls. K. Teschke and L. van Zwieten. Applied Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, Vol. 14, no. 12 (1999). p. 819-826
World Health Organization. Prevention of occupational cancer. The Global Occupational Health Network (GOHNET) Newsletter, Issue No. 11 (2006)
List of classifications by cancer sites with sufficient or limited evidence in humans, Volumes 1 to 114. International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Last updated: 2022-09-07
Occupational Cancer Research Centre. Burden of Occupational Cancer in Canada: Major Workplace Carcinogens and Prevention of Exposure (2019)
Richardson, B, et al. Risk of cancer from occupational exposure to ionising radiation: retrospective cohort study of workers in France, the United Kingdom, and the United States (INWORKS) (2015) British Mecial Journal
Carex Canada. Ionizing Radiation Occupational Exposures. (no date). Site viewed on February 23, 2023.
IARC Monographs on the evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans: Radiation. Volume 100 D. (2012)
Sritharan, J. et al. Prostate cancer surveillance by occupation and industry: the Canadian Census Health and Environment Cohort (CanCHEC). Cancer Med. 2018 Apr; 7(4): 1468–1478
Nhu D Le, et al. Occupational exposure and ovarian cancer risk. Cancer Causes Control. 2014 Jul;25(7):829-41
Government of Canada and Canadian Cancer Society. Canadian Cancer Statistics 2021
WorkSafeBC. Occupational Cancer. (no date). Site viewed on February 23, 2023.
- Fact sheet last revised: 2023-03-21