Search

Recent epidemiological studies estimate that the number of occupational cancers is high, as more than 3800 and up to 7000 cases occur each year in France in men. Attribuable fraction to occupational factors varies widely from one site of cancer to another. Respiratory cancers (lung and pleura) are by far the most frequent of occupational cancers with an attributable fraction of 13 to 29% for lung cancer in men according to the international literature, and an attributable fraction of 85% for pleural mesothelioma. Previous occupational exposure to asbestos is the most frequent occupational exposure for these cancers. Many occupational agents have been identified as etiological factors of cancer for different sites. Attention should be paid to these aetiologies and primary prevention programmes should be held at work in order to avoid residual occupational exposure.

Different tools may be used to evaluate previous occupational exposures, either in epidemiological studies or in clinical practice: occupational questionnaire followed by an expertise or the use of a job-exposure matrix; metrology; biometrology. In routine clinical practice, the main tool is an individual questionnaire to identify if a patient has worked in one of the main jobs or tasks known to be associated with an exposure to a definite carcinogen. As individual and collective consequences are important in case of recognition as an occupational disease, looking for the previous main occupational activities entailing exposure to carcinogens should be systematic in some sites of cancer: mesothelioma, lung, ethmoid, bladder and leukemia.