Republished with full copyright permissions from The San Francisco Press.

Occupational cancer remains a significant and pressing concern in the working environment, as it can be directly linked to long-term exposure to carcinogenic factors. The delayed onset of cancer symptoms, often emerging several years after exposure, poses challenges for both affected individuals and healthcare systems.

The European Union has recorded a substantial number of cases of occupational cancers between 2013 and 2021, as 33,712 instances were officially recognized. It is important to note, however, that the numbers for 2020 and 2021 were slightly lower than the average from 2013 to 2019. Possible factors contributing to this decline include the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on general public services and healthcare systems.

Diving into the data sheds light on the most prevalent types of occupational cancer. Lung cancer and mesothelioma, a cancer associated with asbestos exposure, accounted for the majority of cases, making up nearly 80% of all newly reported occupational cancer cases during this period. Malignant neoplasms of the bronchus and lung topped the list with 13,944 cases, closely followed by mesothelioma with 13,530 cases. Furthermore, cases of malignant neoplasm of the bladder were also significant, with 2,416 reported new cases in the same period.

The European Occupational Diseases Statistics (EODS), developed as part of Eurostat’s experimental statistics, have been pivotal in providing essential insights into the prevalence of occupational cancers. These statistics are crucial for policymakers, healthcare professionals, and researchers in understanding and addressing the impact of occupational cancers on the workforce.

To delve deeper into this issue, more information on European Occupational Diseases Statistics can be found through Eurostat’s experimental statistics webpage and the Statistics Explained article on occupational diseases statistics.

The data for the EU are based on information available for 24 EU member states, excluding Germany, Greece, and Portugal, demonstrating the broad reach and relevance of these statistics.