European health sector workers face significant workplace carcinogen exposure

Exposure to cancer risk factors in the workplace remains an important and preventable cause of disease in Europe. A new study led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), a center supported by the "la Caixa" Foundation, analyses the situation in the health and social care sector (HeSCare) in Europe.

The research, published in the European Journal of Public Health, is based on the Workers' Exposure Survey (WES), carried out by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA). This survey, the first of its kind in Europe, collects detailed information from workers on tasks, exposure circumstances, and use of protective measures to estimate probable exposure to 24 cancer risk factors. WES includes 24,402 telephone interviews conducted between 2022 and 2023 with workers from Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland and Spain. Of the participants, 3,041 worked in the health and social care sector, which represents approximately 11% of the European Union workforce.

The results show that 29.5% of workers in this sector were exposed to at least one cancer risk factor evaluated during the last working week, while 7.8% were exposed to two or more. 

Radiation, diesel engine exhaust emissions, and certain chemicals represented the main risk factors

Among the most frequent risk factors are ionizing radiation (7.4%), diesel engine exhaust emissions (6.2%), and solar ultraviolet radiation (6.1%). Workers may be exposed to ionising radiation through working with machines that use x-rays or with radioisotopes; to diesel engine exhaust emissions through use of diesel-powered vehicles; or to solar ultraviolet radiation through work outdoors. Relevant exposures to chemicals such as formaldehyde (5.2%) and benzene (4.8%) were also recorded.

In terms of exposure levels, formaldehyde (2.3%) and ethylene oxide (2.0%) were the most common agents at high exposure levels. The study also identifies combined exposures, such as diesel emissions together with solar radiation, or simultaneous exposure to formaldehyde and ethylene oxide.

The analysis also reveals gender differences: men show a higher prevalence of exposure (35.7%) compared to women (26.1%)."

Muhammad Waseem Khan, ISGlobal researcher at the time of the study and first author of the research

Need to strengthen prevention

"Despite their relevance, risks associated with exposure to carcinogens in the health and social care sector have historically been less visible than in other economic sectors. This study highlights the need to develop prevention strategies adapted to real working conditions in this field", highlights Michelle Turner, ISGlobal researcher and senior author of the study.