Mesothelioma

"Known and preventable exposures are clearly responsible for hundreds of thousands of excess cancer cases each year." About 125 million people worldwide are exposed to asbestos at work and at least 90,000 people die each year from asbestos-related diseases, according to WHO.

In Canada, 1,097 workplace deaths were recorded in 2005, up from 928 deaths the previous year, according to the Association of Workers' Compensation Boards of Canada.

Asbestos-related deaths accounted for almost a third of all workplace fatalities, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety said.

Prevention steps Worldwide, WHO said, thousands die from leukemia caused by exposure to benzene, an organic solvent used to manufacture artificial rubber and widely used by workers in the chemical and diamond industries.

The agency urged governments and industry to ensure workplaces meet health and safety standards and are free of dangerous pollutants.

WHO's suggestions to prevent death and suffering from occupational cancer include: Stop the use of asbestos.

Introduce benzene-free organic...

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