Mesothelioma

Thousands more die from leukemia caused by exposure to benzene, an organic solvent widely used by workers, including in the chemical and diamond industries.

“The tragedy of occupational cancer resulting from asbestos, benzene and other carcinogens is that it takes so long for science to be translated into protective action,” said Maria Neira, WHO Director of Public Health and Environment.

“Known and preventable exposures are clearly responsible for hundreds of thousands of excess cancer cases each year.

In the interests of protecting our health, we must adopt an approach rooted in primary prevention – that is to make workplaces free from carcinogenic risks,” Dr.

Neira said.

Most cancer deaths caused by occupational risk factors occur in the developed world, WHO said, blaming the wide use of different carcinogenic substances such as blue asbestos, 2-naphthylamine and benzene 20 to 30 years ago.

But it warned that if the current unregulated use of carcinogens in the developing world continues, a significant increase in occupational cancer can be expected there in the coming decades.

“The control of carcinogens in the workplace should be a key component of every national cancer control ...

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