The Politics of a Work Related Cancer Epidemy: Bladder Cancers in the European Union. Laurent Vogel ETUI April 2016

Transcription

1 The Politics of a Work Related Cancer Epidemy: Bladder Cancers in the European Union Laurent Vogel ETUI April 2016

2 Global Context: Men

3 Global context: Women

4 Bladder cancers in the EU-27 in 2012 (Source: EUCAN) Men Women Both sexes Incidence Mortality Prevalence (5 year)

5 Bladder Cancer as a result of the lack of prevention at the workplace From 1895, work-relatedness has been identified (Rehn s study in Germany on aniline dye factory) From 10 to 15% of incidences and mortality can be attributed to workplace exposures among men Occupational Epidemiology of bladder cancer among women is not well developped (as often for female workers in cancer epidemiology)

6 Bladder, ureter and urethra cancers among female workers accorders to the Nordic registers (NOCCA) Significative higher prevalence among: Administrators, Clerical workers, Sales agents and Shop workers Mechanics and Engine operators Chemical process workers, Printers, Textile workers Beverage workers and tobacco workers Waiters Hairdressers Building caretakers

7 Occupations or industries evaluated by IARC as entailing excess risk of bladder cancer among workers (from EU-OSHA 2014, adapted from Siemiatycki et al., 2004, and Boffetta et al. 2003) Occupation or industry Suspected substance Sites Aluminium production Pitch volatiles; aromatic amines Lungs, bladder Auramine manufacture 2-naphthylamine; auramine; Bladder other chemicals; pigments Boot and shoe manufacture and repair Leather dust; benzene and other solvents Lymphatic and haemopoietic system, nose, paranasal sinuses, bladder Coal gasification Coal tar; coal tar fumes; PAHs Skin, bladder, lungs Coke production Coal tar fumes Skin, lungs, bladder, kidneys Gas workers Coal carbonisation products; 2- Lungs, bladder, scrotum naphthylamine Hairdressers and barbers Dyes; solvents; propellants; aerosols Bladder, lungs, lymphatic system, ovaries Magenta manufacture Magenta; ortho-toluidine; 4,4 - Bladder methylenebis (2-methylaniline); ortho-nitrotoluene Painters Not identified Lungs, bladder, stomach Petroleum refining PAHs Bladder, brain, lymphatic and haemopoietic system Pulp and paper mill workers Not identified Lungs, bladder, lymphatic and haemopoietic system Railway workers, filling station attendants, bus and truck drivers, Diesel engine exhaust; extremely low-frequency Bladder, stomach, larynx, lymphatic and haemopoietic system, lungs operators of excavating magnetic fields Rubber industry Aromatic amines; solvents Bladder, stomach, larynx, lymphatic and haemopoietic system, lungs Synthetic latex production, tyre Aromatic amines Bladder curing, calendering operatives, reclaim rubber, cable makers Textile manufacturing industry Textile dust, dyes and solvents Bladder, sinonasal cavities, mouth

8 Commission s Policy from 2004 to 2016: we have lost 12 years «We don t want to know»: the CAREX programme was stopped. No data is available about exposure at EU level. «We don t want to act»: Revision of the carcinogens directive was postponed for about 12 years. Secondhand exposure to cigarette smoke may also contribute to bladder carcinogenesis: the preparation of a directive on environmental tobacco smoke in the workplace was stopped

9 SCOEL has proposed limit values (OEL) for carcinogens related to bladder cancer Among them Diesel engine exhaust 4,4 -Methylenedianiline (MDA) also identified as a substance of very high concern under REACH. 1,4 million tonnes produced in the EU, probably up to 4 million workers exposed as downstream users in construction and manufacturing branches Benzo(a)pyrene: up to 7 million of workers are exposed 4,4 Methylene bis 2-Chloaniline (MOCA) O-Toluidine

10 What is on the EU legislative agenda? After more than 10 years of paralysis, the Commission will propose only 13 OELs (probably in May 2016) The main exposures causing bladder cancer are still not considered by the Commission proposal

11 What can be done by MEPs? European Parliament should amend the COM proposal and include more OELs + post employment health surveillance European Parliament should urge the Commission to implement the hairdressers health and safety agreement through a directive

12 More on: Papers/Eliminating-occupational-cancer-in-Europe-andglobally