Community news|23/06/16

The significance of work-related cancers in the EU

Home > The news of EUROGIP and occupational risks in Europe > The significance of work-related cancers in the EU

The Dutch institute for public health and the environment (RIVM) publishes a report on the amplitude of work-related cancers in the European Union – number of cases and costs entailed – and on the planned solutions for better prevention.

The RIVM estimates that each year in the EU:

  • between 91,500 and 150,500 new cases of cancer due to past exposure to carcinogenic substances in the workplace are diagnosed;
  • about 79,700 people die of a work-related cancer. 

75% of new cases are cancers of the lungs, the prostate, the colon and the bladder. Lung cancer tops the list of fatal cases, followed by mesothelioma and cancer of the colon. According to the Dutch institute, in all around 1.2 million years of life have been lost in the EU population because of premature death due to exposure to carcinogenic substances in the workplace. The total annual cost of the economic and social impact of occupational cancer due to carcinogenic substances is estimated at €334 billion.

 

To find out more

Download the report

Discover other news

Community news

27/03/24

Artificial intelligence: MEPs adopt “historic” law

On 13 March, the European Parliament adopted by a very large majority the world's first “binding” regulation on artificial intelligence, based on the draft presented by the European Commission in April 2021. The Council must now formally adopt it.

Abroad

27/03/24

DENMARK: A tool for creating a good working environment

An assessment of the working environment is an annual legal requirement for all companies with employees. Various tools are available, including the online tool developed in 2019 by experts at the Danish Working Environment Authority: the APV (arbejdspladsvurdering).

Abroad

27/03/24

DENMARK: the benefits of physical training during working hours

According to the National Centre for Work Environment Research, 3 x 10 minutes of exercise a week could reduce long-term sickness absence by 13%. As a result, three local authorities have taken it upon themselves to offer such training to home care workers during working hours.