Blue collar workers face occupational cancer risks.
Occupational groups that include cleaners, truck drivers, fruit and vegetable growers, meat processors, hair dressers and sewing machinists run a risk of developing cancer, according to a research news from Massey University's Center for Public Health Research in New Zealand. The result of the study was published in two international journals.
Meat workers were found to be at risk through exposure to animal viruses, cleaners through cleaning chemicals, heavy truck drivers through petrochemicals or agents being transported and workers employed in metal product manufacturing through exposure to trace metals and lubricants.“An elevated non-Hodgkin's lymphoma risk was observed for field-crop and vegetable growers and horticulture and fruit growing, particularly for women,” the study author, Andrea 't Mannetje said.
“Farmers who spray pesticides manually are likely to be at greater risk than those who use machines,” according to Dr 't Mannetje.
Hairdressers and sewing machinists were found to have greater chances of getting bladder cancer than other workers, probably because of exposure to a group of known carcinogens named aromatic amines, including benzidine.
While several forms of the chemicals are banned, similar substances are still used in common fabric and hair dyes.
“Aromatic amines are also found in tobacco smoke,” Dr ‘t Mannetje says. Bladder cancer, which comprises around 12 per cent of cancers, is also linked to smoking.
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Source-Medindia
THK/L
