Occupational exposure and Cancer : perspectives from the trade unionsTony Musu

European Trade Union Institute (ETUI)

HEAL workshop Cancer Prevention & the Environment

Brussels, 2 December 2008

81 member organisations36 European countries12 industry federations60 million workers

European Trade Union Confederation:

ETUC is the European social partner representing workers

The Treaty of Maastricht (1992) guarantees this formal status

Together with the employers, it is involved in consultation in areas such as employment, social affairs, macroeconomic, industrial and regional policy.

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Data on cancers in the EU ? New cases of cancer : > 2 million/year (IARC,2006)

Cancer mortality : > 1 million/year (IARC,2006)

In the EU, 23 % of the workforce exposed to carcinogens on a daily basis (Carex)

Occupational cancer : ~ 8 %. Probably higher among male workers (ETUI, 2007)

Occupational cancer: main cause of working conditions-related deaths in Europe (ETUI, 2007)

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The fraction of cancers attributable to a work-related cause varies by type of cancer:

Localisation(Source: ETUI, 2007)

Lower estimate Higher estimate

Lung 13% 29%

Pleural

Mesothelioma 85% 88%

Bladder 10% 14.2%

Sinus 24% 41%

Leukaemia 5% 18%

5

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

Managment

Trade - services

Unskilled manualworkers

Skilled manual workers

An unequal burden of disease

Les expositions aux produits cancérogènes, DARES, juillet 2005

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Most widespread carcinogens at work:

Solar radiation Passive smoking Crystalline silica Diesel engine exhausts Radon Wood dust Lead and its inorganic compounds Benzene Asbestos Formaldehyde Chromium VI

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Occupational cancer: the Cinderella disease

Public health policy focused on individual factors

Concealment of existing information by the Industry (eg: asbestos & vinyl chloride scandals)

Long lag time between exposure and disease Cancers are multifactoral diseases and working

conditions are often ignored by doctors

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The EU legislation on carcinogens Two categories:

1. Marketing of carcinogens

2. Workers’ protection

The Carcinogens Directive (2004/37/EC) : Hierarchy of obligations for employers :

elimination, replacement, control Binding Occupational Exposure Limit Values:

benzene, hardwood dust, vinyl chloride monomer

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The revision of the Carcinogens directive initiated in 2004 ETUC response to Commission’s

consultation: Extension to reprotoxins Updated BOELVs New OELVs: crystalline silica, softwood dust

Recent news : Commission refuses to extend the scope of the directive to reprotoxins

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REACH and carcinogens

Registration: CMR > 1t/y Chemical safety report >10 t/y

Authorisation: CMRs of class 1 or 2 – risk « adequately

controlled » Health Vs socio-economic benefits

« substitution principle » : mandatory in the Carcinogens directive, not in REACH !

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TU involvement & agenda

REACH, an opportunity for a new start Synergies between REACH & OSH legislation Workers’ involvement for Substitution Make occupational cancers more visible to the

authorities Better recognition and compensation Revision of the Carcinogens Directive Global ban on asbestos + stop last EU

derogation

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Thank you for your attention !

Further info:

http://hesa.etui-rehs.org >Dossiers > Chemicals

http://hesa.etui-rehs.org >Dossiers > Occupational cancers

Publication: Occupational cancer, The Cinderella disease by Marie-Anne Mengeot, ETUI, 2007 (52 pages)