World Lung Cancer Day 2024: High-Risk Jobs and Workplace Safety

World Lung Cancer Day is observed every year on August 1. On this day, people all around the world raise awareness and gain knowledge about the problems surrounding lung cancer. As it accounts for one in four cancer-related fatalities, it is vital to encourage early identification by raising awareness of symptoms and developing screening programs for the disease.

Early discovery makes it possible to start treatment, reduces the likelihood that the disease will spread and starts to lower the number of lung cancer fatalities that occur globally.

Lung cancer ranks first among cancer-related fatalities globally for both men and women, according to the World Health Organisation. Globally, there were 1.80 million lung cancer deaths and 2.21 million new cases of the disease in 2020.

Although there is common knowledge that smoking causes lung cancer, it is crucial to acknowledge that occupational hazards also contribute significantly to the development of lung cancer and that smoking may compound the effects of occupational exposure to cause lung cancer.

These are the 5 careers where lung cancer is more likely to occur later in life.

Construction Workers

Asbestos is the primary cause of lung cancer deaths among construction workers following possible asbestos exposure when renovating or demolishing buildings that contain asbestos-containing materials (ACMs). Roofing materials, floor tiles and insulation are a few examples of ACMs. The prevalent ingredient in building materials, silica, can potentially increase the risk of cancer and lung conditions.

Coal Gasification and Coke Production

The coal/coke and allied product industry was shown to have a considerable risk of lung cancer, according to a study published in Translational Lung Cancer Research. Coal gasification personnel may be exposed to a variety of substances in addition to PAHs, such as asbestos, silica, arsenic, cadmium, lead, nickel, hydrocarbons, sulphur dioxide, sulphuric acid, aldehydes, etc.

Glass Factory

As per a study published in the National Library of Medicine, glass filaments, ceramic fibres and slag wool are examples of man-made mineral fibres that have been shown to have carcinogenic consequences. Studies on humans have demonstrated an increased risk of lung cancer in those who produce glass and slag wool.

Miners

Miners may be exposed to asbestos at work, just like mechanics and construction workers, but they may also be exposed to other hazardous materials. Miners, for example, may have an increased cancer risk as a result of exposure to radon and uranium, with probable malignancies including gastric cancer, mesothelioma and brain cancer.

Welders

Welders deal with metal parts, so part of their job involves everyday exposure to a lot of carcinogenic chemicals, such as benzene. These toxic fibres and gases, when breathed, can harm the lungs and frequently result in lung cancer and other deadly illnesses.

Ways To Create Safer Working Environments

Primary prevention provides targeted protection against an illness by removing or reducing known risk factors in groups that are vulnerable to it. Numerous studies have shown that a high risk of lung cancer is associated with tobacco use. By lowering tobacco use, we can lower the incidence of lung cancer through behaviour adjustment.

As the number of nonsmokers developing lung cancer rises, it is imperative to investigate nontobacco risk factors. Workplace and environmental risk factors might be to blame for this. Since primary preventive care is a valuable and affordable strategy, it is necessary to investigate its effectiveness.

Appropriate communication tactics are required to spread political and scientific messages across society. The scientific community is well aware—but the general public is not—that lung cancer is caused by exposure to certain chemicals and workplace hazards.

To address the environmental and occupational drivers of lung cancer, multi-sectoral approaches and collaborations are required for primary preventive efforts.

Community organisations, private businesses and health and non-health sectors including the environment, commerce, housing, industry and occupation must conduct population or community-based interventions.

To identify the areas that require action to prevent lung cancer connected to the environment and work, research on the prevention of lung cancer is crucial.