Last update:
10-Dec-2008

OBJECTIVE This report includes information about occupational cancer and presents estimates for the numbers of new cases and deaths in Greece that could be attributed to occupational exposures.

METHOD In order to estimate the number of new cases of cancer that could be attributed to occupational exposures, the corresponding percentages calculated in different population studies of the United States, and for particular types of cancer in European countries were used. These proportions were applied to the number of deaths from cancer for the year 2002 and the number of new cases of cancer in the Greek population (data from Globocan-IARC).

RESULTS The numbers in the Greek population range from less than 500 deaths per year and 680 new cases, according to the Scandinavian calculations, to approximately 1,700 deaths per year and 2,700 new cases according to US calculations. The types of cancer that enumerate the greatest amount of cases that can be attributed to occupational exposures are lung and urinary bladder cancers, with estimates that range between tens and hundreds of deaths for each site. Other important occupational cancers are mesothelioma, almost exclusively attributed to exposure to asbestos, leukemia and lymphoma.

CONCLUSIONS Ιn Greece, only one case of occupational cancer was officially recorded during the years 2003, 2004 and 2005, which is far smaller an estimation than even the most conservative scenarios. The recording of occupational cancers is only fragmentary. Insufficient recognition of occupational cancer in Greece seriously complicates its prevention.

Key words: Bladder cancer, Larynx cancer, Leukemia, Lung cancer, Occupational cancer.