May 23, 2007—The World Health Organization (WHO) wants governments and businesses worldwide to ban carcinogens such as asbestos and tobacco from the workplace as part of an effort to curb occupational cancers.
WHO reports that most cancer deaths caused by occupational risk factors occur in the developed world as a result of the wide use of different carcinogenic substances such as blue asbestos, 2-naphthylamine and benzene 20-30 years ago. Today, there are much tighter controls on these known carcinogens in the workplace in developed countries.
However, work processes involving the use of carcinogens such as chrysotile asbestos and pesticides, and those used in tire production and dye manufacturing, are moving to countries with less stringent enforcement of occupational health standards.
As a result, WHO is urging businesses to stop the use of asbestos; to introduce benzene-free organic solvents and technologies that convert the carcinogenic chromium into a non-carcinogenic form; to ban tobacco use at the workplace; and to provide protective clothing for people working in the sun.
According to WHO, at least 200,000 people die annually from cancer related to their workplace. The most common types of occupational cancer include lung cancer, mesothelioma and bladder cancer.
For more information, see the WHO Web site.
