Study Reveals Cancer Risks for Nearly One-Third of Europe's Health and Social Care Workers
Nearly a third of Europe's health and social care workers face cancer risks at work, study finds
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A recent study by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work found that nearly 30% of health and social care workers in Europe are exposed to cancer risk factors, highlighting the urgent need for targeted prevention strategies in this sector.
- 01Cancer is the leading cause of work-related deaths in the EU, responsible for 100,000 fatalities annually.
- 02The Workers' Exposure Survey included interviews with 24,402 workers across six European countries.
- 0329.5% of health and social care workers reported exposure to cancer risk factors, with 7.8% exposed to two or more.
- 04Common exposures among health workers include ionising radiation (7.4%), diesel exhaust (6.2%), and formaldehyde (5.2%).
- 05The study emphasizes the need for tailored prevention strategies to address these risks in the health and social care sector.
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A new study conducted by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) reveals alarming cancer risk exposure among health and social care workers in Europe. Cancer accounts for 100,000 work-related deaths annually in the European Union, affecting millions of workers. The study, based on 24,402 interviews from 2022 to 2023 across Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, and Spain, found that 29.5% of health and social care workers reported exposure to at least one cancer risk factor, with 7.8% facing two or more. Common risk factors include ionising radiation (7.4%), diesel engine exhaust (6.2%), and formaldehyde (5.2%). The findings highlight the need for effective prevention strategies tailored to the unique working conditions in this sector, which employs over 21.6 million people in Europe. Michelle Turner from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health stresses the importance of addressing these risks, which have historically received less attention compared to other sectors.
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The findings indicate a significant health risk for millions of health and social care workers across Europe, necessitating immediate action.
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