More than half of all Australian workers are exposed to cancer-causing agents on a day-to-day basis, the Cancer Council of Australia has warned.
The body will this week release a series of new warnings in a bid to boost awareness.
Exposure to dust, the sun, asbestos and diesel fumes are among the highest causes of cancer among workers.
TOP JOBS EXPOSED TO POTENTIAL CANCER RISKS IN AUSTRALIA (ranked by strength of exposure):
MEN:
Heavy vehicle drivers - lung, bladder, skin
Farmers - lung, bladder, skin Plumbers - lung, skin
Painters - lung, skin, nasal cavity/paranasal sinuses/nasopharynx
Miners - lung, skin
Carpenters - lung, skin, leukaemia, nasal cavity/paranasal sinuses/nasopharynx
Animal and horticultural - skin, lung, leukaemia
Vehicle trades - lung, mesothelioma, larynx
Handypersons - skin, lung, nasal cavity/paranasal sinuses/nasopharynx
Passenger transport - lung, skin
Automobile drivers - lung, skin
Engineers - skin, lung
Outdoor workers - skin, lung, leukaemia
Construction workers - lung, skin
Electrical workers - skin, lung
Emergency workers - lung, bladder, skin
Metal workers - skin, lung
Warehousing - skin, lung
Scientists - skin, lung, leukaemia
Other health professionals - skin, lung, bladder, [depending on exposure to ionising radiation, which is usually well-controlled, the following:] salivary, oesophagus, stomach, colorectal, nasal cavity and para-nasal sinuses, bone, kidney, bladder, brain, thyroid, leukaemia, Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
WOMEN:
Farmers - skin, lung, leukaemia
Automobile drivers - lung, skin, leukaemia
Passenger transport - lung, breast
Heavy vehicle drivers - lung, skin Handypersons - skin, lung
Electrical workers - skin, lung
Vehicle trades - lung, larynx, mesothelioma, ovary
Metal workers - lung, nasopharynx, [depending on exposure to ionising radiation, which is usually well controlled, the following:] salivary, oesophagus, stomach, colorectal, nasal cavity and para-nasal sinuses, bone, kidney, bladder, brain, thyroid, leukaemia, Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
Construction workers - lung
Miners - lung
Animal and horticultural - skin, lung, leukaemia
Engineers - skin, lung, leukaemia
Emergency workers - skin, breast, lung, bladder
Scientists - skin, lung, [depending on exposure to ionising radiation, which is usually well controlled, the following:] salivary, oesophagus, stomach, colorectal, nasal cavity and para-nasal sinuses, bone, kidney, bladder, brain, thyroid, leukaemia, Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
Carpenters - lung, nasal cavity/paranasal sinuses/nasopharynx
Hospitality - lung, skin, bladder Nurses - breast, bladder, skin, lung, [depending on exposure to ionising radiation, which is usually well controlled, the following:] salivary, oesophagus, stomach, colorectal, nasal cavity and para-nasal sinuses, bone, kidney, bladder, brain, thyroid, leukaemia, Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
Machine operators - skin, lung
Food service - lung, skin, bladder, breast
Food factory - breast
*Sources: Cancer Council of Australia’s National Cancer Control Policy and Safe Work Australia’s Deemed Diseases in Australia report