Occupational exposure and Cancer : perspectives from the trade unions

Tony Musu European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) HEAL workshop Cancer Prevention & the Environment Brussels, 2 December 2008

European Trade Union Confederation:

ETUC is the European social partner representing workers The Treaty of Maastricht (1992) guarantees this formal status Together with the employers, it is involved in consultation in areas such as employment, social affairs, macroeconomic, industrial and regional policy.

 81 member organisations  36 European countries  12 industry federations  60 million workers

Data on cancers in the EU ?

 New cases of cancer : > 2 million/year (IARC,2006)  Cancer mortality : > 1 million/year (IARC,2006)  In the EU, 23 % of the workforce exposed to carcinogens on a daily basis (Carex)  Occupational cancer : ~ 8 %. Probably higher among male workers (ETUI, 2007)  Occupational cancer: main cause of working conditions-related deaths in Europe (ETUI, 2007) 3

The fraction of cancers attributable to a work related cause varies by type of cancer:

Localisation (Source: ETUI, 2007) Lower estimate Higher estimate Lung Pleural Mesothelioma Bladder Sinus Leukaemia 13% 85% 10% 24% 5% 29% 88% 14.2% 41% 18% 4

An unequal burden of disease

35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% Managment Trade - services Unskilled manual workers Skilled manual workers

Les expositions aux produits cancérogènes, DARES, juillet 2005 5

Most widespread carcinogens at work

:            Solar radiation Passive smoking Crystalline silica Diesel engine exhausts Radon Wood dust Lead and its inorganic compounds Benzene Asbestos Formaldehyde Chromium VI 6

Occupational cancer: the Cinderella disease

 Public health policy focused on individual factors  Concealment of existing information by the Industry (eg: asbestos & vinyl chloride scandals)  Long lag time between exposure and disease  Cancers are multifactoral diseases and working conditions are often ignored by doctors 7

The EU legislation on carcinogens

 1.

2.

Two categories: Marketing of carcinogens Workers’ protection    The Carcinogens Directive (2004/37/EC) : Hierarchy of obligations for employers : elimination, replacement, control Binding Occupational Exposure Limit Values: benzene, hardwood dust, vinyl chloride monomer 8

The revision of the Carcinogens directive

  initiated in 2004 ETUC response to Commission’s consultation:  Extension to reprotoxins  Updated BOELVs  New OELVs: crystalline silica, softwood dust  Recent news : Commission refuses to extend the scope of the directive to reprotoxins 9

REACH and carcinogens

 Registration:   CMR > 1t/y Chemical safety report >10 t/y   Authorisation:  CMRs of class 1 or 2 – risk « adequately controlled »  Health Vs socio-economic benefits « substitution principle » : mandatory in the Carcinogens directive, not in REACH !

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TU involvement & agenda

 REACH, an opportunity for a new start   Synergies between REACH & OSH legislation Workers’ involvement for Substitution  Make occupational cancers more visible to the authorities  Better recognition and compensation  Revision of the Carcinogens Directive  Global ban on asbestos + stop last EU derogation 11

Thank you for your attention !

Further info: http://hesa.etui-rehs.org >Dossiers > Chemicals http://hesa.etui-rehs.org >Dossiers > Occupational cancers Publication: disease pages) Occupational cancer, The Cinderella by Marie-Anne Mengeot, ETUI, 2007 (52 12