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Can your work increase your risk of cancer? Apparently, there are jobs and workplaces that may contribute to a higher risk of acquiring cancer because of exposures to some dust, gases, chemicals, radioactive substances and other aspects of their work.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer has been maintaining a rigorous program of evaluating and ranking substances according to their capacity to cause cancer in humans. Most of the substances classified by IARC as carcinogens, or cancer-causing, have primarily occupational exposures.
Types of industries that put workers at risk
Cancer Research UK identified types of industries that can put a person at risk of developing cancer. These include:
- Agriculture-related jobs – excessive exposure to sunlight or exposure to agricultural chemicals could increase risk.
- Construction – Jobs in construction and related fields can expose one to too much sunlight on a daily basis and to substances such as silica, asbestos, coal, paint and solvents, wood dust, or to diesel engine exhaust.
- Mining and manufacturing – Exposure to fossil fuels such as mineral oils, benzene, asbestos, silica, and solvents can increase the risk of cancer.
- Service industries – They can also expose one to too much sun, smoke, or emission from diesel engines.