The jobs putting Australian workers most at risk of exposure to carcinogens

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