Carcinogenic Substances at Work
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10 FACTS ABOUT OCCUPATIONAL CARCINOGENS<br />
10 FACTS ABOUT<br />
OCCUPATIONAL CARCINOGENS<br />
The "time bombs" among hazardous substances in the workplace.<br />
1<br />
WHAT ARE CARCINOGENS?<br />
The Encyclopedia Britannica defines<br />
carcinogens as any number of agents<br />
th<strong>at</strong> can cause cancer in humans. They can be<br />
divided into three major c<strong>at</strong>egories: chemical<br />
carcinogens (including those from biological<br />
sources), physical carcinogens, and oncogenic<br />
(cancer-causing) viruses. 1<br />
2<br />
HOW CARCINOGENS<br />
CAUSE CANCER.<br />
Most Carcinogens cause cancer<br />
by interacting with cell DNA and thereby<br />
interfering with normal cellular function,<br />
causing genetic abnormalities to develop in<br />
the normal cell 2 . With cancer, cells go out of<br />
control, multiply without order, and invade<br />
and destroy the surrounding tissue. 3 This can<br />
result in the form<strong>at</strong>ion of a tumor, an abnormal<br />
tissue growth th<strong>at</strong> may spread to other parts of<br />
the body.<br />
3<br />
CARCINOGENS POSE<br />
A LIFELONG RISK.<br />
Carcinogens do not cause cancer in<br />
every case. <strong>Substances</strong> labeled as carcinogens<br />
may have different levels of cancer-causing<br />
potential. It is true th<strong>at</strong> a large amount of a<br />
cancer-causing substance leads to cancer much<br />
more frequently. But even very small doses<br />
can develop a harmful effect – although the<br />
probability is clearly lower. The risk of developing<br />
cancer due to contact with a carcinogen remains<br />
throughout one‘s lifetime, since in many cases<br />
cell damage does not develop until years<br />
after contact with the substance. The time<br />
between exposure to a carcinogen and the<br />
onset of the disease can be up to 50 years. 4<br />
For any particular individual person, the risk of<br />
developing cancer depends on many factors –<br />
including how they are exposed to a carcinogen,<br />
the length and intensity of th<strong>at</strong> exposure, and<br />
the person´s genetic makeup.<br />
How cancer develops<br />
1<br />
Boundary<br />
2<br />
3<br />
Lymph vessel<br />
Blood vessel<br />
3<br />
1<br />
2<br />
Normal cells<br />
Abnormals cells<br />
1.2 million years<br />
! of life were lost<br />
due to prem<strong>at</strong>ure<br />
de<strong>at</strong>h caused by<br />
past exposure<br />
to carcinogenic<br />
substances <strong>at</strong> work<br />
in the EU. 5<br />
Abnormals cells multiply<br />
Malignant or invasive cancer<br />
4 | 33
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