EU Sees 40,538 Workplace-Linked Cancer Cases Over Decade

(MENAFN) Workplace-linked cancer diagnoses across the European Union reached 40,538 cases during the 2013-2023 period, according to statistics released Wednesday by Eurostat.

The bloc documented 3,500 occupational cancer cases in 2023, representing a rise of 191 incidents compared to the previous year's total of 3,309 confirmed diagnoses.

Work-related malignancies develop from prolonged contact with cancer-causing agents in professional settings. These conditions frequently manifest multiple decades following initial exposure—in some instances, more than four decades later.

Statistical analysis indicates that annual totals for 2020 (3,094), 2021 (3,258), and 2022 (3,309) fell below the 2013-2019 yearly average of 3,909 cases, potentially reflecting coronavirus pandemic impacts on employment conditions and healthcare system operations.

Cancer classification data demonstrated that lung malignancies and mesothelioma comprised over 80% of all confirmed occupational cancers throughout the 2013-2023 timeframe.

Lung cancer accounted for 16,499 documented cases, while mesothelioma—a rare malignancy associated with asbestos contact—tallied 16,469 cases. Bladder cancer ranked third with 2,696 recorded diagnoses.

Medical and safety specialists caution that these figures underscore persistent dangers tied to hazardous employment environments, emphasizing the critical necessity for rigorous workplace safety protocols to shield employees from exposure to carcinogenic substances.

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