There is ‘appreciable’ evidence of a link between breast cancer and shiftwork, a report published by the HSE has found. Report author Professor Anthony Swerdlow, concludes: ‘Overall, the evidence for an association is appreciable, but not definitive’ and adds ‘further epidemiological research is needed to clarify the relationship.’ HSE commissioned this research following the publication of two articles in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute in the United States, which linked shift work and breast cancer. In 2014 HSE was still facing criticism for inaction on the issue.

HSE news release, 15 July 2003. Shift work and breast cancer: a critical review of the epidemiological evidence, Research Report 132, 2003. ISBN 0 7176 2708 X.