Railway workers exposed to extremely low frequency magnetic fields have an elevated risk of certain blood cancers, new study findings suggest. In a study of more than 20,000 Swiss railway workers who were followed for 30 years, researchers found that certain workers’ risk of myeloid leukaemia and Hodgkin’s lymphoma climbed in tandem with their exposure to these fields, with train drivers most at risk.

Dr Martiin Röösli and others. Leukaemia, brain tumours and exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields: cohort of Swiss railway employees, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, published online 24 May 2007; doi: 10.1136/oem.2006.030270 [abstract]. Risks 308.

Agricultural workers exposed to high levels of pesticides have a raised risk of brain tumours, research suggests. All agricultural workers exposed to pesticides had a slightly elevated brain tumour risk, the French study found, but the paper published online by the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine reported the risk was more than doubled for those exposed to the highest levels.

Dorothée Provost and others. Brain tumours and exposure to pesticides: a case-control study in, southwestern France, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, published online 30 May 2007; doi: 10.1136/oem.2006.028100. BBC News Online.

The world’s third largest animal feed supplement producer has been found liable for kidney cancers suffered by its staff. A social security tribunal in Moulin, France ruled in April that Adisseo had been grossly negligent and ordered the company to pay out compensation of 50,000 to 60,000 euros (£34,000-41,000) to each of nine current or former workers suffering from kidney cancer.

Risks 305.

A study of cancer risk in workers exposed to metalworking fluids suggests common study approaches systematically under-estimate the true extent of the problem. Harvard University researchers say failure to take adequate account of the time lag between exposure and development of an occupational cancer – the latency period – means a significant proportion of work-related cancers can be missed.

Elizabeth J Malloy, Katie L Miller and Ellen A Eisen. Rectal cancer and exposure to metalworking fluids in the automobile manufacturing industry, Occupational and Environmental Medicine , volume 64 , pages 244-249, 2007 [abstract]. Related editorial. Risks 302.

A union legal challenge has won stricter controls on cancer and other risks posed by a constituent of portland cement. The ubiquitous site material, which contains hexavalent chromium (chrome 6), a known carcinogen and powerful allergen, had been excluded from the official chrome 6 standard.

Risks 302.

A trade union study has identified high levels of occupational cancers in construction workers in Denmark and has prompted immediate government action. Danish Confederation of Construction Workers Unions (BAT-Cartel) researchers found a range of jobs had a statistically significant risk for a range of cancers, many associated with asbestos exposure.

Risks 299. International Ban Asbestos Secretariat report. Survey of cancer risk (1970-2003) among employees in the Building and Construction Branch in Denmark, BAT-Cartel, March 2007.

A major survey of French workplaces has revealed few workers are adequately protected from the risks posed by carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic substances (CMR agents) – in general, substances that carry a cancer or reproductive health risk. Inspections at 2,000 firms found only 40 per cent of workplaces using CMR agents – nearly half of all the firms visited were using these substances – had carried out the necessary risk assessment.

Risks 299.

UK unions are supporting a global ‘zero cancer’ campaign targeting workplace cancers. A coalition of global unions is warning a worldwide epidemic of occupational cancer claims at least one life every 52 seconds, but says this tragedy is being ignored or seriously underestimated by both official regulators and employers.

Occupational Cancer/Zero Cancer: A trade union guide to prevention [pdf]. Hazards occupational cancer webpages and new Work cancer prevention kit, 23 March 2007. BWI occupational cancer webpages.

‘Secret ties to industry and conflicting interests in cancer research’ includes examples from Sweden, the UK and the USA.  It is critical of a system where consulting firms employ university researchers for industry work, disguising industry links in the income of large departments. It noted that if the industry affiliation is concealed by the scientist, biases from conflicting interests in risk assessments cannot be evaluated and dealt with properly. Furthermore, there is reason to suspect that editors and journal staff may suppress publication of scientific results that are adverse to industry owing to internal conflict of interest between editorial integrity and business needs. Among those criticised was Richard Doll, whose landmark 1981 paper on occupational cancer incidence was commonly cited by government and others as evidence of a low occupational contribution to cancer incidence overall.

Lennart Hardell and others. Secret ties to industry and conflicting interests in cancer research, American Journal of Industrial Medicine, volume 50, issue 3, pages 227-233, 2007 [abstract]

The risk of developing health and neck cancers is doubled if you work in construction, a new study suggests. Researchers from the University of Stirling’s Occupational and Environmental Health Research found men who had been diagnosed with head and neck cancer were twice as likely to have worked in construction as participants in a control group.

Stirling University news release . Sarnia Observer. James T Brophy, Margaret M Keith and others. Cancer and construction: What occupational histories in a Canadian community reveal, International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health (IJOEH), volume 13, page 32-38, 2007.