Alberto Scarselli, Marisa Corfiati, Alessandro Marinaccio
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study is to describe the levels of occupational exposure to the most common cancer-causing agents in the Italian industrial context, with a particular focus on age differences to identify high-risk groups of young workers.
Methods: Data on exposure to carcinogens were extracted from the national occupational exposures database (SIREP), covering exposure measurements collected between 1996 and 2024. Thirteen carcinogenic agents with over 10,000 recorded measurements were analysed. Exposure intensity was categorised as low, medium, or high according to European regulatory standards. Multinomial logistic and linear mixed-effects regression models, adjusted for gender and calendar period, were used to assess the association between age and exposure level.
Results: A total of 457,291 exposure measurements were selected for the main carcinogens registered in SIREP. Exposed workers (159,582) were only in a small proportion women (9%) and mostly aged between 20 and 44 years in both genders (63% in women, 57% in men). Young people (i.e., under 30) constituted a considerable portion of the total exposed workers (25%) and compared to older workers (≥ 30) had 17.6% higher exposure levels overall, 18.4% in men and 11.2% in women. Age differences in exposure persisted mainly across industries and job categories, but also by gender and nationality.
Conclusion: This study underscores the necessity for targeted preventive strategies, including tailored training programmes, enhanced supervision, and rigorous enforcement of safety protocols for young workers. Improved monitoring and age-specific interventions are essential to reduce occupational cancer risks and safeguard the health of the younger workforce.
期刊介绍：
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health publishes Editorials, Review Articles, Original Articles, and Letters to the Editor. It welcomes any manuscripts dealing with occupational or ambient environmental problems, with a special interest in research at the interface of occupational health and clinical medicine. The scope ranges from Biological Monitoring to Dermatology, from Fibers and Dust to Human Toxicology, from Nanomaterials and Ultra-fine Dust to Night- and Shift Work, from Psycho-mental Distress and Burnout to Vibrations. A complete list of topics can be found on the right-hand side under For authors and editors.
In addition, all papers should be based on present-day standards and relate to:
-Clinical and epidemiological studies on morbidity and mortality
-Clinical epidemiological studies on the parameters relevant to the estimation of health risks
-Human experimental studies on environmental health effects. Animal experiments are only acceptable if relevant to pathogenic aspects.
-Methods for studying the topics mentioned above.
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