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Innovations Teams
Occupational Cancer Epidemiology Team (OCE)

Work Programme

Occupational cancer epidemiology is a core IARC activity, in which both community-based and industry-based studies are crucial to identify and quantify risks. International collaborations are valuable to establish large-scale studies examining occupational exposures and risks that cannot otherwise be adequately studied. Although it is essential to investigate whether an exposure is related to the risk of cancer, it is also of interest to examine the joint effects of mixed exposures and the combined effects of tobacco smoking and lung carcinogens, which often confer stronger effects on cancer risk when they act together.

The aim of the Occupational Cancer Epidemiology Team (OCE) is to conduct studies worldwide and to synthesize evidence contributing to the prevention of occupation-related cancers among workers and their offspring.

The specific objectives of OCE are to:

  1. identify occupational carcinogens;
  2. characterize effects of known and suspected occupational carcinogens, including exposure–response and joint effects with other exposures (e.g. tobacco smoking);
  3. estimate the cancer burden due to occupational exposures, based on high-quality data and standard methodology;
  4. enhance the development of exposure and risk assessment tools and registries in low- and middle-income countries, so that carcinogenic hazards or risks associated with work in these countries can be identified;
  5. encourage epidemiological studies and cancer registers to collect and record occupational data in a standardized manner;
  6. build capacity and facilitate knowledge exchange in occupational cancer epidemiology, including in under-researched settings, via close collaborations with local partners and by hosting internships at IARC; and
  7. develop a long-term strategy for occupational cancer research at IARC, including standard operating procedures and recommendations adaptable to different settings for future studies.

 

Team members:

Environment and Lifestyle Epidemiology Branch (ENV)
Dr Ann Olsson (Scientist and Team Leader), Email: olssona@iarc.who.int
Dr Joachim Schüz (Branch Head)
Mr Liacine Bouaoun (Statistician)
Dr Florence Guida (Scientist)
Dr Bayan Hosseini (Postdoctoral Scientist)
Dr Joanne Kim (Postdoctoral Scientist)
Ms Monika Moissonnier (Data Manager and Analyst)
Dr Felix Onyije (Postdoctoral Scientist)
Dr Wendy Agathe Bijoux (Postdoctoral Scientist)

Evidence Synthesis and Classification Branch (ESC)
Dr Mary Schubauer-Berigan (Acting Branch Head)

Cancer Surveillance Branch (CSU)
Dr Isabelle Soerjomataram (Deputy Branch Head)

External OCE members:
Professor Hans Kromhout (Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, The Netherlands)
Dr Laura Beane Freeman (National Cancer Institute, USA)
Professor Barbara Charbotel (Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, France)


Key programmes and projects:

Identification and characterization of known and suspected occupational carcinogens

– The IARC Monographs on the Identification of Carcinogenic Hazards to Humans programme

Publications
  • Loomis D, Guha N, Hall AL, Straif K (2018). Identifying occupational carcinogens: an update from the IARC Monographs. Occup Environ Med. 75(8):593–603. https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2017-104944 PMID:29769352
  • DeBono NL, Daniels RD, Beane Freeman LE, Graber JM, Hansen J, Teras LR, et al. (2023). Firefighting and cancer: a meta-analysis of cohort studies in the context of cancer hazard identification. Saf Health Work. 14(2):141–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shaw.2023.02.003 PMID:37389311
  • Schubauer-Berigan MK, Richardson DB, Fox MP, Fritschi L, Guseva Canu I, Pearce N, et al. (2023). IARC-NCI Workshop on an epidemiological toolkit to assess biases in human cancer studies for hazard identification: beyond the algorithm. Occup Environ Med. 280(3):119–20. https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2022-108724 PMID:36717257
  • Schubauer-Berigan MK (2023). Invited perspective: Good measure – assessing impact of cancer hazard identification on policies for cancer prevention. Environ Health Perspect. 131(12):121302. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP14099 PMID:38088578
  • Turner MC, Cogliano V, Guyton K, Madia F, Straif K, Ward EM, et al. (2023). Research recommendations for selected IARC-classified agents: impact and lessons learned. Environ Health Perspect. 131(10):105001. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP12547 PMID:37902675
  • Pega F, Momen NC, Streicher KN, Leon-Roux M, Neupane S, Schubauer-Berigan MK, et al.; Technical Advisory Group on Occupational Burden of Disease Estimation (2023). Global, regional and national burdens of non-melanoma skin cancer attributable to occupational exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation for 183 countries, 2000–2019: a systematic analysis from the WHO/ILO Joint Estimates of the Work-related Burden of Disease and Injury. Environ Int. 181:108226. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2023.108226 PMID:37945424

– The SYNERGY project: a pooled analysis of case–control studies on the joint effects of occupational carcinogens in the development of lung cancer

– The AGRICOH project: an international consortium of agricultural cohort studies

– The ASBEST CHRYSOTILE COHORT study: Occupational exposure to chrysotile in workers in mines and processing facilities in Asbest, Russian Federation

– The International Nuclear Workers Study (INWORKS): a collaborative epidemiological study to improve knowledge about health effects of protracted low-dose external radiation exposure

Publications
  • Richardson DB, Leuraud K, Laurier D, Gillies M, Haylock R, Kelly-Reif K, et al. (2023). Cancer mortality after low dose exposure to ionising radiation in workers in France, the United Kingdom, and the United States (INWORKS): cohort study. BMJ. 382:e074520. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2022-074520 PMID:37586731
  • Kelly-Reif K, Bertke SJ, Daniels RD, Richardson DB, Schubauer-Berigan MK (2023). Ionizing radiation and solid cancer mortality among US nuclear facility workers. Int J Epidemiol. 52(4):1015–24. https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyad075 PMID:37253388
  • Leuraud K, Richardson DB, Cardis E, Daniels RD, Gillies M, Haylock R, et al. (2021). Risk of cancer associated with low-dose radiation exposure: comparison of results between the INWORKS nuclear workers study and the A-bomb survivors study. Radiat Environ Biophys. 60(1):23–39. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00411-020-00890-7 PMID:33479781
  • Richardson DB, Cardis E, Daniels RD, Gillies M, Haylock R, Leuraud K, et al. (2018). Site-specific solid cancer mortality after exposure to ionizing radiation: a cohort study of workers (INWORKS). Epidemiology. 29(1):31–40. https://doi.org/10.1097/EDE.0000000000000761 PMID:28991003
  • Daniels RD, Bertke SJ, Richardson DB, Cardis E, Gillies M, O’Hagan JA, et al. (2017). Examining temporal effects on cancer risk in the International Nuclear Workers’ Study. Int J Cancer. 140(6):1260–9. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.30544 PMID:27914102
  • Hamra GB, Richardson DB, Cardis E, Daniels RD, Gillies M, O’Hagan JA, et al. (2016). Cohort Profile: The International Nuclear Workers Study (INWORKS). Int J Epidemiol. 45(3):693–9. https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyv122 PMID:26150557

– Pooled Uranium Miners Analysis (PUMA): a collaborative international epidemiological study pooling seven cohorts of uranium miners to better understand long-term risk of lung and other cancers, and of non-malignant diseases, associated with radon progeny exposure, and to better characterize the interaction of tobacco smoking with radon

Publications
  • Kreuzer M, Sommer M, Deffner V, Bertke S, Demers PA, Kelly-Reif K, et al. (2024). Lifetime excess absolute risk for lung cancer due to exposure to radon: results of the pooled uranium miners cohort study PUMA. Radiat Environ Biophys. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00411-023-01049-w PMID:38172372
  • Kelly-Reif K, Bertke SJ, Rage E, Demers PA, Fenske N, Deffner V, et al. (2023). Radon and lung cancer in the pooled uranium miners analysis (PUMA): highly exposed early miners and all miners. Occup Environ Med. 80(7):385–91. https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2022-108532 PMID:37164624
  • Kelly-Reif K, Bertke S, Daniels RD, Richardson DB, Schubauer-Berigan MK (2022). Nonmalignant respiratory disease mortality in male Colorado Plateau uranium miners, 1960– Am J Ind Med. 65(10):773–82. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.23419 PMID:35941829
  • Kelly-Reif K, Bertke SJ, Samet J, Sood A, Schubauer-Berigan MK (2022). Health burdens of uranium miners will extend beyond the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act deadline. Occup Environ Med. 79(7):503–4. https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2022-108311 PMID:35501126
  • Richardson DB, Rage E, Demers PA, Do MT, Fenske N, Deffner V, et al. (2022). Lung cancer and radon: pooled analysis of uranium miners hired in 1960 or later. Environ Health Perspect. 130(5):57010. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP10669 PMID:35604341
  • Richardson DB, Rage E, Demers PA, Do MT, DeBono N, Fenske N, et al. (2021). Mortality among uranium miners in North America and Europe: the Pooled Uranium Miners Analysis (PUMA). Int J Epidemiol. 50(2):633–43. https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyaa195 PMID:33232447
  • Rage E, Richardson DB, Demers PA, Do M, Fenske N, Kreuzer M, et al. (2020). PUMA – Pooled Uranium Miners Analysis: cohort profile. Occup Environ Med. 77(3):194–200. https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2019-105981 PMID:32005674

– Pooled international styrene cohort analysis

Publications
  • Loomis D, Guha N, Kogevinas M, Fontana V, Gennaro V, Kolstad HA, et al. (2019). Cancer mortality in an international cohort of reinforced plastics workers exposed to styrene: a reanalysis. Occup Environ Med. 76(3):157–62. https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2018-105131 PMID:29669820

– Pooled international titanium dioxide cohort analysis

Publications
  • Guseva Canu I, Gaillen-Guedy A, Antilla A, Charles S, Fraize-Frontier S, Luce D, et al. (2022). Lung cancer mortality in the European cohort of titanium dioxide workers: a reanalysis of the exposure–response relationship. Occup Environ Med. oemed-2021-108030. https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2021-108030 PMID:35501125

– Pooled international lead cohort analysis

Publications

– Multicentric study on cancer risk among workers in the pulp and paper industry
The final report of the Multicentric International Cohort Study of Workers in the Pulp and Paper Industry, which concluded in March 2001, is available here.

Publications
  • Carel R, Boffetta P, Kauppinen T, Teschke K, Andersen A, Jäppinen P, et al. (2002). Exposure to asbestos and lung and pleural cancer mortality among pulp and paper industry workers. J Occup Environ Med. 44(6):579–84. https://doi.org/10.1097/00043764-200206000-00022 PMID:12085486
  • Kauppinen T, Teschke K, Savela A, Kogevinas M, Boffetta P (1997). International data base of exposure measurements in the pulp, paper and paper product industries. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 70(2):119–27. https://doi.org/10.1007/s004200050195 PMID:9253640
  • Kauppinen T, Teschke K, Astrakianakis G, Boffetta P, Colin D, Keefe A, et al. (2002). Assessment of exposure in an international study on cancer risks among pulp, paper, and paper product workers. AIHA J (Fairfax, Va). 63(3):254–61. https://doi.org/10.1080/15428110208984711 PMID:12173173
  • Korhonen K, Liukkonen T, Ahrens W, Astrakianakis G, Boffetta P, Burdorf A, et al. (2004). Occupational exposure to chemical agents in the paper industry. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 77(7):451–60. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-004-0530-5 PMID:15368059
  • Lee WJ, Teschke K, Kauppinen T, Andersen A, Jäppinen P, Szadkowska-Stanczyk I, et al. (2002). Mortality from lung cancer in workers exposed to sulfur dioxide in the pulp and paper industry. Environ Health Perspect. 110(10):991–5. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.02110991 PMID:12361923
  • McLean D, Pearce N, Langseth H, Jäppinen P, Szadkowska-Stanczyk I, Persson B, et al. (2006). Cancer mortality in workers exposed to organochlorine compounds in the pulp and paper industry: an international collaborative study. Environ Health Perspect. 114(7):1007–12. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.8588 PMID:16835051
  • Teschke K, Ahrens W, Andersen A, Boffetta P, Fincham S, Finkelstein M, et al. (1999). Occupational exposure to chemical and biological agents in the nonproduction departments of pulp, paper, and paper product mills: an international study. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J. 60(1):73–83. https://doi.org/10.1080/00028899908984424 PMID:10028618

– Parental occupational exposure in relation to childhood cancer

Publications
  • Onyije FM, Olsson A, Erdmann F, Magnani C, Petridou E, Clavel J, et al.; NARECHEM-ST Group (2022). Parental occupational exposure to combustion products, metals, silica and asbestos and risk of childhood leukaemia: findings from the Childhood Cancer and Leukaemia International Consortium (CLIC). Environ Int. 167:107409. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2022.107409 PMID:35908390
  • Talibov M, Olsson A, Bailey H, Erdmann F, Metayer C, Magnani C, et al. (2019). Parental occupational exposure to low-frequency magnetic fields and risk of leukaemia in the offspring: findings from the Childhood Leukaemia International Consortium (CLIC). Occup Environ Med. 76(10):746–53. https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2019-105706 PMID:31358566

– Occupational exposures and risk of testicular cancer (TESTIS-PRO, NORD-TEST)

Publications
  • Guth M, Lefevre M, Pilorget C, Coste A, Ahmadi S, Danjou A, et al.; TESTIS study group (2023). Parental occupational exposure to solvents and risk of developing testicular germ cell tumors among sons: a French nationwide case-control study (TESTIS study). Scand J Work Environ Health. 49(6):405–18. https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.4102 PMID:37649372
  • Guth M, Coste A, Lefevre M, Deygas F, Danjou A, Ahmadi S, et al.; TESTIS study group (2023). Testicular germ cell tumour risk by occupation and industry: a French case-control study – Occup Environ Med. 80(7):407–17. https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2022-108601 PMID:37230752
  • Ahmadi S, Guth M, Coste A, Bouaoun L, Danjou A, Lefevre M, et al.; The Testis Study Group (2022). Paternal occupational exposure to heavy metals and welding fumes and testicular germ cell tumours in sons in France. Cancers (Basel). 14(19):4962. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers14194962 PMID:36230885
  • Corbin S, Togawa K, Schüz J, Le Cornet C, Fervers B, Feychting M, et al. (2022). Parental occupational exposures in wood-related jobs and risk of testicular germ cell tumours in offspring in NORD-TEST a registry-based case-control study in Finland, Norway, and Sweden. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 95(6):1243–53. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-021-01818-4 PMID:34853884
  • Olsson A, Togawa K, Schüz J, Le Cornet C, Fervers B, Oksbjerg Dalton S, et al. (2018). Parental occupational exposure to solvents and heavy metals and risk of developing testicular germ cell tumors in sons (NORD-TEST Denmark). Scand J Work Environ Health. 44(6):658–69. https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.3732 PMID:29877553
  • Le Cornet C, Fervers B, Pukkala E, Tynes T, Feychting M, Hansen J, et al. (2017). Parental occupational exposure to organic solvents and testicular germ cell tumors in their offspring: NORD-TEST study. Environ Health Perspect. 125(6):067023. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP864 PMID:28893722


Occupational cancer epidemiology in under-researched settings

Publications
  • Hosseini B, Zendehdel K, Bouaoun L, Hall AL, Rashidian H, Hadji M, et al. (2023). Bladder cancer risk in relation to occupations held in a nationwide case-control study in Iran. Int J Cancer. 153(4):765–74. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.34560 PMID:37158123
  • Hosseini B, Olsson A, Bouaoun L, Hall A, Hadji M, Rashidian H, et al. (2022). Lung cancer risk in relation to jobs held in a nationwide case-control study in Iran. Occup Environ Med. 79(12):831–8. https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2022-108463 PMID:36379677
  • Hosseini B, Hall AL, Zendehdel K, Kromhout H, Onyije FM, Moradzadeh R, et al. (2021). Occupational exposure to carcinogens and occupational epidemiological cancer studies in Iran: a review. Cancers (Basel). 13(14):3581. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers13143581 PMID:34298794
  • Onyije FM, Hosseini B, Togawa K, Schüz J, Olsson A (2021). Cancer incidence and mortality among petroleum industry workers and residents living in oil producing communities: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 18(8):4343. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18084343 PMID:33923944


Estimating the occupational cancer burden

Publications

 

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