Blue-Collar Workers and Cancer
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Compared to other professions, blue-collar workers in industries like construction, manufacturing, and agriculture have higher rates of several types of cancer, including lung cancer, bladder cancer, mesothelioma, and others.
A US organization called Louisiana Mesothelioma Advocates, LMA, strives to assist families affected by mesothelioma and help them make informed decisions regarding treatment, doctors, legal support, and any other questions that may arise.
Firefighters are often exposed to smoke, chemicals, and other hazards that can affect their long-term health. Understanding these risks and following safety measures can help protect their wellbeing.
The level of risk for these workers varies by industry and their exposure to hazardous materials like asbestos, benzene, and tobacco smoke. Even though significant advancements have been made in occupational health and safety regulations, these protocols are often not followed properly, leaving many workers still at risk of exposure to carcinogens and eventually developing cancer.
Photo Credit: Cataño, PR, October 25, 2009 -- Firefighter from the Volunteer Fire Department of Puerto Rico. Yuisa Rios/FEMA
Occupational cancers are those resulting from exposure to carcinogenic agents at the workplace. The most frequent types of cancer for blue-collar workers are lung cancer, mesothelioma, bladder cancer, skin cancer, and leukemia, although other forms of the disease may develop. The rate of occupational cancer is largely under-reported, except for mesothelioma. That’s because it is the easiest cancer to connect to workplace exposure since the only known cause is asbestos exposure.
A 2023 article in Frontiers Public Health cited multiple studies finding that men in agriculture, industry, and crafts had a higher 10-year risk of lung cancer compared to other workers, while women in intermediate professions like administrative employees had the highest lung cancer risk. Meanwhile, women in managerial professions were found to have the highest risk of developing breast cancer.
Countless studies and reports have found that smoking tobacco—or even just being regularly exposed to secondhand smoke—increases the likelihood of developing various cancers, particularly in the lungs. The 2023 study found that smoking resulted in a greater change in 10-year cancer risk than occupational factors for both sexes.
The study’s authors concluded that this finding reinforces the need for workplace wellness programs and annual occupational health assessments for employees exposed to workplace carcinogens and other health hazards.