THE BURDEN OF CANCER AT WORK

Many years have passed since Doll and Peto famously estimated the proportion of cancer deaths attributable to occupation. In this issue, Rushton et al 1 report on an ambitious project to update estimates for Great Britain. Attributable fractions and numbers were estimated for mortality and incidence of 6 cancers related to occupations and agents classified as IARC group I and IIA carcinogens (strong or suggestive evidence of cancer at specific anatomical sites in humans). Risk estimates and estimated proportions exposed came from a literature review and national data sources. The authors estimate that some 4.9% of deaths were attributable to work-related carcinogens …