Work in Brief

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 …