Occupational cancer is cancer caused by occupational hazards. Several cancers have been directly tied to occupational hazards, including chimney sweeps’ carcinoma, mesothelioma, and others.

Carcinogens are chemicals known to cause cancer with some kind of exposure. When a person is exposed to a carcinogen in the workplace, it may cause mutations that allow cells to grow out of control, causing cancer. Carcinogens in the workplace may include chemicals like anilines, chromates, dinitrotoluenes, arsenic and inorganic arsenic compounds, beryllium and beryllium compounds, cadmium compounds, nickel compounds, crystalline forms of silica, coal tar pitch volatiles, coke oven emissions, diesel exhaust and environmental tobacco smoke.^[1]

• Painters are at risk for mesothelioma (due to potential asbestos exposure while working on a building), other lung cancer, and bladder cancer. The causative agent is unknown. Painters have a low rate of respirator and glove use.^[2]

An estimated 48,000 cancers are diagnosed yearly in the US that come from occupational causes; this represents approximately 4-10% of total cancer in the United States.^[3]