Overview

Abstract (English)

There is a need for surveillance of cancers associated with potential risks in Canadian workplaces. However, cancer registries do not capture occupational information. The 1991 Canadian Census long-form records, Canadian Mortality Database, Canadian Cancer Registry, and annual Tax Summary Files were linked by Statistics Canada, allowing examination of work-related cancer risks in a population-based cohort. The cohort followed from 1991 to 2010 represents a unique opportunity for surveillance of occupational cancer and the investigation of suspected associations between cancer and occupation. The linkage resulted in a cohort of more than 2.1 million Canadians over the age of 25 years who were employed in 1991. Many of the confirmed work-cancer associations were observed. Mesothelioma is almost exclusively associated with asbestos exposure. Accordingly, construction workers (HR 1.58, 95% CI 1.17-2.12), machinery assemblers and operators (HR 2.23, 95% CI 1.35-3.67), and plumbers (HR 5.34, 95% CI 3.78-7.54), occupations with known asbestos exposure, were at highest risk in the present study. Women in occupations requiring more education have been observed to have increased risks of breast cancer due to an association with reproductive factors, including higher age at first child-birth. Accordingly, female administrators and managers (HR 1.06, 95% CI 1.02-1.11) and other office workers (HR 1.08, 95% CI 1.05-1.10) were at highest risk in this study. The present study shows that risks of cancer vary across occupations and industries due to direct job-related exposures to hazardous agents and factors including sun exposure and shiftwork, and indirect factors such as alcohol consumption and physical activity.

Abstract (French)

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