This study estimated the number of current cancer cases diagnosed each year in Canada that are due to occupational exposures.

Our results show that in 2011, approximately 3.9-4.2% of all new cancer cases were due to occupational exposure, corresponding to between 9,700 and 10,400 new cases.

The majority of these cases were due to solar radiation, asbestos, diesel engine exhaust, crystalline silica, and shiftwork. The cancer types with the greatest number of cases were non-melanoma skin, lung, female breast, mesothelioma, and bladder.

Burden of occupational cancer in Canada

Exposure	Number of workers exposed*	Number of workers exposed*
Asbestos	152,000	1900 lung 430 mesothelioma
Diesel Engine Exhaust	897,000	560 lung 200 bladder (suspected)
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons	350,000	130 lung 50 skin 80 bladder (suspected)
Radon	188,000	190 lung
Second hand smoke	418,000	130 lung 20 laryngeal (suspected) 35 pharyngeal (suspected)
Shiftwork	1,800,000	470-1,200 female breast (suspected)
Silica	380,000	570 lung
Solar UV radiation	1,500,000	4560 non-melanoma skin
Welding fumes	333,000	310 lung

Not all burden estimates are shown. Table shows estimates for nine key exposures in Canadian workplaces.*Estimated by CAREX Canada.
†Based on 2011 cancer statistics.

Current human burden of occupational cancer

Burden of occupational cancer in Canada