The occurrence of cancer is not only related to gene changes in vivo, but also closely related to our environment.
If a person is in an environment prone to cancer lesions for a long time, the risk of cancer will increase. Therefore, we call cancer caused by long-term exposure to carcinogens in the labor process or working environment [occupational cancer].
It should be noted that the occupational cancer mentioned here is observed by medical researchers in experiments or clinically, and is slightly different from the [occupational tumor] mentioned in the current Occupational Disease Prevention and Control Law.
So, which occupations increase the risk of cancer?
These occupations have a high risk of cancer.
Firefighters, Traffic Police, Miners and Asbestos Workers-Susceptible to Lung Cancer and Pleural Mesothelioma
Firefighters, traffic police and miners are often direct contacts of toxic gases and dust. Over the years, the lungs are the first to be damaged, which is also the reason why the incidence rate of lung cancer in this group of people is higher than that of ordinary people.
Asbestos workers are listed separately here because they are often [worse]:
1. Lung will harden: The reason why people can breathe freely is that the lung itself has certain elasticity. Asbestos dust and asbestos fibers enter the lung through respiratory tract, which can cause pulmonary interstitial fibrosis and pleural fibrosis, leading to lung hardening and loss of elasticity.
2. Lung cancer formation: Lung cancer or pleural mesothelioma is not uncommon among asbestos workers.
Painters, Leather Workers-Susceptible to Leukemia
The pungent smell of paint or leather must have been tried by everyone. Most people only smell it occasionally and wish to retreat immediately. Compared with those painters (leather workers), you have to say that you are lucky. Those poor workers work 40 hours a week, which is probably more than the sum of all the smells in most people’s lives.
Paint (leather) contains a large number of volatile harmful substances, such as benzene, toluene, xylene, phenol, formaldehyde, acrylonitrile, butadiene, etc., which enter the human body through respiratory tract, skin and digestive tract.
In addition to causing acute and chronic poisoning, leukemia may also be induced. Although the mechanism is not clear, medical research has confirmed that paint (leather) workers have a higher risk of leukemia.
Women who often work night shifts are prone to breast cancer.
Many occupations need to work night shifts, such as night shift medical workers, three-shift factory workers, night shift plane and train crew, etc. Statistics show that women in this group of people may have a higher risk of breast cancer.
This may disturb the physiological rhythm of the human body, making the human body unable to maintain normal hormone secretion and immune function, thus cell division is more prone to errors and induces cancer.
Workers engaged in the production of rubber additives and pigments are prone to bladder cancer.
Aromatic amines used in rubber production are strong carcinogens, and their carcinogenicity is much higher than formaldehyde.
Workers in the chemical industry that produces naphthylamine, benzidine and 4-aminobiphenyl and in rubber additives, pigments and other factories that use naphthylamine and benzidine as raw materials are 61 times more likely to suffer from bladder cancer than the general population.
What should I do?
If, unfortunately, one happens to belong to the above-mentioned cancer high-risk occupation, similar to the method of resigning immediately and changing jobs, it is unrealistic for most people, what should one do to minimize the risk of onset?
1. Wet operation and good ventilation: First of all, the environment should be improved. For dust pollutants in the air, there is no what method that is more convenient and economical than wet operation. For example, when digging rock walls, wet rock drills are selected. When the ground is leveled on the spot, a sprinkler can be equipped to allow dust in the air to adhere to the sprayed water droplets. In addition to reducing their emissions, good ventilation is a good choice to deal with harmful gases.
2. Dress up: Dressing up here does not mean applying foundation or lipstick. Wear protective masks, goggles and gloves before performing the operation.
These equipment to avoid direct contact with carcinogens cannot be lacking.
3. Adjust your biological clock: The advice for night shift workers is to strengthen your physique and adjust your biological clock to make it more suitable for working at night and resting during the day.
4. Do a good job in physical examination: As the occurrence and development of cancer often take a long time, no matter whether you are engaged in a high-risk occupation with cancer or not, as long as you have been engaged in it, you cannot ignore the risks. You all need to be vigilant and regularly carry out corresponding cancer prevention physical examination.