Regions Worldwide that are hardest Hit by Workplace Carcinogens?

Regions Worldwide that are hardest Hit by Workplace Carcinogens

According to a recent analysis, Western Europe has the highest cancer mortality rates worldwide, with worrying numbers of cancer deaths connected to workplace carcinogens.

Data from the Global Burden of Disease, as reported by Down to Earth, showed which regions were most afflicted by cancers linked to occupational exposure to dangerous compounds like benzene, asbestos, arsenic, and beryllium.

With 19.88 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021, Western Europe topped the list; Australia and New Zealand came in second and third, respectively, with 16.96 deaths.

Significant statistics have also been recorded by high-income nations in the Asia Pacific region, with 14.71 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, according to Down to Earth, a publication that focuses on environmental politics and development.

Regions Worldwide that are hardest Hit by Workplace Carcinogens

The top ten areas where workplace carcinogens cause the greatest cancer mortality are as follows:

  1. Western Europe (19.88 deaths per 100,000 people)
  2. Australia & New Zealand (16.96 deaths)
  3. High-Income Asia Pacific (14.71 deaths)
  4. High-Income North America (12.21 deaths)
  5. Central Europe (9.82 deaths)
  6. East Asia (5.51 deaths)
  7. Southern Latin America (5.18 deaths)
  8. Eastern Europe (4.27 deaths)
  9. Tropical Latin America (2.97 deaths)
  10. Southern Sub-Saharan Africa (2.77 deaths)

The data from Down To Earth also shows that East Asia and Central Europe are catching up quickly. Since 1990, the rate of cancer deaths in Central Europe due to occupational carcinogens has doubled, whereas the rate in East Asia is currently 2.5 times higher.

The results coincide with global initiatives aimed at reducing worker exposure to toxic substances.

Nearly all OECD countries have banned asbestos, a well-known carcinogen, according to Down To Earth.

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Australia, on the other hand, has implemented a ban on engineered stone, which is a source of silica exposure, which is linked to lung cancer and silicosis, a serious lung disease.