Occupational exposure to carcinogens in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and the Czech Republic in 1997

摘要

Conclusions These preliminary results indicate that a substantial proportion of the workers in the studied countries were exposed to carcinogens. Objectives The aim of the study was to estimate the numbers of workers exposed to carcinogens in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and the Czech Republic. Methods CAREX is an international information system on occupational exposure to 139 known and suspected carcinogens. It provides exposure data and estimates of the numbers of exposed workers by country, carcinogen, and industry. The CAREX method, which has been previously applied in the member states of the European Union, was applied in the present study to the exposure situation in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and the Czech Republic in 1997. The preliminary estimates generated by CAREX were reviewed and revised by national experts mainly for asbestos, benzene, and lead, which were of special interest for this project.