Documents Hamberg-van Reenen, Heleen H. 2 results

"Despite many protective measures workers can be exposed to carcinogenic substances at work. Additional policy interventions are needed to reduce the future burden of work-related cancer in the EU. The RIVM addressed this issue by providing insight into the magnitude of work-related cancer, in terms of the number of cases, deaths and the societal costs, caused by exposure to carcinogenic substances in the EU. We estimate that in de EU 122,600 (range 91,500 - 150,500) people were newly diagnosed with cancer, caused by past exposure to carcinogenic substances at work. The attributed cancer deaths are estimated to be 79,700 (range 57,700 - 106,500). In total almost 1.2 (0.8 - 1.6) million years of life were lost due to premature death caused by past exposure to carcinogenic substances at work in the EU-population. The consequences of this work-related cancer, and its impact on society, extend further than mortality and morbidity figures. They also include the reduction in the quality of life, productivity losses and the provided health care. Next to the individual emotional suffering and pain associated with the disease, this leads to economic cost for society. Health care expenditure and productivity losses are estimated to cost between ?4-7 billion annually for the EU. When welfare losses of premature deaths and diagnosis with cancer are added, the total annual economic representation of the societal impact is estimated to be in an order of magnitude of ?334 (242 - 440) billion."

"Objectives This study investigates whether an imbalance between physical capacity and exposure to work-related physical factors is associated with low-back, neck, or shoulder pain.Methods Data of the longitudinal study on musculoskeletal disorders, absenteeism, stress, and health (SMASH), with a follow-up of 3 years (N=1789), were used. At baseline, physical capacity (isokinetic lifting strength, static muscle endurance, and mobility of the spine) and exposure to work-related physical factors were assessed. During the follow-up, low-back, neck, and shoulder pain were self-reported annually. “Imbalance” was defined as lower than median capacity combined with higher than median exposure, “high balance” was high capacity and high exposure, and “low balance” was low capacity and low exposure. Results For both the low-back and neck, imbalance between static endurance and working with flexed postures was a risk factor for pain [relative risk (RR) 1.35, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.08–1.68, and RR 1.36, 95% CI 0.96–1.91, respectively]. Low balance was also associated with low-back pain (RR 1.29, 95% CI 1.04–1.68). Furthermore, low balance between isokinetic lifting strength and lifting exposure was a risk factor for low-back and neck pain [RR between 1.22 (95% CI 0.99–1.49) and 1.35 (95% CI 1.03–1.79)]. No associations were found with shoulder pain.Conclusions Some relationship between low-back and neck pain and combined measures of physical capacity with exposure to work-related physical factors seems to exist, but an imbalance between physical capacity and exposure was not found to yield higher risks than high balance or low balance."