Exposed Workers and Bladder Cancer in Italy: an Estimate Starting from the ISPESL's Database of Enterprises

Abstract

The aim of this study is to assess the number of workers potentially at risk of bladder cancer in Italy. A detailed list of codes of economic activities entailing bladder cancer risk was developed on the basis of the excess risk resulting from two different pooled analysis (separately for men and women) in Europe. Firms and the number of blue-collars potentially at risk were selected from the ISPESL (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Prevention) database of enterprises. The number of blue-collars likely exposed to bladder cancer risk in Italy is about 443,849 (67.88% men). This evaluation, based on administrative sources rather than on direct measures of exposure, is likely to overestimate potential exposure to carcinogenic agents. ISPESL database of enterprises, which permits the identification and territorial localization of each local unit, is helpful to characterize the current situations at risk for the health of workers.