Occupational cancers in the EU: A closer look

Occupational cancer is the term given to cancers caused by exposure to carcinogenic factors in the working environment, generally due to long-term exposure. Many cancer cases present themselves several years after the exposure took place, in some cases over 40 years. 

Between 2013 and 2021, a total of 33 712 cases of occupational cancers were officially recognised in the EU. However, numbers for 2020 (3 093) and 2021 (3 258) were lower than the 2013-2019 average (3 909 cases per year), due to the possible impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on general public services and healthcare systems.

Source dataset:  hsw_occ_cnr

Delving deeper into the data reveals that the most common types of occupational cancer are lung cancer, mesothelioma (a type of cancer connected to asbestos exposure, which develops in the thin layer of tissue that covers many of the internal organs, known as the mesothelium) and bladder cancer.

Malignant neoplasms of the bronchus and lung had the highest number of cases, with a total of 13 944 cases in that period. With slightly fewer cases was mesothelioma, with 13 530 cases, bringing these two types of cancers to a combined total of roughly 80% of all newly reported occupational cancer cases during this period. 

In the third place, but still substantial, were cases of malignant neoplasm of the bladder, with 2 416 reported new cases in the same period. 

Source dataset:  hsw_occ_cnr

The European Occupational Diseases Statistics (EODS) are part of Eurostat’s experimental statistics, which use new data sources and methods in an effort to better respond to users’ needs. 

More information

• Statistics explained article on occupational diseases statistics
• Experimental statistics webpage on European Occupational Diseases Statistics

Methodological notes

The data for the EU are based on the information available for 24 EU member states (excluding Germany, Greece and Portugal). 

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