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Occupational exposure to carcinogens in Australian road transport workers

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Publication date

2016-01

Authors

Si, Si
Carey, Renee
Reid, Alison
Peters, SusanISNI 0000000419418108
Glass, Deborah D
Driscoll, Timothy
Darcey, Ellie
Fritschi, Lin

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DOI

https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.22536

Document Type

Article

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Road transport workers (RTWs) are at high risk of exposure to several occupational carcinogens. However, there are gaps in knowledge regarding the extent and the circumstances of exposure. As a sub-study of the Australian Work Exposures Study, this study investigated the prevalence of occupational exposure in Australian RTWs. METHODS: A random sample of Australian working population was invited to a telephone interview regarding their current jobs. An automated expert-assessment procedure was applied to self-reported job-related tasks using a web-based application. 162 RTWs were included in this study. RESULTS: RTWs were exposed to diesel exhaust (97%), solar ultraviolet radiation (78%), environmental tobacco smoke (55%), benzene (29%), silica (15%), and asbestos (10%) at work. Besides driving on roads, vehicle maintenance-related tasks were the major source of carcinogen exposures among RTWs. DISCUSSION: Most RTWs are exposed to at least one carcinogen at work. We have identified tasks where the use of control measures could potentially reduce exposures.

Keywords

Adolescent, Adult, Asbestos, Australia, Automobile Driving, Benzene, Carcinogens, Environmental, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Motor Vehicles, Occupational Exposure, Occupations, Silicon Dioxide, Tobacco Smoke Pollution, Ultraviolet Rays, Vehicle Emissions, Young Adult, exposure prevalence, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, road transport workers

Citation

Si, S, Carey, R, Reid, A, Peters, S, Glass, D D, Driscoll, T, Darcey, E & Fritschi, L 2016, 'Occupational exposure to carcinogens in Australian road transport workers', American Journal of Industrial Medicine, vol. 59, no. 1, pp. 31-41. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.22536

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/1874/348948