Greek employee awareness of carcinogenic exposure

Prev Med. 2004 Oct;39(4):657-65. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2004.07.007.

Abstract

Background: Occupational risk factors contribute significantly to the development of lung cancer; however, little is known about the extent to which employees are informed of occupational exposure to carcinogenic substances.

Methods: Through a case-control study, we estimated the level of awareness among Greek employees potentially exposed to known carcinogenic substances within various occupational settings.

Results: Only 6.6% of men (n = 482) employed in occupations with potential exposure to carcinogenic substances were aware of such occupational exposures. Age, education, and residence were significantly associated with awareness. Employees having at least a secondary level of education were 3.5 times more aware than those having at most 6 years of educational training.

Conclusions: Assessing awareness among workers potentially exposed to occupational risk factors and promoting occupational health education are important steps for increasing health and safety at the workplace.

MeSH terms

  • Arsenic
  • Asbestos
  • Awareness*
  • Carcinogens
  • Carcinogens, Environmental*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Greece
  • Humans
  • Hydrocarbons
  • Male
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Nickel
  • Occupational Exposure / prevention & control*
  • Odds Ratio
  • Risk Factors
  • Smog
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Workplace

Substances

  • Carcinogens
  • Carcinogens, Environmental
  • Hydrocarbons
  • Smog
  • Asbestos
  • Nickel
  • Arsenic