A three-year investigation into the use of cancer-causing chemicals by South Yorkshire’s steel industry is to be launched.
Bladder cancer – which, according to Yorkshire Cancer Research, is caused primarily by smoking or exposure to chemicals in the workplace – is particularly common in Yorkshire towns like Rotherham, Doncaster and Barnsley, where incidence and mortality rates are higher than the national average.
Some chemicals used in the rubber and dye trades are already known to cause cancer, but are generally used in a controlled, safe environment. However, researchers at the University of Sheffield believe the metal industries in South Yorkshire could be using these chemicals in a less-controlled manner, or using chemicals that are not yet known to cause cancer.
The outcome of the investigation, funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research, could help secure compensation for bladder-cancer patients across the region, while the researchers also hope their findings might result in new health and safety laws.
Explaining what the research will entail, lead investigator James Catto said: “Bladder cancer is a common and serious problem in Yorkshire. The trend for smoking is the same in most parts of the country, so we believe there is an occupational factor causing this.
“During our investigation we will treat normal cells with metals that people are exposed to during work, to see if they cause the cancerous changes in the test tube. Alongside the molecular study, we will conduct a direct patient survey, which will involve taking occupational histories from 2000 bladder-cancer patients at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital.
“We hope that by the end of these investigations we will have evidence to help the Government bring in new legislation to protect workers.”
The team also hopes to identify those at high risk of developing cancer, so the disease can be identified and treated at an early stage, or prevented. The study may also help develop treatments that could reduce the toxicity of chemicals.
Dr Kathryn Scott, research liaison officer for Yorkshire Cancer Research, said: “The hope is that key chemicals, which cause cells to switch from normal to cancerous, can be identified so that workers can be protected from exposure in the future and, ultimately, reduce the incidence rates of this common cancer in South Yorkshire.”
In this episode of the Safety & Health Podcast, ‘Burnout, stress and being human’, Heather Beach is joined by Stacy Thomson to discuss burnout, perfectionism and how to deal with burnout as an individual, as management and as an organisation.
We provide an insight on how to tackle burnout and why mental health is such a taboo subject, particularly in the workplace.
