Occupational cancer in Italy

This article is a discussion of occupational cancer in italy. The introduct ion provides the necessary context of Italian industrialization and occupat ional health regulation. This is followed by a review of Italian epidemiolo gic studies of occupational cancer risks considered in terms of relative me asures of risk and attributable risk of carcinogenic agents or exposure cir cumstances. We attempt to establish the number of workers exposed to carcin ogens in Italy and the intensity of their exposures. Finally, the Italian s ystem of compensation for occupational cancer is discussed. Several cohort and case-control studies have addressed the issue of occupational risks, mo stly among male workers. The results of these studies suggest that the grow ing incidence of and mortality by mesothelioma is explained by the widespre ad and intense exposure to asbestos in some Italian industrial settings. A high attributable risk of lung tumors among male populations in industrial areas of northern Italy is explained by occupational exposures. However, in sufficient data are available for clear definition of the extent and intens ity of occupational exposure to carcinogenic substances. In Italy, we must prioritize and maximize resources in occupational cancer epidemiology and r evitalize the role of national institutions. Recent legislation has establi shed new regulations on the handling of carcinogenic substances in industri al settings, a new list of occupational diseases, and a national registry o f mesothelioma linked to asbestos exposure. These legislative changes are e xpected to have positive effects.