EpiDetective
EpiDetective · Work and cancer

Work and cancer: what IARC has found, sector by sector.

68 workplace agents and jobs that IARC has linked to a cancer, grouped by sector. Each row shows IARC’s label, the number of cancer links and a link to the full entry. The sector grouping is EpiDetective’s; IARC lists agents alphabetically.

A label says how sure IARC is that something can cause cancer. Your own risk depends on the dose, the years of exposure and the protection at work.

Construction, buildings and roads 10

Agent or jobIARC labelEstablished linksSuspected linksEvaluated
AsbestosKnown cause Group 14 Larynx (voice-box) cancer, Lung cancer, Mesothelioma (lining of lungs/abdomen), Ovarian cancer4 Colon cancer, Rectal cancer, Stomach cancer, Throat (pharynx) cancerVol. 100C, 2009
Coal-tar pitchKnown cause Group 11 Lung cancer1 Bladder cancerVol. 100F, 2009
Painting (occupational)Known cause Group 13 Bladder cancer, Lung cancer, Mesothelioma (lining of lungs/abdomen)0Vol. 100F, 2009
Pentachlorophenol (wood preservative)Known cause Group 12 Multiple myeloma (a blood cancer), Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (all types)0Vol. 117, 2016
Silica dust (quartz or cristobalite)Known cause Group 11 Lung cancer0Vol. 100C, 2009
Wood dustKnown cause Group 12 Nasal & sinus cancer, Nasopharyngeal cancer (upper throat)0Vol. 100C, 2009
Bitumens (oxidized, roofing)Probable cause Group 2A06 Larynx (voice-box) cancer, Lung cancer, Mouth cancer, Oesophageal (food-pipe) cancer, Throat (pharynx) cancer, Upper aerodigestive tract (mouth/throat/voice-box)Vol. 103, 2011
CreosotesProbable cause Group 2A02 Lung cancer, Skin cancer (non-melanoma)Vol. 92, 2005
Bitumens (hard, mastic asphalt work)Possible cause Group 2B06 Larynx (voice-box) cancer, Lung cancer, Mouth cancer, Oesophageal (food-pipe) cancer, Throat (pharynx) cancer, Upper aerodigestive tract (mouth/throat/voice-box)Vol. 103, 2011
Carpentry and joineryPossible cause Group 2B01 Nasal & sinus cancerSuppl. 7, 1987

Metals, foundries and mining 12

Agent or jobIARC labelEstablished linksSuspected linksEvaluated
Acheson process (occupational)Known cause Group 11 Lung cancer0Vol. 111, 2014
Aluminium productionKnown cause Group 12 Bladder cancer, Lung cancer0Vol. 100F, 2009
BerylliumKnown cause Group 11 Lung cancer0Vol. 100C, 2009
CadmiumKnown cause Group 11 Lung cancer2 Kidney cancer, Prostate cancerVol. 100C, 2009
Chromium-6Known cause Group 11 Lung cancer1 Nasal & sinus cancerVol. 100C, 2009
Iron & steel foundingKnown cause Group 11 Lung cancer0Vol. 100F, 2009
Nickel compoundsKnown cause Group 12 Lung cancer, Nasal & sinus cancer0Vol. 100C, 2009
Underground iron-ore (haematite) miningKnown cause Group 11 Lung cancer0Vol. 100D, 2009
Welding fumesKnown cause Group 11 Lung cancer1 Kidney cancerVol. 118, 2017
Antimony (trivalent)Probable cause Group 2A01 Lung cancerVol. 131, 2022
Carbon electrode manufactureProbable cause Group 2A01 Lung cancerVol. 92, 2005
Hard metal (cobalt with tungsten carbide)Probable cause Group 2A01 Lung cancerVol. 86, 2003

Coal, coke, oil and gas 7

Agent or jobIARC labelEstablished linksSuspected linksEvaluated
Coal gasificationKnown cause Group 11 Lung cancer0Vol. 100F, 2009
Coal-tar distillationKnown cause Group 11 Skin cancer (non-melanoma)0Vol. 100F, 2009
Coke productionKnown cause Group 11 Lung cancer0Vol. 100F, 2009
Mineral oils (untreated or mildly treated)Known cause Group 11 Skin cancer (non-melanoma)0Vol. 100F, 2009
Shale oilsKnown cause Group 11 Skin cancer (non-melanoma)0Vol. 100F, 2009
Soot (chimney sweeping)Known cause Group 12 Lung cancer, Skin cancer (non-melanoma)1 Bladder cancerVol. 100F, 2009
Petroleum refining (occupational)Probable cause Group 2A03 Leukaemia (all types), Skin cancer (melanoma), Skin cancer (non-melanoma)Vol. 45, 1988

Chemicals, plastics and rubber 25

Agent or jobIARC labelEstablished linksSuspected linksEvaluated
1,3-ButadieneKnown cause Group 13 Leukaemia (all types), Lymphoma (all types), Multiple myeloma (a blood cancer)0Vol. 100F, 2009
2-NaphthylamineKnown cause Group 11 Bladder cancer0Vol. 100F, 2009
4-AminobiphenylKnown cause Group 11 Bladder cancer0Vol. 100F, 2009
AcrylonitrileKnown cause Group 11 Lung cancer1 Bladder cancerVol. 136, 2024
Auramine productionKnown cause Group 11 Bladder cancer0Vol. 100F, 2009
BenzidineKnown cause Group 11 Bladder cancer0Vol. 100F, 2009
Bis(chloromethyl)ether (BCME)Known cause Group 11 Lung cancer0Vol. 100F, 2009
Isopropyl alcohol manufacture (strong acids)Known cause Group 11 Nasal & sinus cancer0Vol. 100F, 2009
Magenta productionKnown cause Group 11 Bladder cancer0Vol. 100F, 2009
ortho-ToluidineKnown cause Group 11 Bladder cancer0Vol. 100F, 2009
Rubber-manufacturing workKnown cause Group 15 Bladder cancer, Leukaemia (all types), Lung cancer, Lymphoma (all types), Stomach cancer3 Larynx (voice-box) cancer, Oesophageal (food-pipe) cancer, Prostate cancerVol. 100F, 2009
Strong acid mistsKnown cause Group 11 Larynx (voice-box) cancer1 Lung cancerVol. 100F, 2009
Sulfur mustard (mustard gas)Known cause Group 11 Lung cancer1 Larynx (voice-box) cancerVol. 100F, 2009
Trichloroethylene (TCE)Known cause Group 11 Kidney cancer3 Bile-duct cancer, Liver cancer, Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (all types)Vol. 106, 2012
Vinyl chlorideKnown cause Group 11 Liver cancer0Vol. 100F, 2009
1,1,1-TrichloroethaneProbable cause Group 2A01 Multiple myeloma (a blood cancer)Vol. 130, 2021
2-MercaptobenzothiazoleProbable cause Group 2A01 Bladder cancerVol. 115, 2016
4-Chloro-ortho-toluidineProbable cause Group 2A01 Bladder cancerVol. 99, 2008
Chlorinated toluenes and benzoyl chlorideProbable cause Group 2A01 Lung cancerVol. 71, 1998
Dichloromethane (paint stripper)Probable cause Group 2A02 Bile-duct cancer, Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (all types)Vol. 110, 2014
Dimethylformamide (DMF)Probable cause Group 2A01 Testicular cancerVol. 115, 2016
HydrazineProbable cause Group 2A01 Lung cancerVol. 115, 2016
StyreneProbable cause Group 2A03 Leukaemia (all types), Lymphoma (all types), Multiple myeloma (a blood cancer)Vol. 121, 2018
Polychlorophenols & their sodium salts (mixed exposures)Possible cause Group 2B02 Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (all types), Soft-tissue sarcomaVol. 71, 1998
Silicon carbide fibresPossible cause Group 2B01 Lung cancerVol. 111, 2014

Cleaning, health care and laboratories 4

Agent or jobIARC labelEstablished linksSuspected linksEvaluated
Ethylene oxideKnown cause Group 104 Breast cancer, Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, Multiple myeloma (a blood cancer), Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (all types)Vol. 100F, 2009
FormaldehydeKnown cause Group 14 Acute myeloid leukaemia (a blood cancer), Chronic myeloid leukaemia, Nasopharyngeal cancer (upper throat), Other acute non-lymphocytic leukaemia1 Nasal & sinus cancerVol. 100F, 2009
Tetrachloroethylene (PERC)Probable cause Group 2A01 Bladder cancerVol. 106, 2012
Dry-cleaning workPossible cause Group 2B02 Bladder cancer, Oesophageal (food-pipe) cancerVol. 63, 1995

Printing, textiles, leather and glass 5

Agent or jobIARC labelEstablished linksSuspected linksEvaluated
1,2-DichloropropaneKnown cause Group 11 Bile-duct cancer0Vol. 110, 2014
Leather dustKnown cause Group 11 Nasal & sinus cancer0Vol. 100C, 2009
Art glass / glass containers / pressed ware manufactureProbable cause Group 2A02 Lung cancer, Stomach cancerVol. 58, 1993
Printing processesPossible cause Group 2B02 Bladder cancer, Lung cancerVol. 65, 1995
Textile manufacturing industryPossible cause Group 2B02 Bladder cancer, Nasal & sinus cancerVol. 48, 1989

Hair and beauty 1

Agent or jobIARC labelEstablished linksSuspected linksEvaluated
Hairdressing / barberingProbable cause Group 2A01 Bladder cancerVol. 99, 2008

Emergency services 1

Agent or jobIARC labelEstablished linksSuspected linksEvaluated
Firefighter (occupational)Known cause Group 12 Bladder cancer, Mesothelioma (lining of lungs/abdomen)5 Colon cancer, Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (all types), Prostate cancer, Skin cancer (melanoma), Testicular cancerVol. 132, 2022

Shift work 1

Agent or jobIARC labelEstablished linksSuspected linksEvaluated
Night-shift workProbable cause Group 2A04 Breast cancer, Colon cancer, Prostate cancer, Rectal cancerVol. 124, 2019

Farming and pest control 1

Agent or jobIARC labelEstablished linksSuspected linksEvaluated
Insecticide spraying and application (occupational)Probable cause Group 2A01 Lung cancerVol. 53, 1990

Parents’ work and children 1

Agent or jobIARC labelEstablished linksSuspected linksEvaluated
Mother working as a painterKnown cause Group 101 Childhood leukaemia (all types)Vol. 100F, 2009

Not on this page? The cancer tool’s search covers all 185 agents on the map, and the 874 others IARC evaluated without naming a cancer site.

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What you can do

European Code Against Cancer, recommendation 9.

The official text, quoted as published.

9 Protect yourself at work

Inform yourself about cancer-causing factors at work, and call on your employer to protect you against them. Always follow health and safety instructions at your workplace.

Read the official Code →

Scientific justification European Code Against Cancer, 5th Edition: occupational exposures and cancer. Molecular Oncology 2026;20(1):68–80. doi:10.1002/1878-0261.70174

Beyond cancer

Eight workplace risks for other chronic diseases.

Work is also linked to heart, lung, kidney and joint disease. The Chronic Disease Evidence Explorer grades how sure the evidence is that each risk factor causes a disease, and eight of its risk factors come from work. Its grades are its own and differ from IARC’s labels.

Chronic Disease Evidence Explorer → What the grades mean →