The global burden of cancers attributable to occupational factors, 1990–2021

Abstract This study assessed the global cancer burden due to occupational carcinogens (OCs) using data from Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. Mortality and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were employed to assess the evolving trend of cancer attributable to occupational risk. The analysis was conducted by age, year, geographical location, and socio-demographic index (SDI). Subsequently, the estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) values were calculated. Globally, asbestos exposure showed the most severe impact on age-standardized death rate (ASDR) and age-standardized DALY rate but decreased significantly. Conversely, diesel engine exhaust exposure increased, with EAPCs of 0.80 for deaths. Trichloroethylene exposure, although low in absolute terms, exhibited the fastest growth with an EAPC of 1.21 in age-standardized DALY rate. Notably, diesel engine exhaust exposure in South Asia and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Southeast Asia, East Asia, and Oceania increased significantly in age-standardized DALY rate. Regions with low to middle SDI, such as South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, showed the highest increases in OC-related cancer burdens in age-standardized DALY rate. Lesotho, Kenya, and Egypt exhibited the fastest growth, with EAPCs in age-standardized DALY rate of 3.45, 2.13, and 2.95, respectively. High-income regions like the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Italy had the most severe OC-related cancer of ASDR burdens in 2021. OC exposure remains a major contributor to the global cancer burden, especially from asbestos and silica. Exposure to diesel engine exhaust was associated with increased risk of cancers, particularly in low -to -middle SDI regions such as South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.