Evolving burden of lung cancer attributable to occupational carcinogens in 38 OECD countries: Global, national differences, age dynamics and implications for global health.

10576 Background: Lung cancer (LC) remains a predominant cause of global mortality and disability, particularly significant in Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) nations. Understanding the evolving burden of LC attributable to occupational carcinogens (OC) is critical due to its prevalence in occupational settings. Methods: Employing a standardized approach from the Global Burden of Disease study, we estimated deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) caused by lung cancer linked to OC. Our analysis spans age, gender, year, and location across the 38 OECD countries from 1990-2019. Results were presented as absolute counts and age-standardized rates (ASR) per 100,000 person-years, with projections extended to 2040 using regression frameworks. Results: Deaths from LC attributable to OC increased from 120,862 (95%UI: 91,114-148,937) in 1990 to 167,917 (127,888-208,066) in 2019, with DALYs rising from 2.4 million (1.8-3.1) to 2.9 million (2.2-3.6) over the same period. The United States recorded the highest number of deaths (41,075), followed by Japan (20,496) and the United Kingdom (15,223) in 2019. Notably, the Netherlands exhibited the highest age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) at 12.62 cases per 100,000, with Belgium and the United Kingdom following closely. Asbestos exposure accounted for the highest number of deaths (147,263), followed by silica (15,660), arsenic (3,172), and diesel engine exhaust (2,798). Males bore a significantly higher burden than females over the last three decades, with the 75-79 age group recording the highest number of deaths (32,477) and the 70-74 age group registering the highest DALYs (613,442). Conclusions: The study underscores the escalating burden of LC attributable to occupational carcinogens across OECD countries, highlighting the imperative for robust preventive measures and targeted interventions. Urgent action is warranted to mitigate exposures to known carcinogens in occupational settings, particularly among vulnerable populations, to curb the escalating public health challenge posed by occupational lung cancer.