Ss10-03 Data and Criteria for the Prevention of the Occupational Risk Related to Solar Uv Radiation

Introduction Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is the most common cancer in Western countries. Occupational health prevention must be introduced as a strong instrument in workers protection also with regard to occupational disease issues. To date, criteria for both occupational health prevention and occupational disease are missing and the identification of risk groups has no metric basis. Materials and Methods With GENESIS-UV, we measured the largest data set available to date. Criteria for occupational health prevention were specifically mapped on occupation-specific dosimetric measurements of 45,000 measurement days in 176 occupations and sub-occupations to identify affected occupations. The number of employees affected were elucidated, worldwide. Finally, a direct link to retrospective occupational disease criteria could be established. Results The data set has been published and made available for scientists all over the world. Regarding occupational health prevention, of the 176 occupations and sub-occupations selected for this work, 153 (= 87%) exceed the criterion and thus need special attention. This includes all occupations with annual exposures of more than 150 SED. Employment figures for the EU and the world yield the total number of affected workers to be 36.1 million and more than 500 million, respectively. Conclusions These new criteria for occupational health prevention are valid and in good agreement with international research by WHO and ICNIRP. If applied correctly and consistently, these criteria can prevent occupational disease. It will be possible to identify occupations and sub-occupations that have an urgent need for prevention to avoid chronic skin damage leading to cancer.