What research has been conducted into the health effects of bitumen fumes on workers and by whom?
In 2001 IARC (the International Agency for Research on Cancer – a division of the World Health Organisation) published a report of a study that reviewed causes of death (with a focus on cancer) within a group of approximately 80 000 construction workers, including approximately 30 000 asphalt workers. The study reviewed the mortality rates of bitumen workers in seven European countries (Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden) and Israel. The study team looked at a large number of causes of death. These included accidents, suicide, diseases of the circulatory, respiratory or digestive system and a very large number of different types of cancers including lung and respiratory tracts, digestive system, skin cancer and leukaemia. Overall it was noted that the occurrence of mortality was below what the scientists would expect for the general population, but IARC did detect a small increase in the incidence of lung cancer amongst workers exposed to bitumen fumes.
