Several exposures commonly found in the construction
industry have been shown to carry excess risk of
lung cancer, but many have not been adequately examined
for carcinogenicity. Further, even for those shown
to be carcinogenic, the evidence was often based on
studies outside the construction industry or on studies
that included non-construction as well as construction
workers. Because of the unique characteristics of the
workers and the work in this industry, we believe it is
pertinent to assemble information on risks of lung cancer
from the main agents in the construction industry,
as they are experienced in that industry.
Given the large number of workers in the construction
industry, it is important to derive accurate and valid estimates
of cancer risk, and in particular lung cancer risk.
The present article aims to provide evidence on two
questions: 1) Do construction workers have an excess
risk of lung cancer, when compared with other blue collar
workers? 2) Which agents commonly found in the
construction industry environment, carry an excess risk
of lung cancer, under the conditions encountered by
construction workers?