ABSTRACT
The global burden of cancer is a major source of morbidity and mortality. According to International Agency for Research on Cancer, based on population sizes, more than 60% of all cancer cases occur in Africa, Asia, and Central and South America. Cancer comes with high socioeconomic costs. Cancer costs the US economy more than $243 billion in 2009. Today, much of what is known about cancer still comes from occupational exposures. The most relatable evidence for establishing a relationship between an agent and a carcinogenic outcome in humans historically, however, has been through epidemiological studies. The International Labor Organization established first list of occupational diseases in 1925. It was an important tool for harmonization of international policies and regulations to protect workers from occupational diseases. In the European Union, indicative occupational exposure limits values for carcinogenic substances are determined by a commission of independent scientific experts, called the European Scientific Committee on Occupational Exposure Limits.
