Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Contributors
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Historical introduction
- PART I Epidemiological methods
- PART II Causative factors in human cancer
- 6 The concept of cause: epidemiological considerations
- 7 Chemical factors
- 8 Occupational factors
- 9 Cultural factors: tobacco
- 10 Cultural factors: alcohol
- 11 Sexual behavior and reproductive factors
- 12 Nutritional factors
- 13 Physical factors: fiber carcinogenesis (including crystalline silicates)
- 14 Physical factors: implants and thermal chronic injury
- 15 Physical factors: ultraviolet (UV) light
- 16 Ionizing radiation
- 17 Biological causes
- 18 Genetic and other host-risk factors
- 19 Socio-economic factors
- PART III Legal and ethical considerations
- PART IV Introduction: total and specific site epidemiology
- PART V Buccal cavity
- PART VI Digestive system
- PART VII Respiratory system
- PART VIII Bone and soft tissue
- PART IX Skin
- PART X Breast and genitourinary system
- PART XI Eye and nervous system
- PART XII Thyroid and other endocrine glands, lymphoid and hematopoietic system
- PART XIII Cancers in children and multiple primary cancers
- Conclusions
- Appendix 1 Cancer statistics
- Appendix 2 A glossary of epidemiological terms
- Appendix 3 Acronyms and abbreviations
- Supplement
- Index
19 - Socio-economic factors
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 03 May 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Contributors
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Historical introduction
- PART I Epidemiological methods
- PART II Causative factors in human cancer
- 6 The concept of cause: epidemiological considerations
- 7 Chemical factors
- 8 Occupational factors
- 9 Cultural factors: tobacco
- 10 Cultural factors: alcohol
- 11 Sexual behavior and reproductive factors
- 12 Nutritional factors
- 13 Physical factors: fiber carcinogenesis (including crystalline silicates)
- 14 Physical factors: implants and thermal chronic injury
- 15 Physical factors: ultraviolet (UV) light
- 16 Ionizing radiation
- 17 Biological causes
- 18 Genetic and other host-risk factors
- 19 Socio-economic factors
- PART III Legal and ethical considerations
- PART IV Introduction: total and specific site epidemiology
- PART V Buccal cavity
- PART VI Digestive system
- PART VII Respiratory system
- PART VIII Bone and soft tissue
- PART IX Skin
- PART X Breast and genitourinary system
- PART XI Eye and nervous system
- PART XII Thyroid and other endocrine glands, lymphoid and hematopoietic system
- PART XIII Cancers in children and multiple primary cancers
- Conclusions
- Appendix 1 Cancer statistics
- Appendix 2 A glossary of epidemiological terms
- Appendix 3 Acronyms and abbreviations
- Supplement
- Index
Summary
Introduction
The pioneering studies on occupational mortality of the Registrar General for England and Wales, which began in 1851, have consistently shown differences in mortality between occupational groups (Logan, 1982), including from 1891 onwards, cancer. The question arises whether these differences are due in whole or in part to carcinogenic factors in the work-place.
Occupational cancer: The Registrar General reports
To assess whether risk of cancer and other diseases is concentrated in one or more strata of society, the various occupational groups in England and Wales have been assigned to one of five social classes on the basis of income, education, etc. This resulted in relatively homogeneous classes. The professions are in social class I; unskilled laborers in social class V. In practice, six divisions are used. Social class III (skilled workers) is divided into those following manual (III M) and non-manual (III N) occupations. The mortality by social class for selected cancer sites is given in Table 19.1. In general, persons belonging to the non-manual social class III are more comparable to social classes I and II, whereas the pattern of risk in skilled manual workers tends to be closer to that of social classes IV and V. The mortality patterns of the retired (65–74) are more or less the same as those of the employed (15–64).
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Human CancerEpidemiology and Environmental Causes, pp. 209 - 214Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1992