WHO Study: Night Shift Work May Cause Cancer
Hazards of painting, firefighting also examined by international researchcommitteeBLOOMINGTON, Minn., Nov. 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A study by the WorldHealth Organization has found that night shift work increases the risk ofcancer in humans. The study found that after prolonged exposure to night shiftwork, women are at a higher risk to develop breast and colon cancer. Men whowork the night shift are more likely to experience prostate cancer. "Shift work that interferes with regular nighttime sleep disrupts circadianrhythms, our body's natural clock," said Dr. Erhard Haus of HealthPartnersResearch Foundation who chaired a subgroup of the study. "This impedesbiologic function by suppressing the immune system, reducing melatoninproduction and may damage genes leading to the production of abnormal cells."Dr. Haus was part of a team of 24 scientists from ten countries who met at theInternational Agency for Research on Cancer in Lyon, France, to assess thepotential carcinogenicity of shift work, painting, and firefighting. Theworkgroup analyzed several epidemiologic studies and animal experiments. Inaddition to their findings on shift work, they determined that overall,occupational exposure as a painter is carcinogenic to humans. They alsoclassified occupational exposure as a firefighter as possibly carcinogenic tohumans.A preliminary report of the WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer
(IARC) will appear in Lancet Oncology, December 7, 2007.Between 15 and 20 percent of the working population in the U.S. and Europe areengaged in shift work, which is most prevalent in the health care,transportation, communication, leisure and hospitality sectors.About HealthPartners Research FoundationHealthPartners family of care includes HealthPartners Research Foundation
(http://www.hprf.org). Conducting about 250 research projects each year, theFoundation is dedicated to advancing scientific knowledge through research toimprove the health of our members and the community. Founded in 1957,HealthPartners (http://www.healthpartners.com) serves more than one millionmedical and dental health plan members nationwide and is the largestconsumer-governed, nonprofit health care organization in the nation, providingcare, coverage, research and education to improve the health of members,patients and the community.SOURCE HealthPartnersChris Iles of HealthPartners, +1-952-883-5301, +1-612-247-9119 (cell),Christopher.b.iles@healthpartners.com
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