This is a census on the national cancer registry in France to detect professions at a higher risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx. During the period 2001-2016 there were 244 registered cases of cancer of the larynx.
Amongst them, 147 cases were deemed as professionally related. In 87 cases (59%), the risk was deemed medium to strong. All were males with a median age of 59 years. Asbestos was the culprit in 78 cases followed by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with construction workers and metal workers at a higher risk.
The authors emphasise the need to enforce more protection to workers at risk and recognise the danger of professional exposure to certain work-related agents which can induce malignancies of the larynx in the presence or absence of the known risk factors of smoking and alcoholism.
