Occupational Cancer in a Paris Suburb: First Results of a Proactive Research Study in Seine Saint-Denis

Abstract

A multidisciplinary network, SCOP 93, investigated cancer patients in three hospitals in a Paris suhurbthat has an unusually high incidence of cancers to identify those who had been exposed to occupational carcinogens, assess the adequacy of the French system for their compensation, and help develop priorities forprevention. In 2002–2003, 175 patients were interviewed, of whom 127 provided job histories. Of these, 74% of 107 men and 70% of 20 women were deemed likely to have occupational cancers, half of them following exposures to atleast three different carcinogens. The network team prepared claims for the 26 patients whose cancers were potentially compensable by the rigid rules of the system; 21 of them, most of whom had cancers attributable to asbestos, received compensation. Suggestions for improving the system for compensation of occupational cancer victims in France are offered.

Keywords:

• Workers' compensation
• job descriptions
• cancer victims
• France