The 7 jobs that may mean you’re more likely to get ovarian cancer – is yours on the list?
HAIRDRESSERS may have a higher cancer risk because of chemicals at work, a study suggests.
It found women who spend a long time working around talcum powder, bleach, dyes and spray cans may be more likely to get ovarian cancer.
Research suggested those who have spent 10 years or more in hairdressers’, barber shops or beauty salons might have triple the average risk of the disease.
Accountants and construction workers also potentially faced double the danger of the average woman.
The full list of jobs linked to a significantly higher than average risk is:
- Hairdresser
- Barber
- Beautician
- Construction worker
- Accountant
- Clothes maker or embroiderer
- Sales or retail worker
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Working as a nurse was linked to a decreased risk, the study found.
Around 7,500 women in the UK get ovarian cancer each year and there are 4,100 annual deaths.
Its causes are poorly understood and nine out of 10 cases cannot be prevented, according to Cancer Research UK.
Dr Anita Koushik, from the University of Montreal in Canada, said: “Women working in hairdressing-related occupations are exposed to hundreds of chemicals at high concentrations, including hair dyes, shampoos, conditioners and styling and cosmetic products.
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“In our study, employment in hairdressing-related occupations and exposure to 12 agents were associated with increased risks of ovarian cancer.”
The study used data from 491 women diagnosed with ovarian cancer in Montreal, Canada, between 2010 and 2016.
It compared them with 897 women who did not get cancer and looked at their jobs, medical history and general health.
There were 18 chemicals most concerning, with many already investigated for cancer links by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
They included ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, hair dust, polyester fibres, formaldehyde, propellant gases and petrol.
Chemicals can trigger cancers by latching onto DNA or reacting with it to cause long-term damage that makes cells multiply out of control.
Writing in the journal Occupational & Environmental Medicine, medics warned of “high cumulative exposure” to the chemicals.
Dr Laura Beane Freeman, from the US National Cancer Institute, said: “We continue to have a limited understanding of cancer risks from occupational exposures in women.”
- This article, now amended, previously stated that the study that is the subject of this report 'showed' that hairdressers have a higher risk of ovarian cancer because of chemicals they encounter at work. This was incorrect. In fact, the study found no clear link, albeit that there might be an association between the job and the illness.