Night-shift work linked to cancer

Posted by Kendall Harmon

Like UV rays and diesel exhaust fumes, working the graveyard shift will soon be listed as a "probable" cause of cancer.
It is a surprising step validating a concept once considered wacky. And it is based on research that finds higher rates of breast and prostate cancer among women and men whose work day starts after dark.

Next month, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the cancer arm of the World Health Organization, will add overnight shift work as a probable carcinogen. The American Cancer Society says it will likely follow. Up to now, the U.S. organization has considered the work-cancer link to be "uncertain, controversial or unproven."

Read the whole piece.

Filed under: * Culture-Watch • Health & Medicine

6 Comments
Posted November 30, 2007 at 8:59 am [Printer Friendly] [Print w/ comments]



1. Steven in Falls Church wrote:

I’m just waiting for them to figure out that simply working will give you cancer so I can sue my employer for a hostile and unsafe work environment.  Joe Jackson figured this out 25 years ago:

Everything
Everything gives you cancer
Everything
Everything gives you cancer
Theres no cure, theres no answer
Everything gives you cancer

Dont touch that dial
Dont try to smile
Just take this pill
Its in your file

Dont work hard
Dont play hard
Dont plan for the graveyard
Remember -

Dont work by night
Dont play by day
Youll feel all right
But you will pay

No caffeine
No protein
No booze or
Nicotine
Remember -

November 30, 9:31 am | [comment link]
2. Br. Michael wrote:

I think that’s what I am starting to conclude too.

November 30, 9:58 am | [comment link]
3. Jeffersonian wrote:

As George Carlin put it in one of his famous “newscasts:”

“Today researchers have discovered that saliva causes stomach cancer, but only when swallowed in small amounts over a long period of time.”

November 30, 1:22 pm | [comment link]
4. Craig Goodrich wrote:

So far, the color that seems to have the least effect on melatonin is one that few people would enjoy working under: red.

Well, one longstanding set of night-shift workers have always worked under red light: the night watches on ships—reason being that red light doesn’t reduce your night vision, which is crucial to seeing other ships (and icebergs).  Before electricity, of course, they simply worked in the dark.

November 30, 3:13 pm | [comment link]
5. The_Archer_of_the_Forest wrote:

It would seem to me that the cancer rate caused by working the night shift would be offset by the reduction in not having to worry about sunlight and other daytime carcinogens

November 30, 4:02 pm | [comment link]
6. azusa wrote:

“Das Leben ist lebensgefährlich” - Erich Kästner

December 1, 2:34 am | [comment link]
Registered members must log in to comment.



Next entry (above): National Post: Canadian Anglican Leader In 'Denial'

Previous entry (below): Church Times: New legislation on sexual orientation may be divisive

Return to blog homepage

Return to Mobile view (headlines)