Summary
It is estimated that about 4-10% of malignancies in the male population world-wide are caused by occupational factors. In Germany, official statistics of malignancies compensated as occupational disease point next to asbestos to aromatic amines, hardwood dust and benzene as occupational carcinogens of quantitative importance. Because of long latency times, which may be 30 years and more, it is important for the medical practitioner to consider possible previous exposures and to obtain the complete medical history from patients diseased with a malignancy of possible occupational origin.
