Work and environment

Ionizing radiation is the radiation produced by radioactive substances and X-ray devices. Ionizing radiation can damage cellular genes, or DNA. When genomic changes, i.e. several mutations, have accumulated, they can cause cancer. However, not all DNA damage leads to cancer.

“In terms of cancer risk, there is no safe radiation limit.”

In principle, even a small dose of ionizing radiation slightly increases the risk of cancer. The higher the radiation dose, the greater the risk of developing cancer. In terms of cancer risk, there is no safe radiation limit.

In some workplaces , employees have to deal with ionizing radiation. For example, instructions have been drawn up to safeguard the health of workers in health care and nuclear power plants. In this way, radiation exposure can be minimized.

Non-ionizing radiation is electromagnetic wave motion. It is used, for example, in mobile phones and microwave ovens. Non-ionizing radiation does not damage human DNA in the same way as ionizing radiation.

Solar UV radiation is counted as non-ionizing radiation. But it can cause skin cancer.

Sun (link)

Read more on the website of the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority:

What is radiation? (Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority)

http://www.stuk.fi/web/en/topics/what-is-radiation

Long-term exposure to radon increases the risk of developing lung cancer. Airborne radon gas degradation products get into the lungs as we breathe and adhere to their inner surface. There they give off alpha radiation, which can damage DNA.

In Finland, about 300 people annually develop lung cancer due to radon. The risk of radon-induced lung cancer among smokers risk is significantly higher than among people who do not smoke, due to their harmful interaction.

In Finland, radon in indoor air in houses and other buildings is higher than in most other countries. This is due to geology, building technology and climate. According to estimates by the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, about half of the radiation doses received by Finns come from radon in indoor air.

It is worthwhile finding out about the radon levels in your own home and workplace.

Read more about radon and its control on the website of the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority:

Radon (Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority) (link)

Radon (Säteilyturvakeskus)

We should remember that the number of people exposed to cancer-causing chemicals at the workplace is small.

“Substances that pose a cancer risk include very different types of organic and inorganic compounds.”

According to occupational safety authorities, metal-processing operators, some construction workers, aircraft installers and repairers, mineral and stone processing workers, mining and quarry workers, and waste incineration and water treatment plant operators are the most exposed to carcinogenic substances.

Substances that pose a cancer risk include very different types of organic and inorganic compounds. These different chemicals can cause cancer in different ways. Typically, they penetrate into the body, for example by inhalation or by absorption through the skin, and in some way affect the functioning of cells.

The most common cancer-causing substances in the workplace are

• chromium (VI) compounds,
• nickel and its inorganic compounds
• polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
• benzene
• cadmium and its inorganic compounds
• Arsenic and its inorganic compounds
• asbestos

Asbestos causes most so- called occupation-related cancers. Only a few non-asbestos-related cancers a year are reported as occupational diseases.

Read more about the OSH’s website

Carcinogenic, mutagenic, reprotoxic (CMR) substances (occupational health and safety)

CMR-aineet (Työsuojelu)