Preventive Oncology and Diagnostic Cancer

Environmental and Occupational Carcinogen Prevention

Exposure to environmental and occupational carcinogens is a major contributor to cancer incidence worldwide, and targeted prevention strategies are critical for reducing risk. This session examines the identification, monitoring, and mitigation of chemical, physical, and biological carcinogens in workplaces, homes, and communities. Key exposures include asbestos, benzene, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, formaldehyde, heavy metals, ionizing radiation, and certain pesticides, as well as indoor and outdoor air pollution. Participants will explore methods for risk assessment, including biomonitoring, exposure modeling, and epidemiological surveillance, which inform evidence-based regulatory standards and occupational safety protocols. Strategies for prevention encompass policy interventions, such as workplace safety regulations, emission controls, and environmental remediation programs, alongside individual-level measures like personal protective equipment, lifestyle modifications, and education campaigns. The session emphasizes the importance of integrating environmental risk assessment into national cancer prevention frameworks and clinical risk stratification models. Multidisciplinary collaboration between occupational health specialists, industrial hygienists, public health authorities, and policymakers is critical to ensure effective implementation and enforcement. Digital tools and geographic information systems (GIS) are increasingly used to map exposure patterns, track high-risk populations, and design targeted interventions. Special attention is given to vulnerable populations, including children, pregnant women, and low-income communities disproportionately affected by environmental hazards. Ethical, legal, and socioeconomic considerations underpin the development and implementation of preventive strategies, ensuring that interventions are equitable, sustainable, and culturally appropriate. By combining environmental science, occupational health, regulatory policy, and public health practice, this session highlights comprehensive approaches to reducing carcinogen exposure, preventing environmentally induced cancers, and promoting safer workplaces and communities.