Men who work offshore and have been exposed to asbestos in their work environment face a significantly increased risk of developing pleural cancer (mesothelioma)—a life-threatening condition that demands immediate attention.

The danger doesn’t stop there. The risk of pleural cancer may also be tied to prior exposure to asbestos in other work environments, even before stepping foot offshore. These alarming findings come from a recent study published in Occupational and Environmental Medicine, which analyzed data from over 25,000 offshore workers from the Norwegian Offshore Petroleum Workers cohort. The EpiStat research group at the Department of Biostatistics, in collaboration with the Cancer Registry of Norway.

“In our study we found an association between exposure to asbestos in offshore working environments and pleural cancer in offshore petroleum workers. Findings like this can help develop measures targeted at preventing cancer but are also important when assessing whether it is the actual offshore work that is the cause of the cancer,” said author, Leon Mclaren Berge 

In recent years, there has been growing concern about the health of oil industry pioneers and whether their offshore work has led to serious illnesses. This study underscores further why humans need to move away from petroleum and into cleaner, alternative solutions. Not only is petroleum devastating to the environment and climate, but those who work in it are of also in danger.

LA McLaren Berge et al. Exposure to fibres and risk of pleural mesothelioma in the Norwegian Offshore Petroleum Workers cohort. Occupational and Environmental Medicine (2024). https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2024-109424