Up to 500 000 workers in the French chemical, pharmaceutical and textile industries are exposed to carcinogens, reports a survey of chemicals toxic to health in use in 2005, done by France’s national research and safety institute (INRS).

2 000 firms across 30 branches of industry were surveyed for the study, published on 8 January 2007, which for the first time records 324 chemicals classified as CMRs - carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic - in use.

Close to 4.8 million tonnes of these toxic substances were used in 2005, adding up to 500 000 potentially exposed workers, mainly in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, among paint, plastics and detergent manufacturers.

One of the most widely-used carcinogens is benzene, to which more than 35 000 production workers - especially in the organic chemicals (resins, adhesives…) and pharmaceutical industries - are exposed.

Another chemical singled out is formaldehyde, used in wood panel production, pharmaceutical products (disinfectants, like formalin) and the textile industry (leather products). Over 42 000 workers are potentially exposed to it, say the study findings, including more than 12 000 in the pharmaceutical industry.

Among the other most widely used toxic substances, the INRS lists toluene, used as a solvent for printing inks (13 500 potentially exposed workers), phenol, used in chemical manufacture (4 000 employees), and 1,2-dichloroethane, used in medicine and PVC manufacture (5 600 employees).

These figures under-report the total number of workers exposed to toxic products, because the study lists only those exposed to these substances used as raw materials, not those who use products manufactured with them. In reality, if the Employment Ministry’s survey of exposure to work-related risks in 2002-2003 (the Sumer survey) is to be believed, at least 2.7 million workers are likely to be exposed to CMRs.

• Read the full report (in French)