National Cancer Prevention Month in Puerto Rico and Resources to Protect Workers and Building Occupants from Carcinogens

While cancer mortality has gradually declined over the past several decades in Puerto Rico, there are still more than 10,000 new cases of cancer and over 5,000 deaths each year on the islands. Nationwide, the National Cancer Institute estimates there were over 1,918,000 new cases of cancer diagnosed in 2022 and more than 609,000 people died from cancer that year alone.

There are over 100 types of cancers that are currently known to exist. Many factors, such as genetics, diet and exercise, can potentially impact a person’s chances of developing cancer over their lifetime. Environmental exposure to known and probable carcinogens in the home or workplace can also be a factor. For example, exposure to tobacco smoke, radon, formaldehyde and asbestos have all been linked to various forms of cancer and can be found in numerous homes and businesses.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) also warns that millions of U.S. workers are exposed to substances that have been tested as carcinogens in animal studies or found to be possibly carcinogenic in human studies. NIOSH has published a list that contains well over 100 substances it considers to be potential occupational carcinogens. They include substances many workers are exposed to on a daily basis, such as diesel exhaust, asphalt fumes, wood dust, benzene and crystalline silica.

“More than 40% of all diagnosed cancers can be attributed to preventable causes according to the American Association for Cancer Research,” said Harry Pena, President of Zimmetry Environmental. “This is why National Cancer Prevention Month, which takes place every February, is so important. It’s an opportunity to raise awareness in Puerto Rico and elsewhere about the many ways we can all lower our chances of developing cancer. This includes avoiding exposure to carcinogens in the home and workplace.”

To help in this effort, Zimmetry’s industrial hygiene and environmental professionals offer testing, monitoring and consulting services to identify and mitigate exposure risks to a wide range of carcinogens and other dangerous materials. They also provide building assessments, worksite inspections and training services to help keep companies and institutions in compliance with health and safety regulations.

Several years ago, Zimmetry sponsored an educational video about National Cancer Prevention Month that can still be seen at: https://youtu.be/d3twvxX1j4o

To learn more about Zimmetry and their indoor air quality, industrial hygiene, environmental, and compliance testing and consulting services, please visit www.zimmetry.com, call (787) 995.0005 or email info@zimmetry.com .

About Zimmetry Environmental
Since 2002, Zimmetry Environmental has been providing environmental consulting services to building owners and managers, architects, engineers, EHS professionals and Fortune 500 companies. The company is based in Puerto Rico and provides services across the Caribbean and Central America. The professionals at Zimmetry offer environmental compliance, indoor air quality, asbestos, lead-based paint, Phase I ESAs and general environmental consulting services.

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

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