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Health concerns over night-shift Health concerns over night-shift
(about 10 hours later)
By Kenneth Macdonald BBC Scotland Special Correspondent Ulla Mahnkopf is one of those who has been compensatedBy Kenneth Macdonald BBC Scotland Special Correspondent Ulla Mahnkopf is one of those who has been compensated
The Danish government has begun paying compensation to women who have developed breast cancer after long spells working nights.The Danish government has begun paying compensation to women who have developed breast cancer after long spells working nights.
It follows a ruling by a United Nations agency that night shifts probably increase the risk of developing cancer.It follows a ruling by a United Nations agency that night shifts probably increase the risk of developing cancer.
BBC Radio Scotland's The Investigation has been hearing from experts and union leaders in Scotland who said the UK government should be doing more to tackle the dangers.BBC Radio Scotland's The Investigation has been hearing from experts and union leaders in Scotland who said the UK government should be doing more to tackle the dangers.
For years there has been growing evidence that night shifts are bad for you.For years there has been growing evidence that night shifts are bad for you.
Among the symptoms: disturbed sleep, fatigue, digestive problems and a greater risk of accidents at work.Among the symptoms: disturbed sleep, fatigue, digestive problems and a greater risk of accidents at work.
But these are the first government payments to women who have developed breast cancer after long spells on the night shift.But these are the first government payments to women who have developed breast cancer after long spells on the night shift.
Ulla Mahnkopf is one of those who has been compensated.Ulla Mahnkopf is one of those who has been compensated.
Long hoursLong hours
She spent 30 years as a flight attendant for the big Scandinavian airline SAS.She spent 30 years as a flight attendant for the big Scandinavian airline SAS.
Long hours and disturbed working patterns came with the territory.Long hours and disturbed working patterns came with the territory.
Then she developed breast cancer.Then she developed breast cancer.
"It was awful telling my kids that, telling them what we were facing," she told me."It was awful telling my kids that, telling them what we were facing," she told me.
"It's not just the surgery but all the thoughts - do I survive this? I had bilateral cancer so not just one breast, two breasts.""It's not just the surgery but all the thoughts - do I survive this? I had bilateral cancer so not just one breast, two breasts."
At first she did not make the connection between her cancer and night working.At first she did not make the connection between her cancer and night working.
She said: "I had no idea.She said: "I had no idea.
"But when you think back now I can see that when I stopped flying it was like coming out of a shell, I had been living in there because of jet lag and I can see now I had a totally different life.""But when you think back now I can see that when I stopped flying it was like coming out of a shell, I had been living in there because of jet lag and I can see now I had a totally different life."
"The level of evidence is really no different than it might be for an industrial chemical Dr Vincent Cogliano So far almost 40 Danish women have won compensation."The level of evidence is really no different than it might be for an industrial chemical Dr Vincent Cogliano So far almost 40 Danish women have won compensation.
Not every case was successful: women who had a family history of breast cancer were among the ones whose claims were rejected.Not every case was successful: women who had a family history of breast cancer were among the ones whose claims were rejected.
The Danish authorities acted following a finding by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), an arm of the UN's World Health Organisation.The Danish authorities acted following a finding by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), an arm of the UN's World Health Organisation.
The IARC studies and ranks cancer risks.The IARC studies and ranks cancer risks.
Category One risks are known carcinogens such as asbestos. Night working now sits just one rung below that: a probable cause of cancer.Category One risks are known carcinogens such as asbestos. Night working now sits just one rung below that: a probable cause of cancer.
Dr Vincent Cogliano of the IARC said they reached their conclusion after looking at a wide number of studies of both humans and animals.Dr Vincent Cogliano of the IARC said they reached their conclusion after looking at a wide number of studies of both humans and animals.
He said there was evidence to support the hypothesis that alterations in sleep patterns could suppress the production of melatonin in the body.He said there was evidence to support the hypothesis that alterations in sleep patterns could suppress the production of melatonin in the body.
"Melatonin has some beneficial effects on preventing some of the steps leading to cancer," he said. "Melatonin has some beneficial effects in preventing some of the steps leading to cancer," he said.
"The level of evidence is really no different than it might be for an industrial chemical.""The level of evidence is really no different than it might be for an industrial chemical."
Here in the UK, unions estimate about 20% of the national workforce is involved in night shifts. Here in the UK unions estimate about 20% of the national workforce is involved in night shifts.
Alterations in sleep patterns could suppress the production of melatoninAlterations in sleep patterns could suppress the production of melatonin
Professor Andrew Watterson, an occupational health specialist at Stirling University said we are far behind Scandinavia in recognising the dangers. Professor Andrew Watterson, an occupational health specialist at Stirling University, said we are far behind Scandinavia in recognising the dangers.
"I think we can say there is a big public health problem here," he said."I think we can say there is a big public health problem here," he said.
"The evidence has been good over a long period of time about cardiovascular disease and night work, gastro-intestinal problems and nights."The evidence has been good over a long period of time about cardiovascular disease and night work, gastro-intestinal problems and nights.
"Work indicating there may be risks in terms of low birth-weight babies and longer pregnancies for women. "Work indicates there may be risks in terms of low birth-weight babies and longer pregnancies for women.
"We don't tend to identify the damage being done where shift working is prevalent and I think that's an error. The damage is there but we don't see it and we don't count it.""We don't tend to identify the damage being done where shift working is prevalent and I think that's an error. The damage is there but we don't see it and we don't count it."
At the Health and Safety Executive chief medical officer, Dr John Osmond said they were aware of the debate - and have commissioned their own research. At the Health and Safety Executive, chief medical officer Dr John Osmond said they were aware of the debate and have commissioned their own research.
"The HSE has been very on the ball in this area and has commissioned a very eminent epidemiologist to examine the risk of working at night and whether there is any link to breast cancer. This report will be completed in 2011.""The HSE has been very on the ball in this area and has commissioned a very eminent epidemiologist to examine the risk of working at night and whether there is any link to breast cancer. This report will be completed in 2011."
But assistant general secretary of the Scottish TUC, Ian Tasker, thinks the UK is lagging behind.But assistant general secretary of the Scottish TUC, Ian Tasker, thinks the UK is lagging behind.
He fears workers may be missing out on health checks to which they are entitled under the existing law.He fears workers may be missing out on health checks to which they are entitled under the existing law.
Greater awarenessGreater awareness
"I don't think we have enough evidence to say they're not," he said."I don't think we have enough evidence to say they're not," he said.
"But we have a feeling that perhaps employers taking the opportunity to ensure these health checks are not carried out or if they are it's very much a tick-box approach to it.." "But we have a feeling that perhaps employers are taking the opportunity to ensure these health checks are not carried out or, if they are, it's very much a tick-box approach to it."
In the meantime, unions are calling for a greater awareness of the dangers of night shifts. In the meantime unions are calling for a greater awareness of the dangers of night shifts.
But for some workers such as Ulla Mahnkopf, that is already too late. But for some workers, such as Ulla Mahnkopf, that is already too late.
She said she would have given up her job if she had known the dangers.She said she would have given up her job if she had known the dangers.
"I wouldn't have been flying for that many years, definitely not. Because it's cancer you can die from. So I would like to stay alive.""I wouldn't have been flying for that many years, definitely not. Because it's cancer you can die from. So I would like to stay alive."
The Investigation is on BBC Radio Scotland at 0900 GMT on Monday.The Investigation is on BBC Radio Scotland at 0900 GMT on Monday.