[From research on occupational tumors to interventional prevention: use of the OCCAM method at the ASL in Como].

In the framework of "Occupational Cancers" project of the Lombardy Region, estimates of cancer risk by site and by economic activity for the incidence period 2001-2004 have been produced in the Local Health Unit of Como. Using these estimates a set of cancer cases with possible occupational origin has been determined. This has been carried out using the OCCAM approach, a case control study where incident cases are identified by hospital discharge records, controls are sampled from health population files and occupational histories are obtained by automatic link with social security archives. This has been integrated with the knowledge of firms and the workers' awareness of other cancer cases in the workforce of the same firms. Among 45 cases with potential occupational origin, 24 were established as due to occupation. These cases were referred for compensation. Moreover, carcinogenic risks still present in some firms were identified and appropriate interventions were carried out.