Every job has its own set of risks and dangers. Whether you’re a firefighter running into burning buildings, an emergency room nurse dealing with sick people or an operator who doesn’t have the opportunity to get up and walk around, there is some type of health risk associated with every career.
Business Insider looked at data from a U.S. Department of Labor database to compile the list of the jobs that most impact workers’ health. The measures included: exposure to contaminants; exposure to disease and infection; exposure to hazardous conditions; exposure to radiation; risk of minor burns, cuts, bites, and stings; and time spent sitting. Each job was given a score of 0 to 100 for each measure, and those with the highest set of scores were ranked.
Some of the results were quite surprising, while others were much less so.
The most unhealthy jobs on the list were dentists, dental surgeons and dental assistants because of their high exposure to contaminants, diseases and infections, as well as the extensive amount of time that they spend sitting.
Second place went to flight attendants, who experience high levels of exposure to contaminants, diseases and infections, as well as exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites or stings.
The third most unhealthy job went to anesthesiologists and their assistance due to exposure to disease and infections, contaminants and radiation.
Some other interesting entries on the list include immigration and customs inspectors, which ranked sixth due to their exposure to contaminants, diseases, infections and radiation.
Refuse and recyclable material collectors, who are frequently exposed to contaminants, and radiation and also spend a great deal of time sitting, ranked 15th, while refrigeration mechanics and installers ranked 22nd due to exposure to hazardous conditions, exposure to contaminants and risk of minor burns, cuts, bites or stings.
Tied for 24th–the last place on the list–were embalmers and metal-refining furnace operators and tenders.
