Carcinogens in the News
Reporting asbestos in public buildings now mandatory
CBC.ca – The province has passed a bill that will make Saskatchewan the first province in Canada to require mandatory reporting of asbestos in public buildings. Under the new legislation, information about asbestos will have to be disclosed in a public registry.
More»Health Canada warns of latest cancer threat to Canadian homeowners: attached garages
National Post – Health Canada has an unlikely new health risk in its sights, one that millions of Canadians are exposed to on a daily basis: the attached garage. A proposed new guidance document by the department recommends homeowners consider measures ranging from better sealing off their garages to installing exhaust fans inside the spaces as a way to curb a subtle but significant cancer threat.
More»Castlegar to consider radon testing bylaw
CBC.ca – The City of Castlegar may be the first in B.C. to force builders to test for radon, an odourless, colourless radioactive gas that has been linked to lung cancer. If elevated levels of the radioactive gas are found, builders would have to find ways to reduce the gas from seeping into the home.
More»Carcinogenicity of polychlorinated biphenyls and polybrominated biphenyls
The Lancet - Oncology – In February 2013, 26 experts from 12 countries met at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Lyon, France, to reassess the carcinogenicity of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs). This article summarizes the reassessment.
More»Assessing availability of scientific journals, databases, and health library services in Canadian health ministries: a cross-sectional study
Implementation Science – This study found that the majority of Canadian health ministries did not have subscription access to key journals and relied heavily on interlibrary loans. This inequity, which exists in the fourteen Canadian health ministries, could present a problem, as each province and territory is responsible for formulating and implementing evidence-informed health policies and services for the benefit of its population.
More»Garages a poison risk: Feds
Blacklocks Reporter – Regulators warn a fixture of suburbia, the attached garage, may pose an “uncertain” public risk of illness from benzene poisoning. The Department of Health proposed first-ever federal guidelines on benzene, linked to leukemia.
More»Oilsands health study may begin this spring
Edmonton Journal – An independent study will soon be launched into the health effects of the oilsands on nearby communities. A study conducted in 2009 by the Alberta Cancer Board found higher-than-expected rates of rare cancers in Fort Chipewyan, but no research to date has directly connected pollution from the oilsands to incidence of disease.
More»New WorkSafeBC Occupational Disease Portal
WorkSafe News – This site provides information on how to help prevent occupational diseases from occurring. Comments and suggestions are welcome. Note CAREX profiles featured in prevention resources by exposure.
More»Lead Exposure on the Rise Despite Decline in Poisoning Cases
Scientific American – Since the U.S. took lead out of gasoline in 1976 and banned lead paint in 1978, most health scientists, regulators and the public have considered the problem largely solved. But ongoing testing shows that even though the average concentration of lead in the American bloodstream has dropped by a factor of 10 since the late 1970s, the levels are still two orders of magnitude higher than natural human levels.
More»Risk-based indicators of Canadians' exposures to environmental carcinogens
Environmental Health – Tools for estimating population exposures to environmental carcinogens are required to support evidence-based policies to reduce chronic exposures and associated cancers. Our objective was to develop indicators of population exposure to selected environmental carcinogens that can be easily updated over time, and allow comparisons and prioritization between different carcinogens and exposure pathways...
More»Interventions to decrease the health effects of shift work
IWH e-Alert – Having explored health and safety hazards related to shift work, IWH and OCRC teamed up again to explore ways to mitigate these hazards. A second symposium was held in November 2012. Led by OCRC and co-hosted by IWH, the symposium sought to extend previous discussions of injuries and illnesses related to shift work to promising interventions for prevention.
More»How toxic are the toxins that surround us?
Montreal Gazette – There are numerous substances, both natural and synthetic, that can wreak havoc with our biochemistry. Usually it is synthetic substances that get blamed, despite the fact that, of the 60 million or so known chemicals in existence, only about one-tenth of one per cent are synthetic. Of course, any chemical can be toxic depending on the extent and type of exposure, be it synthetic or natural.
More»What exactly is in Beijing's polluted air?
The Guardian – China's landlocked capital of 20m people has experienced record-breaking pollution over the last few days. Guardian partner, the Climate Desk, breaks down exactly what's in the air.
More»Carcinogen levels soar in Canada’s tar sand lakes
New Scientist – John Smol of Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, and colleagues analyzed sediment cores from six lakes up to 90 kilometres north-west of Athabasca. They found that concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), well-known carcinogens, are between 2.5 and 23 times higher in the top layers of sediment than in layers laid down in 1960, at least 20 years before tar sand extraction began.
More»Richmond disposal firm fined $70K for illegal asbestos storage
Vancouver Sun – (see also: Fine for exposing workers to asbestos is too low ) A Richmond-based disposal company has been fined $70,000 by a Provincial Court judge for illegally accepting and storing asbestos in 2011 on Mitchell Island. Metro Vancouver’s concern is that when hazardous materials are mixed with other waste, it can no longer safely be recycled and diverted from landfills.
More»An interactive look at how cancer affects people around the world
CBC.ca (Strombo) – An interactive infographic, created by the Pulitzer Centre and Public Radio International's 'The World' website based on data from the WHO's Globocan 2008 study, looks at cancer rates around the world, and uncovers some surprises. The map shows the incidence of cancer in countries across the globe, and lets you compare different types of cancers, as well as looking at how death rates compare with rates of the disease.
More»Gel manicures: Study links UV lights in nail salons to skin cancer risk
Toronto Star – A study in the Archives of Dermatology concluded that “exposure to UV nail lights is a risk factor for development of skin cancer.” Kolansky says he does not recommend people get manicures involving UV lamps — or if they do, only infrequently. “If you’re only going for a couple times a year it should be OK. But if you’re going once a month for 20 years that could be another issue altogether, because you would have much more exposure,” the New Jersey-based cancer surgeon told the Star.
More»Twin towers dust tied to some cancers, not others
Science News - People who worked amid the dust include first responders, cleanup crews, welders who cut up the tangled steel beams and barge and landfill workers who removed the rubble. By 2007 and 2008, this group showed a slightly increased risk for prostate cancer, a doubled risk of thyroid cancer and a nearly tripled risk of multiple myeloma when compared with the incidence rates in the general population of New York State. The main carcinogens unleashed in the towers’ fall were asbestos, silica and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
More»EPA and Consumer Product Safety Commission Collaborate to Research Health Impacts of Nanomaterials
EPA (Press Release) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) are collaborating in a worldwide research effort to assess any potential impacts of nanomaterials on people's health and the environment.
More»Carcinogenicity of trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, some other chlorinated solvents, and their metabolites
The Lancet - In October, 2012, 18 experts from seven countries reassessed the carcinogenicity of several chlorinated solvents and some of their metabolites at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Lyon, France (table). These assessments, which include degreasing agent trichloroethylene being upgraded to a known carcinogen, will be published as volume 106 of the IARC Monographs.
More»Occupational and environmental causes of lung cancer
Clinics in Chest Medicine – Because tobacco smoking is a potent carcinogen, secondary causes of lung cancer are often diminished in perceived importance. The goal of this review is to describe the occurrence and recent findings of the 27 agents currently listed by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as lung carcinogens.
More»Health officials recommend Radon testing; 1 in 5 Manitoban homes have high levels of cancer-causing gas
CTV News – Canadian health officials are recommending Manitobans have their homes tested for radon – an odourless, invisible gas that is known to cause cancer. Health Canada recently found that one in five Manitoban homes have high levels of radon, one of the highest rates in the country.
More»Arsenic, asbestos and radon: emerging players in lung tumorigenesis
Environmental Health – This article provides a comprehensive review of arsenic, asbestos, and radon induced molecular mechanisms responsible for the generation of genetic and epigenetic alterations in lung cancer. A better understanding of the mode of action of these carcinogens will facilitate the prevention and management of lung cancer related to such environmental hazards.
More»Major study to examine workplace cancer causes
Global Montreal - The Canadian Cancer Society is funding a groundbreaking study that will determine how many new cancer cases and cancer deaths can be attributed to workplace factors. The four-year study, the first of its kind in Canada, will look at the human and economic impact of workplace exposure to 44 known or suspected carcinogens and their connections to 27 types of cancer.
More»Workplace cancer risks
CBC News (video) - New research is underway into the carcinogens that could endanger some of us every day on the job.
More»Great Lakes legacy contaminants decreasing, but newer ones on the rise
Environmental Health News - Legacy contaminants are decreasing more quickly than previously reported in three of the Great Lakes, but have stayed virtually the same in two other lakes, according to new research. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), the pesticide DDT and other banned compounds dropped about 50 percent in fish in Lakes Michigan, Ontario and Huron from 1999 through 2009, although there were no significant changes in Lakes Superior and Erie fish, according to the study to be published this month in the journal Science of the Total Environment.
More»First-Ever Nationwide Survey Finds: Half of all Canadians Know Someone who has Battled Lung Cancer, Yet Most Remain in the Dark on Scope, Virulence of the Disease
CNW Newswire / Lung Cancer Canada - While lung cancer will kill two times more Canadians than any other cancer in 2012, the vast majority of Canadians cannot identify the nation's leading cancer killer, according to the results of a nationwide poll released here today by Lung Cancer Canada, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to lung cancer education, patient support, research and advocacy.
More»Health Canada urges testing homes for radon, 2nd leading cause of lung cancer
Montreal Gazette - You can't see it and you can't smell it. But radon in your home, seeping up through the foundation, could be a serious risk to your health. But it's a risk that can be mitigated. And Health Canada wants homeowners to measure the radon in their dwellings and take steps to lower levels if they are high. "It can be fixed. It's easy to fix. And while it's not cheap, it's not super expensive either," Kelley Bush, head of radon education and awareness at Health Canada, said Thursday in an interview.
More»How do you know if there's asbestos in your walls? Build a registry, experts say
Globe and Mail - The Canadian Cancer Society and the Canadian Medical Association are urging the creation of a national registry so that Canadians can easily find out if their homes, offices, children’s schools, community centres or other buildings they frequent were constructed using asbestos. The organizations commissioned a survey, which found that 82 per cent of Canadians support the creation of such a registry.
More»Occupational cancer burden in Great Britain
British Journal of Cancer - A sound knowledge base is required to target resources to reduce workplace exposure to carcinogens. This project aimed to provide an objective estimate of the burden of cancer in Britain due to occupation. This volume presents extensive analyses for all carcinogens and occupational circumstances defined as definite or probable human occupational carcinogens by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
More»Ban on young people from using tanning beds takes effect
BC Government Newsroom - Changes to a provincial regulation banning youth under the age of 18 from ultraviolet (UV) tanning are now in force to reduce the chances of developing skin cancer later in life. Effective Oct. 15, 2012, businesses that fail to post the required sign informing the public of the ban, or who violate the ban by unlawfully permitting minors to use their indoor tanning equipment without a prescription, will face a fine of $345 for each offence.
More»Environmental groups ask for review of pesticide chemicals banned in other countries
Canada.com - Two of Canada’s major environmental groups, Ecojustice, acting on behalf of the David Suzuki Foundation and Equiterre, are asking the federal government to review the use of 30 pesticide chemicals already banned by other countries that they say pose risks to the environment and to people’s health.
More»Skin cancer: sun beds cause 1 in 20 cases of malignant melanoma
The Telegraph - By studying more than 9,000 cases of this type of skin cancer, researchers from the University of California, San Francisco calculated that people who used sunbeds were at a 29 per cent increased chance of developing basal cell carcinoma, which account for eight in every 10 skin cancer cases. Sunbed users were also at a 67 per cent increased chance of developing squamous cell carcinoma, which account for a tenth of cases.
More»Occupational Hygiene Association of Ontario - Forum Magazine
OHAO - Forum - CAREX Canada is an organization that has been formally in existence for approximately 5 years to monitor carcinogen exposure. However, CAREX had its beginnings in Finland, about 20 years ago. It was Paul Demers, the Scientific Director, who wanted and was able to start the project in Canada to begin surveillance of Canadian workers’ exposure to substances associated with cancer in the workplace and community environments...
More»So There's Arsenic in Our Rice—Now What?
The Atlantic - Last week, Consumer Reports published findings of "worrisome" levels of arsenic in ordinary rice sold in the U.S. Arsenic contamination affected a variety of rice forms: brown and white, organic and regular, long and short-grain. The researchers found arsenic in dozens of commercial products including baby food, cereals, rice cakes and rice drinks. The FDA reported similar results in an initial statement released last week and is pursuing further studies of the matter.
More»Canada to cease defending asbestos mining
The Globe and Mail - Canada is ending its much-maligned practice of defending asbestos mining on the world stage, a reversal of a stand that made it a pariah in some international circles. Industry Minister Christian Paradis said Canada will no longer block international efforts to add chrysotile asbestos to a United Nations treaty called the Rotterdam Convention, a global list of hazardous substances.
More»Work Science - Under the Radar
WorkSafeBC Magazine - Every single day, thousands of Canadians are exposed to carcinogens at work. Toxic agents like wood dust, nickel, and arsenic — among dozens of others — can contribute to cancer sometimes years or even decades after exposure. However, it’s not known exactly how many people encounter such hazards, how and where they’re exposed, and at what levels. A national project called CAREX Canada is designed to change all that.
More»How to Ensure That National Radon Survey Results Are Useful for Public Health Practice
Canadian Journal of Public Health - Using data from a survey in British Columbia, the authors illustrate how improved spatial resolution and more refined concentration categories would be valuable for prioritizing the use of limited public health resources. The authors encourage Health Canada in future to provide more specific, community-level information that can be used to inform local policy and to engage building owners in radon testing and remediation.
More»That ‘new-home’ smell may be harmful gases
National Post - Formaldehyde, a strong-smelling, colourless gas was used in a lot of building products and materials that contained adhesives, such as pressed wood. Luckily, most Canadian homes don’t have formaldehyde levels that can cause cancer. Its use in building materials and products has decreased over the years as well. But we should still be smart about the choices we make for our homes and indoor air quality.
More»Pan-Fried Meat Increases Risk Of Prostate Cancer
Huffington Post - New research has found that cooking red meats at high temperatures, especially pan-fried red meats, may increase the risk of advanced prostate cancer by as much as 40%.
More»Radon linked to more lung cancer deaths than previously thought
CBC.ca - New Health Canada research indicates there are hundreds more cases annually of lung cancer caused by indoor radon exposure than first determined in the late 1970s, prompting the agency to urge Canadians to check levels of the colourless and odourless gas in their homes.
More»Johnson & Johnson to Remove Formaldehyde From Products
New York Times - Johnson & Johnson announced plans Wednesday to remove a host of potentially harmful chemicals, like formaldehyde, from its line of consumer products by the end of 2015, becoming the first major consumer products company to make such a widespread commitment.
More»BC Lung Association - State of the Air Report 2012
BC Lung Association - The report provides updates on air quality, air pollution levels in B.C. compared to other parts of Canada, and the clean air initiatives that agencies at various levels of government are undertaking. It also turns our attention on two emerging issues—ultrafine particles and traffic-related air pollution—and reports on the 9th Annual Air Quality and Health Workshop held last March.
More»New chemical pathway for the formation of sulfuric acid a big surprise, say researchers
Eureka Alert - An international research team led by the University of Colorado Boulder and the University of Helsinki has discovered a surprising new chemical compound in Earth's atmosphere that reacts with sulfur dioxide to form sulfuric acid, which is known to have significant impacts on climate and health. The new compound, a type of carbonyl oxide, is formed from the reaction of ozone with alkenes, which are a family of hydrocarbons with both natural and man-made sources.
More»Carcinogenic solvent measured in breast milk
Chemical & Engineering News – For the first time, researchers have reported levels of the industrial solvent trichloroethylene in human milk. The solvent is the most frequently reported organic contaminant in groundwater in the US.
More»UV Radiation and Skin Cancer: The Science behind Age Restrictions for Tanning Beds
Environmental Health Perspectives - Scientists started investigating potential links between artificial UV exposure and skin cancer during the late 1970s. IARC reviewed 19 such studies during a meta-analysis published in 2006. The results showed a 15% increased risk for melanoma, 125% increased risk for SCC, and 3% increased risk for BCC among those who had ever tanned indoors compared with those who had never done so.
More»City to measure emissions from diesel engines
Vancouver Sun – Metro Vancouver will use "remote sensing" to measure the diesel pollution from thousands of semi-trailer trucks, dump trucks, buses and other heavy-duty vehicles over the next three months. The move, which involves infrared and ultraviolet beams from a specialized testing trailer on the side of a road, is expected to help the regional district better understand the emissions from these vehicles so it can design programs and policies to target diesel soot.
More»Why is it So Difficult to Choose Safer Alternatives for Hazardous Chemicals?
Environmental Health Perspectives - As the post-market research on alternative flame retardants continues, one wonders: Who, exactly, decides on the replacements for toxic chemicals, and on the basis of what criteria? And why does finding truly safer alternatives seem so difficult?
More»Diesel exhaust fumes cause lung cancer, WHO says
Reuters - Diesel engine fumes can cause lung cancer and belong in the same potentially deadly category as asbestos, arsenic and mustard gas, World Health Organization experts said on Tuesday.
More»New concerns over safety of arsenic in drinking water
New Scientist - Baby mice have severe growth problems when their mothers were given water containing arsenic – at levels considered safe for humans – when they were pregnant and lactating. The EPA is convening an advisory panel to evaluate the human and animal data on arsenic risk for non-cancer diseases to determine whether the 10 ppb limit is adequate to protect human health.
More»Working the Night Shift May Boost Breast Cancer Risk
TIME Healthland - Shift work may be unavoidable, but a new study suggests that it could wreak havoc with hormones that increase women's risk of cancer. In a study published in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine, researchers in Denmark found that women who worked night shifts were up to four times more likely to develop breast cancer than women who didn’t work nights.
More»Mike Holmes answers: Should Canadians be worried about radon?
Canada.com - Being exposed to high doses of radon over a long period of time is a huge health risk. According to Health Canada, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. In fact, 10 per cent of all cases of lung cancer in Canada are caused by radon. Between 2009 and 2010, Health Canada did a cross-country survey. Turns out, about 7 per cent of Canadians are living in homes with radon levels above the guideline.
More»Canadian Cancer Statistics 2012
Canadian Cancer Society and Statistics Canada – Death rates for the four major cancers — lung, colorectal, breast and prostate — are declining, thanks to falling smoking rates and increases in screening and treatment, the Canadian Cancer Society says. Along with the declines, the incidence of rare cancers, such as liver, thyroid and kidney, are on the rise.
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