Fall 2024 e-Bulletin

IN THIS ISSUE

Spotlight on PFAS – New carcinogen profile and PFAS levels in Indigenous communities 
In Memoriam – Honouring Dr. Thomas Tenkate
Partner update – New Canada-wide survey on household radon exposure
Recent publications – New workers’ exposure to carcinogens and masking misinformation

SPOTLIGHT ON PFAS

New carcinogen profile for PFAS

A profile for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is now available. PFAS are a large group of synthetic chemicals that have been used extensively in consumer and industrial products, including food packaging, waterproof clothing, non-stick cookware, firefighting foam, paints, and more. They are highly persistent in the environment and can contaminate the air, soil, and water.

The main route of exposure for the general population is through food and drinking water, while workers are primarily exposed via contaminated dust and air. Two types of PFAS – perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) – were recently evaluated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) which classified PFOA as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1) and PFOS as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B). The new PFAS profile is available here.

Community Profiles: PFAS levels in Indigenous communities across Canada

As a part of our ongoing commitment to Indigeneity, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (IEDI), we are featuring a new “Community Profiles” section in our newsletter. This space will be devoted to uplifting and raising the profile of communities that may be at greater risk of exposure to carcinogens, or who have recently made progress in finding solutions to combat exposures.

The Inuit population of Nunavik, Quebec have some of the highest reported per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) levels among Indigenous communities and in all of Canada, despite their remote location relative to PFAS-emitting industries. This is due in part to diets with the higher reliance on country (traditional) foods like caribou, fish, and marine mammals, which can contain high levels of PFAS. But it is also indicative of a larger issue: PFAS can be transported to the Arctic region from more industrialized areas via atmospheric and oceanic currents. Considering the ubiquity of PFAS, the ability for it to transported across the globe, and the biomagnification in animals and marine life, the environmental harm being experienced by Indigenous communities in the arctic and subarctic regions of Canada is unjustly compounded.

PFAS is not just an important issue for northern Indigenous communities. Many communities that experience systemic disadvantages, particularly those living in close proximity to manufacturing facilities, chemical refineries, or waste disposal sites, face significant health impacts from intense and prolonged chemical exposure. For example, Aamjiwnaang First Nation has multiple sources of PFAS in close proximity to their community, increasing their risk of PFAS contamination through the air and local drinking water.

In August 2024, the Government of Canada released the Objective for Canadian drinking water quality- per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, which sets forth a drinking water objective for PFAS of 30 ng/L (nanograms per litre). While Indigenous communities, along with the rest of Canada, do not have a permanent monitoring programs in place to detect PFAS levels in drinking water, the new objective will set the bar for future testing and remediation programs.

IN MEMORIAM

Honouring Dr. Thomas Tenkate

On behalf our entire CAREX Canada team and extended networks of friends and colleagues, we honour the memory of our cherished colleague, Dr. Thomas Tenkate, who passed away suddenly in July. Thomas is survived by his wife Katie and his children Abigail and Hudson, and by countless friends, family, and colleagues in Canada, Australia, and beyond.

Thomas had over 30 years of experience in the occupational and public health fields starting in his home country of Australia. He worked for government and with industry for 10 years before moving to academia, where he became the Graduate Program Director at the Queensland University of Technology. In 2011, Thomas moved to Canada to take on the position of Director of the School of Occupational and Public Health at what is now called Toronto Metropolitan University. The undercurrent of his entire professional life was a deep commitment to supporting the health and safety of workers. Thomas was also a dedicated educator and supporter of unions and worker organization in general.

We extend our condolences to any and all who knew him, we celebrate his contributions to occupational health and safety in Canada, and we commit to carrying forward his legacy with the same sense of calm commitment that Thomas always brought to his work.

PARTNER UPDATE

New Canada-wide survey on household radon exposure

Approximately 1 in 5 (18%) Canadians live in buildings with radon levels at or above the current guideline of 200 Bq/m³, according to a new survey from the team at Evict Radon. These estimates are greater than the previous Cross-Canada Survey (2009-11), which showed approximately 7% of homes at or above 200 Bq/m³.

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in Canada. The new survey, titled 2024 Cross-Canada Survey of Radon Exposure in the Residential Buildings of Urban and Rural Communities, estimates that 10.3 million Canadians have an elevated risk of lung cancer from radon exposure in their homes. Some areas of Canada have more homes with high radon levels, including Atlantic Canada, the Prairies, the North, and Interior BC, but radon levels vary significantly across regions, urban and rural communities, and building types. The only way to know if radon gas is present is to test for it.

Read more about this survey, which was led by the Evict Radon team in collaboration with CAREX Canada, the BC Centre for Disease Control, and Health Canada, here. For more information on radon exposure, visit our website here.

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

New workers’ exposure to carcinogens and masking misinformation

Our team recently published journal articles on CAREX-related research, including:

• An investigation on new workers who may be at higher risk of occupational exposure to carcinogens, which includes young workers and recent immigrants who work in construction, agriculture, and trades.  
• A social media analysis on anti-masking posts on Instagram during the COVID-19 pandemic, which explores the online spread of health-related misinformation and conspiracy theories that may lead to distrust in government and public health authorities and impact the health of workers and the public.

A full list of our publications is available here.

Please note that the CAREX Canada e-Bulletin is now a bi-annual digest. For more regular communications from us, please subscribe to Carcinogens in the News, a monthly digest of media articles, government reports, and academic literature related to the carcinogens we’ve classified as important for surveillance in Canada.