BMJ Occupational and Environmental Medicine – The objective was to investigate employment in an occupation or industry and specific occupational exposures in relation to ovarian cancer risk. In a population-based case–control study conducted in Montreal, Canada (2011–2016), lifetime occupational histories were collected for 491 cases of ovarian cancer and 897 controls. The relationship between exposure to each of the 29 most prevalent agents and ovarian cancer risk was assessed. Certain occupations, industries, and specific occupational exposures may be associated with ovarian cancer risk. Further research is needed to provide a more solid grounding for any inferences in this regard.

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Global News – All Canadian jurisdictions should routinely collect data on racial and Indigenous identity to help address inequities in health care, and the best way to do that is during the health card application or renewal process, a group of experts say. The lead author of the commentary published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal said Black and Indigenous patients have less access to care and worse outcomes, and allowing them to voluntarily provide identity data could help track racism in the health care system. The authors explain that it would also help monitor any progress toward addressing stereotypes that lead to poorer care for some people.

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European Commission – Roughly 10% of the cancer burden in Europe is attributable to environmental factors. Approximately 97% of the EU urban population live in areas that exceed the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended level for ambient air pollution exposure, increasing the risk of poor health, including lung cancer. Considerable differences between countries are observed in estimated lung cancer deaths attributable to ambient air pollution, residential radon, and second-hand smoke. On average, men are affected twice as much by the environmental pollutants as compared to women. The Zero Pollution Action Plan and the European Green Deal aim to reduce exposure to environmental pollutants and their detrimental effects on the health of European citizen

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The Globe and Mail – As large wildfires have become regular occurrences in Canada, some scientists warn that repeated exposure to the air pollution they produce could pose long-term health risks, potentially leading to a higher incidence of illness such as cancer and dementia. Wildfires have burned through more than one million hectares in Alberta this spring. Saskatchewan, Manitoba, B.C. and the Northwest Territories are also battling active fires. The website Firesmoke.ca, maintained by the University of British Columbia’s Weather Forecast Research Team, shows these fires are contributing to a wide ribbon of air pollution, snaking across much of the country.

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The Tyee – The dangers of asbestos have been known for decades, but it remains the number one killer of workers in British Columbia (BC). Since 2002, BC has recorded nearly 1,200 work-related deaths linked to asbestos. For many people, asbestos is a thing of the past, but advocates say workers in BC are still regularly exposed to asbestos on the job. The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades in BC says a mix of uninformed and unscrupulous construction contractors are routinely putting workers in close contact with asbestos, sometimes without knowing it. Next year, the BC government is set to become the first in Canada to require companies that work in asbestos removal to be licensed by the government, part of a bid to eliminate bad actors and keep workers safe.

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