IN THIS ISSUE

Spotlight on sun safety at work – New sun safety illustrations and messages for construction workers
Community profiles – Bill 5 threatens environmental protections and First Nations rights
Research updates – Combating misinformation with StopSCAM
Communications updates – Gasoline classified by IARC as known carcinogen
CAREX news – CAREX Canada is now on Blueskky

SPOTLIGHT ON SUN SAFETY AT WORK

New sun safety illustrations and messages for construction workers

In Canada, approximately 1.7 million workers are exposed to sun on the job, making it one of the country’s most prevalent workplace carcinogen exposures. As part of our efforts to help reduce these exposures and influence sun safety behaviours, we collaborated with key experts and stakeholders to develop a set of sun safety messages that are tailored for outdoor construction workers, who are at high risk of sun exposure. The messages, which are free to use and available on our website here, include sun safety facts, recommendations for skin, eye, and heat illness protection, and more.  

We also created a suite of illustrations of workers in various jobs that experience high sun exposure at work – including construction workers, farmers, and lifeguards – with appropriate and realistic sun protections. These illustrations were created to help raise awareness of occupational sun safety, mobilize sun safety messaging, and address a gap in the availability of Canadian-specific and inclusive sun safety imagery. They are also free to use with appropriate credit and are available on our website here.

In collaboration with the BC Construction Safety Alliance (BCCSA), we created two posters for workplaces using the sun safety messages for construction workers and new illustrations. The posters – one on personal protective equipment (PPE) and one on seeking shade – are available here and on the BCCSA sun safety resources webpage. Dr. Cheryl Peters recently presented at a BCCSA webinar on sun safety and heat stress, which can be viewed here.

COMMUNITY PROFILES

Bill 5 threatens environmental protections and First Nations rights

As a part of our ongoing commitment to Indigeneity, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (IEDI), the “Community Profiles” section of our newsletter is 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.

This May, the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025 (Bill 5) went through a second reading debate, and the legislation has now been referred to the Standing Committee on the Interior. A key component of this legislation is the ability to create Special Economic Zones, which will effectively exempt businesses and projects within those zones from provincial and municipal laws. A glaring omission in these law-free zones, according to multiple Chiefs and First Nations representatives, is the Government of Ontario’s commitment to work with First Nations and to engage in Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) on all industry developments in the province.

Centered in this proposed legislation is the large mineral-rich area dubbed the Ring of Fire, traditionally referred to as Kawana ‘bi ‘kag. This vast area in northern Ontario contains large quantities of chromite, copper, gold, nickel, platinum group elements, and zinc. Not only is this area economically significant, it is also situated within Treaty 9 territory near many First Nations.

In January, 15 of these nearby First Nations and the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada finalized the terms of reference for proceeding with a co-led regional assessment, which would outline the environmental, health, social, and economic impacts of development in this area. Bill 5 and the Special Economic Zones, if enacted, could see the complete dissolution of this proposed impact assessment, bypassing Indigenous human rights, treaty rights, and environmental responsibility.

Indigenous Nations and groups fighting to have their voices heard are not only exercising their treaty right to co-govern alongside federal and provincial decision makers, but are also ensuring that their right to a clean environment is being upheld. Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler of Nishnawbe Aski Nation stated recently: “We have fresh water, we have trees, we have the second-largest carbon sink in the world and we have minerals that are rich. But we’ve also learned some very painful lessons in the past that in order for us to meaningfully benefit from these resources, we need to do it right.”

In response to the backlash from many First Nations leaders over their failure to be consulted on the development of Bill 5, the Ontario government has proposed an amendment to include language that recognizes Indigenous and treaty rights in line with Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982. By bringing forward this sweeping bill, many Indigenous leaders believe the government has already failed in their duty to consult and have called for the Bill to be thrown out, “so that they can be consulted from the start“.

RESEARCH UPDATES

Combating misinformation with StopSCAM

Members of the CAREX Canada team have launched StopSCAM (Stop the Spread of Cancer Misinformation), a research platform that explores how people find information about cancer and how false information spreads online. This research, which is sponsored by the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS), supports public health efforts to fight cancer misinformation and make online spaces safer for Canadians to find reliable cancer information. Team members recently presented on this work at a Café Scientifique event hosted by CCS and UBC’s Cancer Prevention Research Cluster, where they engaged in thoughtful discussions on addressing cancer misinformation and shared some results from a new national survey.

Learn more about their ongoing work on addressing cancer misinformation at stopscam.ubc.ca.

COMMUNICATIONS UPDATE

Gasoline classified by IARC as known carcinogen

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) recently evaluated the carcinogenicity of automotive gasoline and has classified it as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1) based on sufficient human evidence that it causes bladder cancer and acute myeloid leukaemia in adults.

Workers who may be exposed to gasoline vapours in Canada include service station attendants, gasoline tank truck drivers, mechanics, workers at bulk loading terminals and marine loading docks, refinery workers, and more. The general population can be exposed to gasoline vapours when refuelling automobiles and refuelling or using other gasoline-powered equipment, such as lawnmowers. Learn more about gasoline exposures in Canada here.

CAREX NEWS

CAREX Canada is now on Bluesky

We’ve joined Bluesky! Follow us here for news and information on exposures to occupational and environmental carcinogens, updates on our work, upcoming events, and more. Please share with your networks – we look forward to connecting with you there!

Don’t have Bluesky? You can also keep in touch with us on LinkedIn or by subscribing to our newsletters, including our monthly Carcinogens in the News digest.

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.

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.

IN THIS ISSUE

Spotlight on cancer misinformation and disinformation – New publication and grant to combat online cancer mis- and disinformation 
Team update – CAREX Canada is pleased to welcome new team member Emily Heer
Community profiles – Industrial benzene emissions in Aamjiwnaang First Nation
Communications update – CAREX Canada invites you to join us on LinkedIn
Partner updates – Newly released Canadian Cancer Statistics and an upcoming EPICOH conference

SPOTLIGHT ON CANCER MISINFORMATION AND DISINFORMATION

New publication and grant to combat online cancer misinformation

Misinformation and disinformation about cancer risks, prevention, and treatment is becoming more common, especially in online spaces. Misinformation is false information that is not intended to cause harm (though it may still do so), while disinformation is false information that is intended to cause harm and mislead people. Our team is working to better understand the impact this has on Canadians and develop strategies that will combat online untruths about cancer prevention and treatment.

We recently published a new study on Canadians’ knowledge of cancer risk factors and belief in cancer myths. This research showed that while Canadians were able to identify some well-known cancer risk factors, such as tobacco smoke and sun exposure, they also believed many cancer myths and were unable to recognize other important risk factors. This highlights the need for further investigation to understand and address cancer mis- and disinformation.

Our Principal Investigator Dr. Cheryl Peters was awarded a Challenge Grant from the Canadian Cancer Society to further examine online cancer mis- and disinformation and health literacy in Canada. Alongside co-investigators Professor Timothy Caulfield and Dr. Lin Yang, our research team will investigate how people in Canada access cancer prevention and treatment information and what drives cancer-related mis- and disinformation from online sources. We’ll also be developing a digital strategy with the Canadian Cancer Society to support community partners in combating cancer mis- and disinformation. Read more about this upcoming work on the BC Centre for Disease Control website here, and stay tuned for the results in upcoming newsletters.

Dr. Cheryl Peters and Professor Timothy Caulfield will be also joining Dr. Thomas Piggot, Krishana Sankar, and Marco Zenone in an upcoming webinar, Supporting Patients and Providers in a Sea of Health Misinformation, on June 27, 2024. This free accredited educational session is is open to all health professionals who want to learn how to help patients navigate health misinformation and access recommended resources. Click here to register.

TEAM UPDATE

Welcome Emily

The CAREX team is pleased to welcome our new Senior Research Coordinator Emily Heer! Based at the University of British Columbia, Emily has a background in cancer epidemiology, specifically focusing on cancer prevention and reducing disparities in underserved populations. Emily joins the CAREX team to identify the effects of climate change-related extreme weather events on the health of workers in Canada, as well as supporting our work on cancer mis-and disinformation. Her full biography can be found on Our Team page.

COMMUNITY PROFILES

Industrial benzene emissions in the Aamjiwnaang First Nation

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.

This past April, Aamjiwnaang First Nation declared a state of emergency due to the recorded high levels of benzene in their community. While this is not the first time that the Nation’s air quality has been impacted by nearby industrial pollution, this is the first time Aamjiwnaang have issued an emergency order, with a subsequent Notice of Violation issued by the Nation days later.

Benzene is a known carcinogen associated with leukemia, and can also cause other health concerns including headaches, drowsiness, anaemia, and neuropathies. While there is currently no set hourly limit for benzene, Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment, Conservation, and Parks (MECP) has set the annual average limit at 0.45 ug/m³. On April 25^th, one of Aamjiwnaang’s air monitors registered a benzene level of 191 ug/m³.

On the heels of a province-led air exposure review of the Aamjiwnaang and Sarnia area that recommended the MECP “require improved environmental performance and reduced emissions of benzene from local industrial sources”, this latest peak in benzene emissions is evidence that more can done to protect Aamjiwnaang citizens from environmental harm.

In mid-May, the federal government issued an Interim Order to the petrochemical industry in Sarnia, requiring some facilities registering excessive benzene readings to implement vapour-control measures to reduce emissions in the region. The Order was in effect for 14 days, and the Governor in Council approved an extension to the Order for up to two years. The government of Canada is also working to finalize the Reduction in the Release of Volatile Organic Compounds (Storage and Loading of Volatile Petroleum Liquids) Regulations by winter 2024-2025, which would outline the requirements of the petroleum and petrochemical industries to control and lower volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, including benzene.

To read more about CAREX Canada’s previous work with the Aamjiwnaang First Nation, click here. To learn more about exposure to benzene, visit our profile.

COMMUNICATIONS UPDATE

CAREX Canada is now on LinkedIn

We’ve joined LinkedIn! Follow us here for news and information on exposures to occupational and environmental carcinogens, updates on our work, upcoming events, and more. Please share with your networks – we look forward to connecting with you there!

Don’t have LinkedIn? You can also keep in touch with us on X @CAREXCanada or by subscribing to our newsletters, including our monthly Carcinogens in the News digest.

PARTNER UPDATES

Newly released Canadian Cancer Statistics and upcoming EPICOH Early Career conference

The Canadian Cancer Society has released their 2024 Canadian Cancer Statistics publication, which provides projected estimates of new cancer cases and deaths by sex and geographic region for over 20 cancer types. An estimated 247,100 new cancer cases and 88,100 deaths are expected in 2024, with lung, breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers projected to be the most common cancers. Cancer continues to be the number one cause of death in Canada, highlighting the importance of prevention.

Our colleagues at the Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC) are helping to organize the upcoming Scientific Committee on Epidemiology in Occupational Health (EPICOH) Early Career Conference in Barcelona, Spain on November 4^th and 5^th, 2024. The conference serves as a platform for early career researchers and professionals in the field of occupational epidemiology, industrial hygiene, and occupational health to exchange ideas, share insights, and foster collaboration. The abstract deadline is June 15^th, 2024. Learn more and register 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.

IN THIS ISSUE

Spotlight on wildfire smoke – The International Agency for Research on Cancer evaluates occupational exposure as a firefighter and finds increased risk of bladder cancer and mesothelioma 
CAREX news – New grant awarded to study workers exposed to climate change related extreme weather events
Team update – CAREX Canada is pleased to welcome new team member, Emma Quinn
Recent publications – Recently published articles on CAREX research
Communications updates – Dr. Peters’ presentation at the Canadian Mesothelioma Foundation and three stories from our Carcinogens in the News digest

SPOTLIGHT ON WILDFIRE SMOKE

Wildfires are intensifying in Canada, increasing the risk of adverse health effects for wildland firefighters

Wildfires are not a recent phenomenon in Canada, though the frequency and severity of fires are on the rise, as climate change continues to intensify weather conditions that increase the risk of wildfires. Of particular concern are the elevated rates of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in smoke, as well as other known or suspected carcinogens including benzene, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and others.

Wildfire smoke can cause adverse health effects, and some populations, namely wildland firefighters, are at higher risk of these adverse health effects due to their proximity, increased respiration and at times, inadequate respiratory protection. The International Agency for Research on Cancer recently evaluated Occupational Exposure as a Firefighter and published a Monograph reviewing the evidence from epidemiological, animal, and mechanistic studies to assess the carcinogenic hazard to humans of occupational exposure as a firefighter. The Monograph concluded that occupational exposures experienced in firefighting increase the risk of bladder cancer and mesothelioma.

While the Government of Canada continues to update and enhance resources for the general public for staying safe in the midst of wildfire season, there have been questions raised about whether the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI), the primary tool for measuring air quality in Canada, incorporates emerging knowledge about wildfire smoke. Our wildfire smoke summary is available here.

CAREX NEWS

New grant awarded to study workers exposed to climate change related extreme weather events

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Catalyst Grant will bring together experts at Toronto Metropolitan University, Health Canada, the National Public Health Institute of Quebec, Carleton University, CAREX Canada, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety and WorkSafeBC. This research will follow our tested CAREX approach, in a novel new setting to estimate the proportions of workers exposed to climate change related extreme weather events across Canada. This research will also strengthen connections between researchers, occupational health organizations and governments in an effort to protect workers from the effects of the changing climate.

TEAM UPDATE

The CAREX Canada team is pleased to welcome new team member Emma Quinn

Based at the University of Calgary, Emma recently graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Master of Science in Occupational and Environmental Hygiene. Emma has a deep interest in how occupational and environmental factors influence human health and has previously worked with CAREX Canada on research related to COVID-19 misinformation, occupational exposures of young workers and ionizing radiation exposure. Emma is currently exploring how sex and gender impact occupational cancer risk. Emma’s full biography can be found on our About Us page.

PUBLICATIONS

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

• A study on the changing activity patterns of Canadians since the COVID-19 pandemic, and the resulting elevated exposure to radioactive radon gas inhaled within in indoor residential settings.
• A systematic review looking at the potential association between low-dose ionizing radiation and ischemic heart disease mortality in occupational settings.

A full list of our publications is available here.

COMMUNICATIONS UPDATES

Webinar recording of Dr. Peters and Dr. Demers’ recent presentation about mesothelioma in Canada

Dr. Cheryl Peters and Dr. Paul Demers recently presented at the Canadian Mesothelioma Foundation’s 2023 Canadian Mesothelioma Conference in Toronto. In the lead up to the conference, they hosted a webinar to talk about current patterns of mesothelioma in Canada, the risk of exposure to asbestos and preventing future disease. To learn more about exposure to asbestos and mesothelioma visit our asbestos profile on our website. 

Top stories form our Carcinogens in the News digest

We’re featuring three stories that appeared in our Carcinogens in the News digest:

• The Canadian Cancer Society recently released Canadian Cancer Statistics 2023 which provides detailed statistics on incidence, mortality and survival for over 20+ cancer types. An estimated 239,100 new cancer cases and 86,700 cancer deaths are expected in Canada in 2023. The most commonly diagnosed cancer is estimated to be lung overall, colorectal in males and breast in females.
• The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) have released a climate change handbook for safety professionals in response to growing concerns over the impact of climate change on workers. The handbook offers guidance on how to identify, assess and control climate-related risks that could affect occupational health and safety.
• The Ontario government have pledged to create Canada’s first-ever Occupational Exposure Registry to track harmful exposure levels, improve worker compensation, help diagnose workplace illnesses faster, and reduce costs to the healthcare system.

Other stories and reports can be viewed on our Carcinogens in the News page. To sign up for monthly Carcinogens in the News digest, visit our Subscribe page.

IN THIS ISSUE

Spotlight on diesel engine exhaust exposure – New special topics page highlights CAREX Canada’s research on diesel engine exhaust
Recent publications – Inequalities in environmental carcinogen exposures, sun safety messages for outdoor workers, occupational radon estimates, and surveillance of solar radiation-induced skin cancers
CAREX news – New grants awarded to study shade inequities in playgrounds, tailored sun safety messages for construction workers, communication of radon risk among First Nations communities 
Team update – Dr. Larsen’s changing role 
Communications updates  – Recent stories from our Carcinogens in the News digest

SPOTLIGHT ON DIESEL ENGINE EXHAUST

New special topics page highlights CAREX Canada’s research on diesel engine exhaust

CAREX Canada has developed a special topics page to highlight our resources on diesel engine exhaust, a carcinogen we identified as a high priority for exposure reduction. The special topics page features our occupational and environmental exposure estimates, maps of the predicted levels of diesel engine exhaust in outdoor air, and a webinar on diesel engine exhaust exposure and reduction in the workplace, presented in partnership with the Occupational Cancer Research Centre and the Ontario Occupational Disease Action Plan.

Research on setting an occupational exposure limit for diesel engine exhaust in Canadian workplaces is also presented. This includes a report that describes the regulatory landscape and key barriers and facilitators to setting occupational exposure limits in Canada, as well as a policy analysis to understand how an occupational exposure limit policy for diesel engine exhaust was developed and actioned for mines in Ontario.

The special topics page is available here.

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

Inequalities in environmental carcinogen exposures, sun safety messages for outdoor workers, occupational radon estimates, and surveillance of solar radiation-induced skin cancers

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

• A study to develop tailored, practical, harm-reducing sun safety messages that will better support outdoor workers and their employers in reducing the risk of solar UVR exposure and UVR-related occupational illnesses.
• A scoping review to assess inequalities in environmental cancer risk and carcinogen exposures, which identified four main themes: air pollution and hazardous substances, access to tobacco, access to healthy foods, and other aspects of the built environment (e.g.., greenspace, walkability).
• A description of the prevalence and levels of exposure for occupational radon exposure in Canada, which found that a significant number of workers exceed the WHO’s and Health Canada’s radon guidelines for indoor environments.
• An investigation on best practices, barriers and facilitators for creating an occupational sun exposure or skin cancer surveillance system for outdoor workers. Key barriers include underreporting and under-funding, while vital facilitators include collaboration and communication, and simple reporting processes.

A full list of our publications is available here.

CAREX NEWS

New grants awarded to study shade inequalities in playgrounds, tailored sun safety messages for construction workers, communication of radon risk among First Nations communities

CAREX Canada researchers and collaborators, led by Principal Investigator Dr. Cheryl Peters and Senior Investigator Dr. Kristian Larsen, were recently awarded funding to expand our research on:

• Assessing inequities in access to shade in playgrounds in Vancouver. This work is funded by the Provincial Health Services Authority.
• Mobilizing tailored sun safety messages in the construction industry. This work is funded by WorkSafeBC’s Applied Innovation program and brings together experts from the Sun Safety at Work Canada Working Group.
• Developing culturally appropriate, evidence-based tools to support community members from Kanesatake First Nation to understand risks associated with radon exposure. This work is funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Planning and Dissemination program and will be conducted in partnership with members from Kanesatake First Nation, the Food, Environment, Health and Nutrition of First Nations Children and Youth (FEHNCY) research group, Health Canada and Evict Radon.

TEAM UPDATE

Dr. Larsen’s changing role

Dr. Kristian Larsen, Senior Investigator at CAREX Canada, is now a Research Scientist in the Office of Environmental Health at Health Canada. He will continue to collaborate with CAREX Canada in this new position on research regarding inequalities in environmental carcinogens and chemical exposures.

​COMMUNICATIONS UPDATES

Recent stories from our Carcinogens in the News digest

• Our team, in partnership with Evict Radon colleagues, published a study assessing how residential radon gas exposure increased due to changing activity patterns resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings show that younger people in newer urban or suburban properties with more occupants, and/or those employed in managerial, administrative, or professional roles had disproportionate increases in residential radon exposure due to changed activity patterns.
• CTV News summarizes changes to Ontario’s mining regulation to reduce miners’ exposures to diesel engine exhaust. The new rules will improve underground ventilation requirements and will lower the exposure limit to harmful diesel exhaust to the most protective levels in North America.

You can subscribe to our monthly Carcinogens in the News digest 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.