IN THIS ISSUE

Spotlight on radon – School testing increases in Canada, CELA publishes radon law and policy scan
Additions to the CAREX team – Welcome Chantal 
Updating resources – New profile developed for carbon nanotubes, summaries for emerging issues, webinar recordings 
Communications update – Asbestos ban established in Canada
Recent publications – ON-DECK study results on occupational exposure and kidney cancer 

SPOTLIGHT ON RADON

Spotlight on radon – School testing increases in Canada

November is Radon Awareness Month. Last year, we released our updated Radon in Schools research documenting where school testing has occurred in Canada. Since then, a number of schools have tested for radon, including:

• 50 schools in Alberta (ongoing in fall 2018/winter 2019)
• 106 schools in BC, including six school districts (92 schools) where testing was supported by Vancouver Coastal Health
• 10 schools in Manitoba, where test kits were provided free from the Manitoba School Board Association

A summary of the 2017 school testing results is available here.

CELA publishes radon law and policy scan

The Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA), in partnership with CAREX Canada, has published an environmental scan of radon law and policy in Canada and the European Union. This report summarizes the current state of law, policy, and best practices, as well as federal, provincial/territorial, and municipal responsibilities. It also provides policy recommendations for Health Canada to more effectively deliver the National Radon Program and improve radon protection across the country. The report is available here.

ADDITIONS TO THE CAREX TEAM

Welcome Chantal

The CAREX team is pleased to welcome new staff member Chantal Burnett, Research Associate. Based at Alberta Health Services in Calgary, Chantal has expertise in environmental and occupational hygiene. She’ll be working on updating our occupational exposure estimates and supporting other projects related to workplace exposures. Please join us in welcoming Chantal to the CAREX team. Her full biography can be found on Our Team page.

UPDATING RESOURCES

New profile developed for carbon nanotubes, summaries for emerging issues

A profile on carbon nanotubes is now available. Carbon nanotubes are manufactured materials used in nanotechnology, electronics, and optics. In 2017, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified a specific type of carbon nanotube (MWCNT-7) as possibly carcinogenic to humans, with links to lung cancer in animals. Workers can be exposed when generating and applying materials with carbon nanotubes, and exposure may occur in the general public from consumer products. The new profile is available here.

We also monitor substances of growing concern to Canadians, and have three new emerging issues summaries available on our website:

• Blue light at night
• Chemical mixtures
• Electronic waste recycling

The new emerging issues summaries are available here.

New webinar recordings posted on workplace diesel exposure, eRISK Online

A recording of our webinar on exposure to diesel engine exhaust in Canadian workplaces, hosted in partnership with the Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC) and Ontario’s Occupational Disease Action Plan (ODAP) Working Group on Diesel Exhaust, is now available The webinar covered the importance of diesel exhaust as a workplace hazard and the ways it can be assessed and controlled. Approximately 897,000 Canadians are exposed to diesel at work. A recording of our webinar on eRISK Online is also now available. eRISK Online is an interactive tool developed by CAREX Canada that allows users to explore the cancer risk associated with exposures to known and suspected carcinogens in the environment. The webinar uses several case studies to show users how to navigate the tool and interpret the results it generates. The webinar recordings are available on our Videos page.

COMMUNICATIONS UPDATE

Asbestos ban established in Canada

In October, the Government of Canada announced new regulations to prohibit the import, sale, and use of asbestos as well as the manufacture, import, sale, and use of asbestos-containing products. The regulations will come into force on December 30, 2018. Our estimates show that approximately 152,000 Canadians are exposed to asbestos at work, and many more may be environmentally exposed during home renovations, from asbestos-containing products, or through contaminated clothing from family members who work with asbestos. A number of CAREX partners have been advocating for this ban for many years, including the Canadian Environmental Law Association, the BC Federation of Labour, and the Canadian Association for University Teachers, and have used our data and resources to help support their efforts.

Visit our profile on asbestos for more information and resources related to this exposure.

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

ON-DECK study results on occupational exposure and kidney cancer

Two new publications from the Ontario Study of Diesel Exhaust and Cancer of the Kidney (ON-DECK) are now available. Our co-Principal Investigator Dr. Cheryl Peters was the Study Coordinator for ON-DECK, which evaluated occupational exposure to several common agents potentially associated with kidney cancer. Results show that workplace exposure to gasoline engine exhaust, a suspected human carcinogen, increased the risk of kidney cancer in Canadian men in a dose-response fashion. Exposure to asbestos and diesel engine exhaust was also associated with kidney cancer in men, with limited evidence. High exposure to both gasoline and diesel engine exhausts nearly doubled the risk of kidney cancer.

The publications are available here (asbestos) and here (gasoline and diesel engine exhaust). 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.

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 diesel engine exhaust – Upcoming webinar and burden of workplace cancer 
Team news – Renewal and new appointment
Updating resources – Updated occupational estimates for silica and shiftwork, new profile for furan 
Partner update – Comic on cancer education for First Nations youth 
Communications update – Canadian Air Pollutant Inventory, economic burden of workplace sun exposure 

SPOTLIGHT ON DIESEL ENGINE EXHAUST

Upcoming webinar and burden of workplace cancer

On June 5th, 2018, we’re hosting a webinar on exposure to diesel engine exhaust in Canadian workplaces in partnership with the Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC) and Ontario’s Occupational Disease Action Plan (ODAP) Working Group on Diesel Exhaust. The webinar will convey the importance of diesel exhaust as a workplace hazard and discuss the ways it can be assessed and controlled. For more information, visit our registration page.

Approximately 2.4% of lung cancers in Canada were attributable to occupational diesel engine exhaust exposure in 2011, according to a new publication from the Burden of Occupational Cancer Study. This corresponds to an estimated 560 lung cancers each year. Results show that occupations with the highest burden include underground miners, truck drivers, and mechanics. CAREX Canada’s occupational exposure estimates, which show that approximately 897,000 Canadians are exposed to diesel engine exhaust at work, were used to produce these burden estimates. The publication is available here, and fact sheets on these and other burden of occupational cancer results are available here.

TEAM UPDATES

Renewal and new appointment

The CAREX team is pleased to announce that we’ve been re-funded by the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer for another four years of work. We look forward to continuing our efforts to develop and mobilize estimates of Canadians’ exposures to carcinogens, to influence prevention policy and practice change.

We are also pleased to announce that our Co-Principal Investigator Dr. Cheryl Peters has a new appointment as Research Scientist at the Alberta Health Services Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Research department and Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Cumming School of Medicine (Oncology and Community Health Sciences) at the University of Calgary. In her new role, Dr. Peters will build a program of research to investigate known and emerging causes of cancer in workplace and community environments, while continuing her work with CAREX Canada. Her full biography can be found on Our Team page.

UPDATING RESOURCES

Updated occupational estimates for silica and shiftwork, new profile for furan

We recently updated our occupational exposure level estimates for crystalline silica. Our new results, which incorporated thousands of updated measurements taken in the construction industry, showed that a majority of workers exposed to silica in Canada have high exposure levels – approximately 237,000 out of 380,000 workers exposed. Silica is a common exposure in the construction industry, where it can be found in cement, brick, abrasives, sandblasting materials, and more. Exposure concerns arise when products containing silica are disturbed by grinding, cutting, drilling, or chipping, as these tasks create dust that workers may inhale.

Other updates to the website include:

• Updated occupational exposure estimates for shiftwork, which revealed that approximately 1.8 million Canadians worked shifts that fell between midnight and 5am in 2011, a decrease of about 100,000 from 2006.
• A new profile on furan, an organic compound used in chemical manufacturing. Furan can be found at low levels in some heat-treated beverages and foods such as coffee, and canned or jarred foods.

PARTNER UPDATE

Comic on cancer education for First Nations youth

At the request of one of our First Nations community partners, the Mississauga First Nation, the comic book “Silent Enemy” was designed to provide education and awareness to youth about cancer. It follows a family through their father’s lung cancer diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. The Healthy Aboriginal Network and Cancer Care Ontario’s Aboriginal Cancer Control Unit created the comic, in partnership with the First Nations Health Authority and CAREX Canada.

The comic is available online here. Please email us if you’d like to receive a printed version.

COMMUNICATIONS UPDATE

Canadian Air Pollutant Inventory, economic burden of workplace sun exposure

This month, we’re featuring two new publications that appeared in our Carcinogens in the News digest:

• Environment and Climate Change Canada has released their 2018 Air Pollutant Emission Inventory, which looks at emissions of 17 air pollutants at the national and provincial/territorial levels, including a number of known or suspected carcinogens such as particulate matter, PAHs, lead, cadmium, and volatile organic compounds. Results show that overall, Canada’s air quality continues to improve, with reductions of some pollutants from transportation and industrial emissions. The publication is available here.
• A new publication from the Burden of Occupational Cancer Study shows that the economic burden of occupational non-melanoma skin cancer due to solar radiation exposure in Canada is approximately $28.9 million for direct and indirect costs, and $5.7 million for intangible costs. Approximately 2,800 (5%) of newly diagnosed cases of basal cell carcinoma and 1,700 (9%) of newly diagnosed cases of squamous cell carcinoma were attributable to occupational solar radiation exposure in 2011. The publication 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 Radon in Schools – Updated research on school testing in Canada 
Addition to the CAREX team – Welcome Kristian
New Resources – Two new Package Summaries now available
Partner update – OCRC and CCO release burden of occupational cancer report
Recent publications – Call for action on radon in child care settings 

SPOTLIGHT ON RADON IN SCHOOLS

Updated research on school testing in Canada

During Radon Awareness Month this November we released our updated Radon in Schools research. Our team investigated where school testing has occurred in Canada, as a follow-up to our research in 2016. We found that school testing rates remain low in some of the most populated provinces, although some school districts in these provinces are taking the initiative to test. A summary of the results is available here.

ADDITION TO THE CAREX TEAM

Welcome Kristian

The CAREX team is pleased to welcome new staff member Kristian Larsen, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Specialist. Based in Toronto, Kristian has used GIS methods to examine environmental health topics such as air pollution and physical activity. He has worked with a number of organizations, including the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), and the University of Toronto. At CAREX, Kristian is applying his GIS expertise to develop new models of pesticide exposure and to enhance existing CAREX resources with new data visualizations. Please join us in welcoming Kristian to the CAREX team. His full biography can be found on the About Us page.

NEW RESOURCES

Two new Package Summaries now available

A new industry-focused summary on carcinogens that health care workers may be exposed to is now available. The package provides an overview of the most prevalent exposures for those working in health care, including shiftwork, antineoplastic agents, formaldehyde, artificial ultraviolet radiation, and diesel engine exhaust. For more information on exposure to antineoplastic agents in Canadian workplaces (including health care), view a recording of our recent webinar with WorkSafeBC on our Videos page.

Another exposure package summary – on priority carcinogens in traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) – is also now available. TRAP is a major contributor to outdoor air pollution, which is classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as carcinogenic to humans. This package summarizes the many components of TRAP associated with cancer, including diesel engine exhaust, gasoline engine exhaust, particulate matter, 1,3-butadiene, benzene, and formaldehyde.

To learn more, and to view the other summaries we’ve developed visit our Package Summaries page.

PARTNER UPDATE

OCRC and CCO release burden of occupational cancer report

The Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC) and Cancer Care Ontario (CCO) recently released their Burden of Occupational Cancer in Ontario report, which focuses on the most common carcinogens found in Ontario workplaces and their contribution to occupational cancer. Results show that solar radiation, asbestos, diesel engine exhaust, and crystalline silica had the largest cancer burden in the province. The report also highlights opportunities to reduce the burden of cancer in Ontario, including strengthening occupational exposure limits, enforcing existing regulations, and reducing the use of toxic substances. CAREX Canada’s occupational exposure estimates were used to produce the burden estimates. To view the full report, visit the OCRC website.

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

Call for action on radon in child care settings

This commentary from children’s health, policy, and radon experts highlights the need for a comprehensive approach to radon safety in Canadian child care facilities. Most child care centres in the country have not been tested for radon, and specific legal requirements are lacking. To help address this, the authors identified several opportunities to protect both children and staff, including regulations, licensing requirements, and ministry-funded testing and remediation programs. Authors include colleagues from the Canadian Partnership for Children’s Health & Environment, the Canadian Child Care Federation, the Canadian Environmental Law Association, Interior Health Authority, Health Canada, and our Co-Principal Investigator Anne-Marie Nicol. The publication 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 the CAREX team – Renewal and new roles 
Updating resources – Launching eRISK Online tool, offering webinar
Communications Update – Sharing our latest Annual Report
Partner update – New working groups with CELA, Sun Safety at Work
Recent publications – IARC evaluates welding, UV radiation; CELA releases policy tools for radon in daycares 

SPOTLIGHT ON THE CAREX TEAM

Renewal and new roles

The CAREX team is pleased to announce that we’ve been refunded by the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer to continue our efforts to develop and mobilize estimates of Canadians exposures to carcinogens in workplace and community environments. Dr. Cheryl Peters is now the Co-Principal Investigator of CAREX Canada, alongside Dr. Anne-Marie Nicol. Cheryl started working with CAREX Canada at the beginning of the project in 2007. She is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at Carleton University in Ottawa, where she works on projects in environmental and occupational epidemiology and exposure assessment. We are also pleased to announce that Alison Palmer has become CAREX Canada’s Executive Director. Alison was hired on with CAREX Canada five years ago to plan and execute knowledge translation activities, and has since taken on a leadership role. To learn more about CAREX team members, visit our About Us page.

UPDATING RESOURCES

Launching eRISK Online tool, offering webinar

Our newest CAREX Canada tool, eRISK Online, is now available. eRISK Online is an interactive tool developed by CAREX Canada that allows users to explore the cancer risk associated with exposures to known and suspected carcinogens in the environment. There are currently five exposure pathways – outdoor air, indoor air, dust, soil, and drinking water – and over 30 substances – including radon, asbestos, and formaldehyde – to explore. The estimates allow users to compare substances and exposure pathways, and support priority setting for exposure reduction efforts. eRISK Online, along with a Quick Start Guide and a comprehensive User Manual on using the tool, is available here.

On September 21st, 2017 we’re hosting a webinar on how to use the new eRISK Online tool. This webinar will show users how to navigate the tool and interpret the lifetime excess cancer risk results it generates, as well as demonstrate some of the tool’s possible applications. For more information, visit our registration page.

COMMUNICATIONS UPDATE 

Sharing our latest Annual Report

This year marks ten years of CAREX Canada. Over this time, our team has worked to establish CAREX Canada as the country’s leading source of evidence on Canadians’ exposures to workplace and environmental carcinogens. In 2016-17, the CAREX team worked with partners across the country at federal, provincial, and municipal levels to mobilize evidence on exposures to workplace and environmental carcinogens in various ways. This work is described in our latest Annual Report, available here. We hope that this report illustrates how our evidence has been applied to prioritize and support efforts to reduce exposures, ultimately helping to reduce the burden of cancer.

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

IARC evaluates welding, UV radiation; CELA releases policy tools for radon in daycares

This month we’re featuring two new publications that appeared in our Carcinogens in the News digest:

• In March 2017, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) evaluated the carcinogenicity of welding, molybdenum trioxide, and indium tin oxide. Based on the evaluation, molybdenum trioxide and indium tin oxide were both classified as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B). Welding fumes and ultraviolet (UV) radiation from welding were classified as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1), based on sufficient evidence linking these exposures to lung cancer and ocular melanoma, respectively. Our results show that approximately 87,000 welders are exposed to artificial UV radiation. For more information, visit our artificial UV radiation profile and our summary package on carcinogen exposures in welders.
• Most childcare facilities in Canada are not tested for radon. This radioactive gas can build up in indoor environments, including childcare centres where children and workers may be exposed. To help address this, the Canadian Environmental Law Association and partners compiled a list of four possible policy measures to address radon exposure in childcare settings. This includes childcare licensing rules, building codes, and the rules governing both occupational health and safety and public health. For more information on exposure to radon, visit our radon resources page.

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 antineoplastic agents – Upcoming webinar featuring updated workplace exposure estimates 
Communications update – Recordings from Radon Awareness Month 
Updating resources – Offering up-to-date information about carcinogens in Canada
Partner update – Banning asbestos in Canada
Recent publications – New report on cancer prevention in Ontario

SPOTLIGHT ON ANTINEOPLASTIC AGENTS

Upcoming webinar featuring updated workplace exposure estimates

We’ve recently updated our occupational estimates of exposure for antineoplastic agents. These drugs are used to treat cancer, but are also associated with increased cancer risk in workplace settings. Results show that approximately 75,000 Canadians are exposed to antineoplastic agents at work, most of which work as pharmacy staff, nurses, and cleaning workers. Visit the antineoplastic agents page to learn more.

On February 16th, 2017 we’re hosting a webinar in partnership with WorkSafeBC on exposure to antineoplastic agents in Canadian workplaces. The webinar will cover who’s exposed to antineoplastic agents in Canada, where those exposures are occurring, and what levels workers are exposed to. WorkSafeBC will outline best practices for reducing exposures, including legal requirements, risk assessment, and communication and training approaches.

COMMUNICATIONS UPDATE

Recordings from Radon Awareness Month

During Radon Awareness Month in November 2016, our team shared CAREX radon resources and data with various audiences, resulting in the following recordings:

• Recognizing Radon (podcast): Our Occupational Exposures Lead Dr. Cheryl Peters spoke to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety about radon exposure at home and at work, our new occupational exposure estimates, and how to reduce exposures. The podcast is available on the CCOHS website.
• Radon in schools: What students, parents, and teachers need to know (webinar): We hosted a webinar in partnership with the British Columbia Teachers’ Federation, where our Principal Investigator Dr. Anne-Marie Nicol and others discussed radon exposure and testing in Canadian schools. The recorded webinar is available on our Videos page.

Visit our Radon Resources page for more information related to this exposure.

UPDATING RESOURCES

Offering up-to-date information about carcinogens in Canada

Our website offers profiles on more than 75 environmental and occupational carcinogens relevant to the Canadian population. We are currently implementing a full update of all our carcinogen profiles, including up to date information on regulations and guidelines, main uses, and Canadian production and trade. In particular, our metal profiles (e.g. lead, nickel, cobalt, and chromium) have undergone extensive updates that reflect changes in Canadian mining priorities and practices. Visit our Profiles and Estimates page to view the updated metal profiles.

PARTNER UPDATE

Banning asbestos in Canada

In December 2016, the federal government announced that it would ban asbestos and asbestos-containing products in Canada by 2018. Our estimates show that approximately 152,000 Canadians are exposed to asbestos at work, and many more may be environmentally exposed during home renovations, from asbestos-containing products, or through contaminated clothing from family members who work with asbestos. Organizations such as the Canadian Labour Congress, Canadian Environmental Law Association, and Canadian Cancer Society have used our data and resources to help support their efforts to reduce exposure to this known carcinogen, including calls for a ban. Visit our Profile on asbestos for more information and resources related to this exposure.

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

New report on cancer prevention in Ontario

Cancer Care Ontario recently released their 2016 Prevention System Quality Index: Monitoring Ontario’s Efforts in Cancer Prevention report, which identifies opportunities to reduce exposure and implement cancer prevention initiatives in Ontario. The report focuses on policy and program indicators related to cancer risk factors, including CAREX Canada priorities:

• Environmental carcinogens (radon and particulate matter)
• Occupational carcinogens (asbestos, diesel engine exhaust, formaldehyde, and nickel)
• Solar ultraviolet radiation

To view the full report, visit the Cancer Care Ontario website.