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Carcinogen Surveillance Program
February 2007
| Principal Investigator: | Paul Demers (University of British Columbia) |
| Co-investigators: | Nhu Le (B.C. Cancer Agency), Kay Teschke (University of British Columbia) |
For more information about this study please contact Dr. Paul Demers.
Issue
Although many occupational carcinogens in B.C. are widely recognized, efforts to prevent related cancers are limited by the lack of data on how many workers are exposed to carcinogens and in which industries. This project addresses that gap by developing estimates of the number of workers potentially exposed to various carcinogens in B.C. workplaces. Researchers created a system for estimating exposures in B.C. that is based on CAREX, the International Information System on Occupational Exposure to Carcinogens developed by the Finnish Institute for Occupational Health for the European Union, along with additional data and information sources that are relevant to B.C.
Key findings
- Estimates of the number of workers potentially exposed to specific carcinogens in B.C. were developed using the CAREX system as a starting point and adding additional data and information relevant to B.C. workplaces.
- A database called CAREX Canada was created to allow users to find exposure estimates for specific carcinogens and specific industrial groups.
- A CAREX Canada website has been set up. It provides information on the ten most common occupational carcinogens in B.C., as well as how CAREX Canada was developed, how the database works, and future research plans. Visitors to the CAREX Canada website are also invited to submit comments and ideas for future research.
- The researchers are continuing to improve and expand CAREX Canada, with the ultimate goal of developing an ongoing carcinogen surveillance system for B.C. and the rest of Canada.
Objectives
- To produce estimates of how many workers are exposed to occupational carcinogens in the province, using the CAREX system in combination with additional information that is relevant to B.C.
- To assess whether further additional data sources can be used to continue to improve the estimates
Methods
The researchers received permission to create CAREX Canada from the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, which created the CAREX system.
Researchers began by examining preliminary estimates of carcinogen exposures for B.C. that were previously developed in a pilot project using the original CAREX system, which is based on Finnish and U.S. data. The preliminary estimates were examined to identify the most common carcinogens, taking into account ways in which B.C.’s regulatory, geological and industrial contexts differ from Finland and the U.S.
The project then focused on making a number of adaptations to the CAREX system to improve the ability to accurately estimate exposures for the most common carcinogens in B.C. workplaces. These included the following:
- Adding detailed Statistics Canada labour force estimates for B.C. and Ontario
- Adding actual workplace carcinogen exposure measurements from WorkSafeBC and Ontario Ministry of Labour databases
- Incorporating further information from government reports, research conducted by the University of B.C. and the B.C. Cancer Agency, and other published studies and reports
- Eliminating substances that are rarely present in Canadian workplaces
- Updating and expanding information on carcinogen classifications and occupational exposure limits
Results
Based on the estimates developed through the project, the ten most common workplace carcinogens in B.C. are:
- Solar radiation (164,900 exposed)
- Diesel engine exhaust (DEE) (108,000 exposed)
- Wood dust (58,100 exposed)
- Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (not including DEE and environmental tobacco smoke) (46,600 exposed)
- Crystalline silica (44,800)
- Benzene (40,300 exposed)
- Lead and compounds (20,700 exposed)
- Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) (17,300 exposed)
- Formaldehyde (10,400 exposed)
- Ionizing radiation (10,000 exposed)
It is important to note that CAREX is designed to estimate the number of workers potentially exposed to a known carcinogen above a defined background level, rather than the number exposed at a level associated with measurably increased risk of cancer.
Conclusions
The project demonstrated the feasibility of estimating the number of workers potentially exposed to a wide variety of workplace carcinogens using CAREX as a starting point, in combination with a variety of existing resources. Key resources used in this project were expert assessment, exposure databases and data from government reports, research studies and other literature.
The end product is a database that allows users to find exposure estimates for specific carcinogens and specific B.C. industries.
Future directions
The adapted CAREX system, now called CAREX Canada, is currently supported as part of the partnership between WorkSafeBC and the Centre for Health Services and Policy Research (at UBC). When the program is fully developed, data from CAREX Canada could be used to set priorities for prevention-related activities, identify groups in need of further investigation, assist with claims adjudication and help predict the future burden of occupational cancer.
Planned future improvements include adding more data on exposure levels, as it would be helpful to know more about how many workers are exposed at higher levels. The research team’s long term goal is to develop a fully functioning occupational carcinogen surveillance program for the province of B.C. and eventually all of Canada
Publications and Presentations