BACKGROUND: We estimated the extent of exposure to occupational carcinogens in Quebec, Canada, to help raise awareness of occupational cancers. METHODS: Proportions of workers exposed to 21 recognized and 17 probable carcinogens (according to Quebec occupational health regulation and the International Agency for Research on Cancer [IARC] classification) were extracted from various sources: workplace monitoring data, research projects, a population survey, radiation protection data, exposure estimates from the Carcinogen Exposure Canada (CAREX Canada) Project database, and published exposure data. These proportions were applied to Quebec labor force data. RESULTS: Among the 38 studied, carcinogens with the largest proportions of exposed workers were solar radiation (6.6% of workers), night shift work/rotating shift work including nights (6.0%), diesel exhaust fumes (4.4%), wood dust (2.9%) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (2.0%). More than 15 carcinogens were identified in several industrial sectors, and up to 100,000 young workers are employed in these sectors. CONCLUSION: Although crude, estimates obtained with different data sources allow identification of research and intervention priorities for cancer in Quebec.
BACKGROUND: We estimated the extent of exposure to occupational carcinogens in Quebec, Canada, to help raise awareness of occupational cancers. METHODS: Proportions of workers exposed to 21 recognized and 17 probable carcinogens (according to Quebec occupational health regulation and the International Agency for Research on Cancer [IARC] classification) were extracted from various sources: workplace monitoring data, research projects, a population survey, radiation protection data, exposure estimates from the Carcinogen Exposure Canada (CAREX Canada) Project database, and published exposure data. These proportions were applied to Quebec labor force data. RESULTS: Among the 38 studied, carcinogens with the largest proportions of exposed workers were solar radiation (6.6% of workers), night shift work/rotating shift work including nights (6.0%), diesel exhaust fumes (4.4%), wood dust (2.9%) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (2.0%). More than 15 carcinogens were identified in several industrial sectors, and up to 100,000 young workers are employed in these sectors. CONCLUSION: Although crude, estimates obtained with different data sources allow identification of research and intervention priorities for cancer in Quebec.
Authors: Montserrat Alonso-Sardón; Antonio-J Chamorro; Ignacio Hernández-García; Helena Iglesias-de-Sena; Helena Martín-Rodero; Cristian Herrera; Miguel Marcos; José Antonio Mirón-Canelo Journal: PLoS One Date: 2015-07-20 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Cheryl E Peters; Alison L Palmer; Joanne Telfer; Calvin B Ge; Amy L Hall; Hugh W Davies; Manisha Pahwa; Paul A Demers Journal: Saf Health Work Date: 2017-07-20
Authors: Amy L Hall; Paul A Demers; George Astrakianakis; Calvin Ge; Cheryl E Peters Journal: Ann Work Expo Health Date: 2017-07-01 Impact factor: 2.179