The current burden of cancer attributable to occupational exposures in Canada

Labrèche, France; Kim, Joanne; Song, Chaojie; Pahwa, Manisha; Ge, Calvin; Arrandale, Victoria H; McLeod, Chris; Peters, Cheryl; Lavoué, Jérôme; Davies, Hugh; Nicol, Anne‐Marie; Demers, Paul A.

doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2019.03.016

Cited by 43 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…The overall method used to estimate the fraction of lung cancers attributed to occupational radon exposure was similar to the method used to estimate occupational cancer burden from diesel engine exhaust exposure and other exposures in the same study (Kim et al 2018 ; Labreche et al 2019 ). In brief, the number of incident lung cancer cases attributed to occupational radon exposure was calculated as the product of the Population Attributable Fraction (PAF) and the number of incident lung cancers in Canadians aged 25 years or older in 2011 (Statistics Canada).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Results from CAREX Canada’s radon exposure assessment, along with historical data from the Canadian Census and Labour Force Survey were used to estimate the total number of exposed Canadian workers during the risk exposure period (REP), defined as 1961–2001 assuming a latency of 10–50 years prior to lung cancer diagnosis. For the PAFs, 95% confidence intervals were calculated using Monte Carlo simulation of the PrE and the RR, described in detail elsewhere (Kim et al 2018 ; Labreche et al 2019 ). Our work received an ethics exemption from the University of Toronto Research Ethics Board and was performed in accordance with the ethical standards as laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The objective of the present study is to estimate the percentage of lung cancers in Canada attributed to occupational radon exposure using a novel approach to assess radon exposure for workers in underground and indoor workplaces, in addition to the traditionally highly-exposed occupations. The research presented here is part of the Burden of Occupational Cancer in Canada Study (Labreche et al 2019 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Estimating the burden of lung cancer in Canada attributed to occupational radon exposure using a novel exposure assessment method

Kim

Labrèche

et al. 2020

Int Arch Occup Environ Health

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Objective Exposure to radon causes lung cancer. The scope and impact of exposure among Canadian workers have not been assessed. Our study estimated occupational radon exposure in Canada and its associated lung cancer burden. Methods Exposed workers were identified among the working population during the risk exposure period (1961-2001) using data from the Canadian Census and Labour Force Survey. Exposure levels were assigned based on 12,865 workplace radon measurements for indoor workers and assumed to be 1800 mg/m 3 for underground workers. Lung cancer risks were calculated using the Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation (BEIR) VI exposure-age-concentration model. Population attributable fractions were calculated with Levin's equation and applied to 2011 Canadian lung cancer statistics. Results Approximately 15.5 million Canadian workers were exposed to radon during the risk exposure period. 79% of exposed workers were exposed to radon levels < 50 Bq/m 3 and 4.8% were exposed to levels > 150 Bq/m 3. We estimated that 0.8% of lung cancers in Canada were attributable to occupational radon exposure, corresponding to approximately 188 incident lung cancers in 2011. Conclusions The lung cancer burden associated with occupational radon exposure in Canada is small, with the greatest burden occurring among those exposed to low levels of radon.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Estimating the burden of lung cancer in Canada attributed to occupational radon exposure using a novel exposure assessment method

Kim

Labrèche

et al. 2020

Int Arch Occup Environ Health

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“…For example, carcinogen exposure estimation initiatives such as CAREX Europe and CAREX Canada have shed light on differences between countries, industries and even over time. [6][7][8] Substance-specific data sources are also available. The WOODEX (estimates of occupational exposure to inhalable wood dust) project provides information on level of exposure and type of wood dust by country and industry for 25 European Union member states for the years 2000 to 2003.…”

Section: Proportions Exposed and Level Of Exposurementioning

confidence: 99%

Commentary

et al. 2020

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“…In a time of generally increasing concern about occupational disease, recent studies of the burden of occupational cancer have more precisely quantified the incidence of occupational disease associated with RCS exposure ( 7 ). In Canada, ( 8 ) concluded that there are ~600 incident lung cancers annually associated with RCS exposure; few if any of these were previously recognized as occupational nor compensated. In the province of British Columbia, comparison of compensation records with health administration data from hospitals and physicians showed that silicosis was probably far more prevalent than previously thought, with more than 90% of silicosis cases seen by physicians and hospitals not recognized in the BC workers' compensation system ( 9 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of a Web-Based Tool for Risk Assessment and Exposure Control Planning of Silica-Producing Tasks in the Construction Sector

Davies

Gorman-Ng

2020

Front. Public Health

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We describe the development and implementation of a novel, on-line risk assessment tool for respirable crystalline silica (RCS) exposure for use in the construction sector. It was motivated by the introduction of new OHS regulation in British Columbia that allowed for the substitution of exposure measurement data with “objective air monitoring data” collected at “equivalent work operations.” This allowance encouraged the introduction of quantitative risk assessment in a notoriously challenging work environment but it was concluded that without assistance, the typical construction employer would struggle to identify, extract, and interpret validate objective data. The tool described here was based on a continually-updatable RCS exposure database, and a predictive regression model based on the database to generate exposure risk estimates. The model was embedded in an adaptive web-based application that can be run on common platforms. The design followed standard web conventions and features so that no specialized training is required for its use. It was designed to be usable by end-users with varying expertise, including non-OHS experts. Users describe the RCS-dust generating task they will perform, and associated control measures. The tool estimates both uncontrolled and controlled task-based exposure concentrations. Using additional information entered by the user, the on-line tool generates an “exposure control plan” or ECP, a legally regulated document for those undertaking work potentially exposing workers to RCS particulate. The development of the tool was a community-based, tri-partite effort of the local OHS regulator, construction employers, and exposure scientists. In addition to being a practical risk assessment tool, the designers wanted it to function as an educational tool, and that it should explore novel methods for exposure data collection and use. The strengths of this approach include the publicly shared updateable database that encourages continuous improvement and illustrates best practices; and the timely and cost effective collection and sharing of exposure data in a value-added manner. It is however limited to a single task per ECP, and only considers exposure to task operators, and not adjacent workers. Currently in BC, users generate up to 3,900 ECP's per year with the tool.

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The current burden of cancer attributable to occupational exposures in Canada

Cited by 43 publications

References 55 publications

Estimating the burden of lung cancer in Canada attributed to occupational radon exposure using a novel exposure assessment method

Estimating the burden of lung cancer in Canada attributed to occupational radon exposure using a novel exposure assessment method

Commentary

Development of a Web-Based Tool for Risk Assessment and Exposure Control Planning of Silica-Producing Tasks in the Construction Sector

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