Estimating occupational exposure to carcinogens in Quebec. Issue 9 (26th June 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Labrèche, France; Duguay, Patrice; Ostiguy, Claude; Boucher, Alexandre; Roberge, Brigitte; Peters, Cheryl E.; Demers, Paul A.
• Is Part Of: American journal of industrial medicine. Volume 56:Issue 9(2013:Sep.)
• Page Start: 1040
• Page End: 1050
• Publication Date: 2013-06-26
• Subjects: Medicine, Industrial -- Periodicals; Médecine du travail -- Périodiques; 616.9803
• DOI: 10.1002/ajim.22200
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0271-3586

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="ajim22200-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>We estimated the extent of exposure to occupational carcinogens in Quebec, Canada, to help raise awareness of occupational cancers.</p> </sec> <sec id="ajim22200-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>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.</p> </sec> <sec id="ajim22200-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>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.</p> </sec> <sec id="ajim22200-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>Although crude, estimates obtained with different data sources allow identification of research and intervention priorities for cancer in Quebec. Am. J. Ind. Med. 56:1040–1050, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.</p> </sec> </abstract>