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Abstract

Background:
In 2010, Ontario, Canada's most populous province, implemented its Toxics Reduction Act, Ontario Regulation 455/09 (TRA), which requires four major manufacturing and mineral processing industry groups that already report releases of pollutants federally to the National Pollutant Release Inventory to additionally track, account and report their use and creation. The TRA was modeled after the Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Act of 1989, which has been very successful and reported significant reduction in toxic use and carcinogen release.


Methods:
Data from the TRA were retrieved, and the trends in the use and release of 17 known and suspected carcinogens associated with the seven most prevalent cancers diagnosed in Ontario and reported by industrial facilities in Ontario from 2011 to 2015 were examined using methodology adapted from (Jacobs MM, Massey RI, Tenney H, Harriman E. Reducing the use of carcinogens: the Massachusetts experience. Rev Environ Health 2014;29(4):319–40).


Results:
Carcinogens associated with lung cancers, leukemia and lymphomas were observed as the most used and released carcinogens in Ontario by amount. Overall, for 2011–2015, there was an observed reduction in the industrial use of carcinogens, except among breast carcinogens, which increased by 20%. An increase in the industrial releases of carcinogens was observed across all cancer sites, except among lung carcinogens, which decreased by 28%.


Conclusion:
The results of this study highlight the potential for reducing the cancer burden by reducing the use and release of select carcinogens associated with particularly prevalent cancers. Toxics use reduction programs can support cancer prevention initiatives by promoting targeted reductions in exposures to industrial carcinogens.

Abstract

Objectives
The nail salon industry has seen significant growth in recent years. Nail technicians provide manicures, pedicures and apply artificial nails; tasks that expose them to chemicals, including acrylates that are known skin and respiratory sensitizers. This paper reports on potential skin exposure to acrylates among nail technicians in Toronto, Canada.


Methods
Hand skin wipes were collected after (i) the application of artificial nails, (ii) the application of ultraviolet cured gel nail polish, and (iii) deliberate contact with nail polish. Surface wipes were collected from work areas and surfaces contaminated with known products. Wipe samples were analysed for eight acrylates: methyl acrylate (MA), ethyl acrylate (EA), methyl methacrylate (MMA), ethyl methacrylate (EMA), 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA), 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate (HPMA), and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry.


Results
Thirty-five wipe samples were collected. No acrylates were detected in skin samples (n = 8) or work surfaces (n = 6). However, MMA, EMA, EA, HEMA, and HPMA were detected in the samples of surfaces contaminated with known products. MMA was detected in 28% of products tested. HEMA and HPMA were detected where deliberate contact with nail polish occurred.


Conclusions
These results confirm that acrylates are present in nail products. However, no acrylates were detected in skin wipes. MMA, a chemical prohibited for use in cosmetics in Canada, was detected in nail polishes. Nail technicians should continue to employ safe work practices that reduce the probability of skin contact with acrylates and other chemicals.

Abstract

Objectives
Diesel engine exhaust (DEE) is a known lung carcinogen and a common occupational exposure in Canada. The use of diesel-powered equipment in the construction industry is particularly widespread, but little is known about DEE exposures in this work setting. The objective of this study was to determine exposure levels and identify and characterize key determinants of DEE exposure at construction sites in Ontario.


Methods
Elemental carbon (EC, a surrogate of DEE exposure) measurements were collected at seven civil infrastructure construction worksites and one trades training facility in Ontario using NIOSH method 5040. Full-shift personal air samples were collected using a constant-flow pump and SKC aluminium cyclone with quartz fibre filters in a 37-mm cassette. Exposures were compared with published health-based limits, including the Dutch Expert Committee on Occupational Safety (DECOS) limit (1.03 µg m−3 respirable EC) and the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH) recommendation (5 µg m−3 respirable EC). Mixed-effects linear regression was used to identify determinants of EC exposure.


Results
In total, 149 EC samples were collected, ranging from <0.25 to 52.58 µg m−3 with a geometric mean (GM) of 3.71 µg m−3 [geometric standard deviation (GSD) = 3.32]. Overall, 41.6% of samples exceeded the FIOH limit, mostly within underground worksites (93.5%), and 90.6% exceeded the DECOS limit. Underground workers (GM = 13.20 µg m−3, GSD = 1.83) had exposures approximately four times higher than below grade workers (GM = 3.56 µg m−3, GSD = 1.94) and nine times higher than above ground workers (GM = 1.49 µg m−3, GSD = 1.75). Training facility exposures were similar to above ground workers (GM = 1.86 µg m−3, GSD = 4.12); however, exposures were highly variable. Work setting and enclosed cabins were identified as the key determinants of exposure in the final model (adjusted R2 = 0.72, P < 0.001). The highest DEE exposures were observed in underground workplaces and when using unenclosed cabins.


Conclusions
This study provides data on current DEE exposure in Canadian construction workers. Most exposures were above recommended health-based limits, albeit in other jurisdictions, signifying a need to further reduce DEE levels in construction. These results can inform a hazard reduction strategy including targeted intervention/control measures to reduce DEE exposure and the burden of occupational lung cancer.