Indicators of Exposure to Known and Suspected Carcinogens in the Environment
Data Priorities and Recommendations
Karla Poplawski, Eleanor Setton, Perry Hystad, Roz Cheasley, Alejandro Cervantes-Larios, Alison Palmer
May 29, 2014Public Health 2014, Toronto, ON
• Introduction to environmental approach and risk indicators;
• Overview data priority assessment framework and results;
• Discuss high data priorities and recommendations.
Overview
• Indicators of exposure – Lifetime Excess Cancer Risk• 33 known or suspected carcinogens• 5 environmental pathways:
Outdoor Air, Indoor Air, Indoor DustDrinking Water, Food & Beverages
CAREX Environmental Approach
Indicator: Potential Lifetime Excess Cancer RiskHow many extra cancers in a population of 1 million people compared to a population that is not exposed
National average and maximum risk, based on actual measured data for each substance & exposure pathway (circa 2006)
CAREX Environmental Approach
Data Priority Assessment
Data Priority Assessment
• Treated Water
Local government jurisdiction, lack of standard substances tested, differences in analytical methods, no national database
• Privately Sourced (wells or surface water)
Sent by individuals for lab testing, results may not be reported to local jurisdictions
Drinking Water Data
Improve access to data on measured levels in treated and privately sourced drinking water:
• Treated Water
Synthesis measured levels of standard list of substances into publicly available national (or provincial) database or reports
• Privately Sourced (wells or surface water)
Anonymize lab results and publicize to increase understanding of exposure levels of those not served by municipal systems
Drinking Water Recommendations
• Lack of standardization in food lists between studies
Canada & US do not collect measured levels in conjunction with amount consumed, studies on each component do not use comparable food lists
Food & Beverages Data
Enhance integration of existing data collection efforts (to include dietary intake and analysis of foods eaten) for a standard set of substances
Food & Beverages Recommendations
• Diesel Engine Exhaust
Coarse estimate, potentially high number of Canadians exposed
• Asbestos
Rarely measured in Canada, US data suggests detectable and higher in urban areas
Outdoor Air Data
• Diesel Engine Exhaust
Refine estimates with traffic data, targeted monitoring
• Asbestos
National survey in urban areas, target areas known to be influenced
Outdoor Air Recommendations
• Diesel Engine Exhaust
No information available, estimates assume infiltration indoors
• Asbestos
Rarely measured in Canada, US data show increased risk
Indoor Air Data
• Diesel Engine Exhaust
Improve outdoor estimates and residential proximity analyses, collect information in effectiveness of filters in housing types
• Asbestos
Monitoring study of buildings known to be contaminated, those remediated, and newer buildings, also indoor & outdoor urban/rural homes, and near contaminated sites
Indoor Air Recommendations
• Lack of concentration and use frequency for consumer products
No system in place to allow ongoing and comprehensive exposure surveillance for standard set of substances & products
Consumer Products Data
Establish reporting system for substances in consumer products, i.e. require manufacturers to report concentration levels in products, explore ways to work with retailers/market survey companies to track frequency of use statistics
Consumer Products Recommendations
• Priorities based on judgment of CAREX staff, and apply nationally. Different priorities may exist regionally or locally, depending on sources or data not available to CAREX.
• Substances identified as “not priority” for data collection may be priorities for exposure reduction.
• Recommendations are suggestions; feasibility of implementation has not been assessed.
Conclusions
