Asbestos Burden of Occupational Cancer Fact Sheet WHAT IS ASBESTOS? Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring, fbrous silicate minerals. It has historically been useful for many construction applications because of its heat resistance, tensile strength, and insulating characteristics. It is found primarily in roofng, thermal and electrical insulation, cement pipe and sheets, fooring, gaskets, coatings, and other products. The Government of Canada banned most uses of asbestos and asbestos- containing products in 2018. However, the vast majority of exposures that occur today are due to contact with older asbestos-containing products. Asbestos may be encountered during the maintenance, renovation, and modifcation of existing public, residential, and commercial buildings. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifes asbestos as a known carcinogen (IARC 1). WHAT ARE ITS HEALTH EFFECTS? • Mesothelioma (a cancer of the protective lining of • Lung, laryngeal, and ovarian cancer many internal organs) • Asbestosis (scar tissue in the lungs) THE BURDEN OF CANCER FROM WORKPLACE EXPOSURE TO ASBESTOS IN CANADA The term ‘burden’ refers to the human impact (deaths, illness, years of life lost) and the economic costs (health care, productivity) associated with a cause or group of causes of disease. Approximately 1,900 lung cancers and 430 mesotheliomas are due to 1,900 to occupational asbestos exposure each year, based on past exposures Lung cancers due to (1961-2001). This amounts to 8% of all lung cancers and 81% of workplace asbestos exposure all mesotheliomas diagnosed annually (almost all of the remaining mesotheliomas are likely due to environmental asbestos exposure). WHAT IS THE ECONOMIC IMPACT? Work-related asbestos exposure resulted in approximately $2.35 billion in costs for newly diagnosed lung cancer and mesothelioma cases in 2011. This includes approximately: $2.35 billion Estimated yearly cost of lung • 65% in health-related quality of life losses cancer and mesothelioma due to • 8% in direct costs including health care, out of pocket expenses, family workplace asbestos exposure care giving, and workers’ compensation administration • 27% in indirect costs including output and productivity losses Asbestos 2019 WHAT WORKERS ARE MOST AFFECTED? Most asbestos-related cancers occur MANUFACTURING (30%) among workers in the manufacturing and construction sectors (see pie chart on right). CONSTRUCTION (25%) These cancers also occur among workers in the transportation and storage sector and TRANSPORTATION & STORAGE (6%) government services. Some of the other sectors affected include communication GOVERNMENT SERVICES (5%) and other utilities, educational services, and wholesale trade. OTHER (34%) CAREX CANADA ASSESSMENT OF OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO ASBESTOS* Inhalation is the most important route of occupational exposure to asbestos. Approximately 152,000 Canadians are exposed to asbestos at work. Industries with the largest number of exposed workers in Canada include: • Specialty trade contractors (82,000 people exposed) • Building construction (52,000 exposed) • Automotive repair and maintenance (4,300 exposed) Occupations with the largest number of exposed workers include: • Carpenters (34,000 exposed) • Construction trades helpers and labourers (28,000 exposed) • Electricians (16,000 exposed) *Note: CAREX Canada estimates of exposure were not used to develop the burden of occupational cancer estimates for asbestos. HOW CAN EXPOSURE BE REDUCED? The Canadian government banned asbestos in 2018. However, asbestos still exists in many public buildings, workplaces, and homes. Exposure can be reduced or eliminated by safely removing all existing asbestos- containing materials from buildings and workplaces before it deteriorates. A public registry of all public buildings and workplaces that contain asbestos can inform the public and workers about where there may be risk of exposure. For more details, visit the OCRC exposure controls webpage. ABOUT THE BURDEN OF OCCUPATIONAL CANCER STUDY The Burden of Occupational Cancer Study quantifed the number of cancers that are caused by exposure to carcinogens in the workplace in order to identify priority areas for prevention. It was a collaboration between researchers at OCRC, CAREX Canada, the Institute for Work & Health (who led the economic analyses), University of British Columbia, Université de Montréal, Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail, and Imperial College London. For more information, please visit OCRC at www.occupationalcancer.ca or CAREX Canada at www.carexcanada.ca. This fact sheet was produced by CAREX Canada in partnership with OCRC. The Burden of Occupational Cancer Study is led by OCRC and is supported by the Canadian Cancer Society. CAREX Canada is hosted at Simon Fraser University and supported by the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer. Acknowledgments for header photos: KOMUnews, Chris RubberDragon. Asbestos 2019 Diesel Engine Exhaust Burden of Occupational Cancer Fact Sheet WHAT IS DIESEL ENGINE EXHAUST? The combustion of diesel fuel in engines produces diesel engine exhaust, a complex mixture of gases and particulates. This mixture can contain other known and suspected carcinogens such as benzene, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), metals, and particulate matter. The composition of the mixture depends on a number of factors including the type of engine (heavy or light duty), the type of fuel and oil, sulphur levels, speed and load of operation, and emission control systems. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifes diesel engine exhaust as a known carcinogen (IARC 1). WHAT ARE ITS HEALTH EFFECTS? • Lung cancer • Light-headedness, nausea, cough, and phlegm • Bladder cancer (suspected) • Allergic reactions • Irritation to eyes, throat, and bronchi THE BURDEN OF CANCER FROM WORKPLACE EXPOSURE TO DIESEL EXHAUST IN CANADA The term ‘burden’ refers to the human impact (deaths, illness, years of life lost) and the economic costs (health care, productivity) associated with a cause or group of causes of disease. Approximately 560 lung cancers and possibly 200 suspected bladder 560 cancers are due to to occupational exposure to diesel engine exhaust Lung cancers due each year in Canada, based on past exposures (1961-2001). This amounts to workplace diesel to 2.4% of lung cancer cases and 2.7% of suspected bladder cancer exhaust exposure cases diagnosed annually. WHAT IS THE ECONOMIC IMPACT? Work-related diesel engine exhaust exposure resulted in approximately $684 million in costs for newly diagnosed lung and suspected bladder cancer cases in 2011. This includes approximately: $684 million Estimated yearly cost of • 65% in health-related quality of life losses lung and suspected bladder • 7% in direct costs including health care, out of pocket expenses, family cancers due to workplace care giving, and workers’ compensation administration diesel exhaust exposure • 28% in indirect costs including output and productivity losses Diesel Engine Exhaust 2019 WHAT WORKERS ARE MOST AFFECTED? Most occupational lung cancers associated with diesel engine exhaust MINING, OIL/GAS EXTRACTION (40%) occur among workers in the mining and oil and gas extraction sector (see pie TRANSPORTATION/WAREHOUSING (23%) chart on right). These cancers also occur among workers in the transportation and WHOLESALE & RETAIL TRADE (10%) warehousing, wholesale and retail trade, and manufacturing sectors. Some of the MANUFACTURING (7%) other sectors affected include construction, forestry and logging, and public OTHER (20%) administration. CAREX CANADA ASSESSMENT OF OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO DIESEL ENGINE EXHAUST Inhalation is the most common route of exposure to diesel engine exhaust. Exposure Level Approximately 897,000 Canadians are exposed to diesel engine exhaust at work. 16,000 Industries with the largest number of exposed workers in Canada include: 99,000 2% 11% • Truck transportation (206,000 people exposed) • Transit and ground passenger transportation (110,000 exposed) • Public administration (42,000 exposed) Occupations with the largest number of exposed workers include: 782,000 • Truck drivers (305,000 exposed) 87% • Heavy equipment operators (83,000 exposed) • Transit operators (79,000 exposed) Low Moderate High Results show the majority of workers exposed to diesel engine exhaust are in the low exposure level category, with a signifcant number at risk for moderate to high exposure (see pie chart above). To learn more about how these exposure levels are defned, visit the CAREX Canada website. HOW CAN EXPOSURE BE REDUCED? Outside of the mining industry, there are currently no occupational exposure limits for diesel engine exhaust in any Canadian jurisdiction. Strategies for reducing exposure include replacing old diesel engines, using diesel fuel alternatives, performing regular engine maintenance, implementing exhaust treatment systems, and using exhaust extraction systems in indoor work environments. For more details, visit the OCRC exposure controls webpage. ABOUT THE BURDEN OF OCCUPATIONAL CANCER STUDY The Burden of Occupational Cancer Study quantifed the number of cancers that are caused by exposure to carcinogens in the workplace in order to identify priority areas for prevention. It was a collaboration between researchers at OCRC, CAREX Canada, the Institute for Work & Health (who led the economic analyses), University of British Columbia, Université de Montréal, Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail,