CARCINOGENS

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CARCINOGENS

• In the workplace and the environment

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• A presentation by the
• Labour Environmental AllianceSociety

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What is a carcinogen?

• A carcinogen is any substance or agent that,
  because of the way it affects cell DNA, can cause
  cancer
• Carcinogens may be chemical substances physical
  agents, such as asbestos dust or biological
  agents, such as certain viruses and bacteria
• In the workplace, carcinogenic substances may be
  inhaled, absorbed through the skin or even
  ingested in some cases

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A carcinogen can alter or damage a cells DNA

• Cancer is a multi-stage process, involving the
  creation and unchecked growth of abnormal cells
• A carcinogens may be the initiator the agent
  that alters or damages DNA, the basic coding
  system of cells
• They may also be promoters encouraging
  out-of-control cell growth

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and that can lead to cancer

• In normal cells, the process of cell reproduction
  is controlled
• But in damaged or mutated cells, reproduction may
  no longer be controlled. Cells can begin
  reproducing unchecked, forming tumours like this
  one

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Cancer is a global concern

• Cancer incidence is on the rise worldwide
• Canadians today face a 1 in 3 chance of
  contracting cancer, up from 1 in 30 in the 1930s
• World Health Organization estimates that 80 per
  cent of cancers are caused by occupational or
  environmental factors, including exposure to
  hazardous chemicals

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Chemicals the worst culprits

• Chemical substances constitute the largest group
  of carcinogens
• New chemical substances are being developed every
  year, often without prior testing on their
  potential toxic effects

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International research trackingdown carcinogenic
substances

• International agencies such as the UNs
  International Agency for Research on Cancer
  (IARC), are continually updating lists of known
  and suspected carcinogens

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Many carcinogens are known

• Under a 1986 California law known as Proposition
  65, the state maintains a list of substances
  shown scientifically to cause cancer
• There are 627 chemicals currently on that list

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Carcinogens in the workplace

• The idea of carcinogens (in soot)was first put
  forward in 1775 as doctors discovered a high
  incidence of scrotal cancer among chimney sweeps
• Many chemicals now identified as the cause of
  occupational cancers, including benzene, vinyl
  chloride, 4-amino biphenyl

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Environmental effects

• Effect of carcinogenic chemicals used in
  industrial processes is felt beyond the workplace
• Often water is contaminated and air is polluted
  by carcinogens, causing additional cancers in
  surrounding communities
• Less is known about impacts of carcinogens on
  other species but research that has been done has
  confirmed the incidence of cancer

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Cancer showing up in fish

• Research has shown cancer in many species of fish
  is linked to industrial effluent
• Photos at right compare healthy and cancerous
  livers of New England fish. Cancer attributed to
  the effect of industrial pollution

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Reducing carcinogen usethe best cancer prevention

• Since we have the names of many of the chemicals
  that are known to cause cancer
• It only makes sense that eliminating carcinogenic
  chemicals from regular use would be the first
  way of dealing with cancer preventing it

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Cancer prevention campaigns

• Eliminating carcinogens from the workplace and
  reducing worker exposures is the aim of Prevent
  Cancer campaigns by the Canadian Labour Congress
  and many unions

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Replacing carcinogenic cleaners

• Working for cancer prevention by replacing
  carcinogenic cleaning products is the idea behind
  the Labour Environmental Alliance Societys
  Cleaners and Toxins project

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Theres more to be done

• Expanding carcinogen substitution and elimination
  to workplaces across Canada
• Establishing pollution bylaws that prohibit
  discharges of carcinogenic substances into sewage
  systems
• Developing consumer labelling campaigns that
  compel the disclosure of carcinogenic ingredients
  in chemical products

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More information

• CLC Prevent Cancer campaign www.clc-ctc-ca
• CAW Devil of a Poison www.caw.ca
• Californias Proposition 65 www.calprop65.com
• International Agency for Research on Cancer
  www.iarc.fr