ToxProbe Today
Environmental, Occupational Health & Risk Assessment News Mar 2003 (Vol. 2-3)
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ToxProbe Today |
Environmental, Occupational Health & Risk Assessment News Mar 2003 (Vol. 2-3) |
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Legislation Tetracholoroethylene (Use in dry cleaning and reporting requirements) Regulations (Canada Gazette, Part II, March 12, 2003). The purpose of the Regulation is to reduce releases of tetrachloroethylene by requiring newer, more efficient dry-cleaning machines, by minimizing spills of tetrachloroethylene, and by managing the collection and disposal of residues and waste water. The reporting provisions in these Regulations apply to persons who import or recycle tetrachloroethylene for any use, to persons who sell tetrachloroethylene to dry cleaners, and to dry cleaners. http://canadagazette.gc.ca/partII/2003/20030312/html/sor79-e.html The Ontario Ministry of the Environment
recently proposed Amendments to its Refrigerants Regulation (O.Reg. 189/94).
Under the proposed Regulation, the Ministry wants to completely phase
out the use of CFC-based refrigerants in Ontario. The phase-out will apply
to CFCs used in mobile refrigeration, commercial refrigeration and air
conditioning, and chillers. The requirement to convert to an alternative
refrigerant or replace equipment will be phased in over several years.
Written submissions may be made to the Ministry up to April 09, 2003.
Publications Fill Quality Guidelines For Lakefilling in Ontario (Ontario Ministry of the Environment, 2003). The primary purpose of the Fill Quality Guidelines for Lakefilling in Ontario (Lakefill Guidelines) is to protect the aquatic environment adjacent to lakefilling activities and to prevent pollution from occurring in the future. The Lakefill Guidelines regulate the quality of fill which may be used in projects ranging from lakefilling as part of urban waterfront renewal to the construction of docks and piers. The Lakefill Guidelines, together with the Provincial Sediment Quality Guidelines will enhance protection of the aquatic environment. http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/envision/env_reg/er/documents/2001/pa01e0004.pdf The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the U.S. recently issued information cards for crystalline silica exposure. The cards are intended to help workers and employers understand more about how they can protect themselves against exposure to silica dust. Inhaling crystalline silica dust can be extremely dangerous. The card provides practical information on how to identify, reduce, and prevent exposure to silica dust. http://www.osha.gov Occupational Health Draft Final Guideline for Carcinogen Risk Assessment (U.S. EPA, 2003). The Draft Final Guidelines for Carcinogen Risk Assessment are being made available for public comment until May 1, 2003. The revisions to the Guidelines are intended to make greater use of the increasing scientific understanding of the mechanisms that underlie the carcinogenic process. The U.S. EPA is especially interested in public comments on the following areas: 1) use of default options; 2) hazard descriptors; 3) mode of action; 4) extrapolation to lower doses; and 5) susceptible populations and lifestages. http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/cfm/recordisplay.cfm?deid=55445 Supplemental Guidance for Assessing
Cancer Susceptibility from Early-life Exposure to Carcinogens (U.S.
EPA, 2003). The draft supplemental guidance is part of the U.S. EPA's
response to a 1994 recommendation by the National Research Council that
"EPA should assess risks to infants and children whenever it appears
that their risks might be greater than those of adults." Following
public review and comment, this draft supplemental guidance will be peer
reviewed by the U.S. EPA's Science Advisory Board. The supplemental guidance
contains an analysis of studies and a possible approach for how quantitative
scientific data could inform risk assessments when exposure to carcinogens
during childhood is considered. http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/cfm/recordisplay.cfm?deid=55446 Environmental Health The American College of Occupational
and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) recently released a comprehensive analysis
on the state of scientific knowledge as to the nature of fungal-related
illnesses while emphasizing the possible relationships to indoor environments.
Particular attention is given to the possible health effects of mycotoxins,
which give rise to much of the concern and controversy surrounding indoor
moulds. http://www.acoem.org/ Technical Guidelines Canadian Environmental Quality Guidelines, Inorganic Fluorides - Errata (Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment, 2003). The erratum notes that the value for the Canadian Water Quality Guidelines for the protection of aquatic life for inorganic fluorides is 0.12 milligram per Litre (0.12 mg/L). The value is correctly stated in the factsheet, but is incorrectly stated as 0.12 microgram/L in the tables "Summary of Existing Canadian Environmental Quality Guidelines" and "Summary Table" (Chapter 4). http://www.ccme.ca/publications/can_guidelines.html Canada-Wide Standards for Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Soil - Errata (CCME, 2003). An error in the unsaturated zone equation (resulting from a missing equation in the Scientific Rationale) has been corrected in the spreadsheet model (version 2003/03/12) available on the CCME website. This equation only has an effect if there is clean soil separating the contamination from the groundwater and the days with temperature <0 C is reduced below the default. http://www.ccme.ca/initiatives/standards.html?category_id=9 Research & Development A recently released study from researchers at the University of California, Davis concludes that organically grown crops contain more healthy compounds than conventional crops. The study consisted of comparing levels of total polyphenolics and ascorbic acid content in blackberries, strawberries and corn grown organically, sustainably or conventionally. Tests on organically and sustainably grown berries and corn showed they contain up to 58 percent more polyphenolics, compounds that act as antioxidants and may protect cells against damage that can lead to heart disease and cancer. http://www.news.ucdavis.edu/search/news_detail.lasso?id=6312 Ammonium perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), a
key ingredient used to produce the non-stick coating on pots and pans
may be hazardous to children and women of childbearing age, according
to a report released by the Environmental Working Group. The group lobbies
for increased regulations on chemicals. The report says PFOA accumulates
in human blood and is toxic. The chemical has been used by DuPont for
more than 50 years in the creation of Teflon. The report doesn't link
the end product, Teflon, to health risks. A spokesperson for the U.S.
EPA says the agency will continue its investigation. http://www.ewg.org/ Risk Trivia What is the annual risk of an average American from the following? 1. Death in general. Answers will be provided in next month's
issue of ToxProbe Today. Answer: February 2003 Risk Trivia What is the annual risk of an average American from the following? 1. Seriously injured at home. Answers: 1. 1 in 81. |