ToxProbe Today
Environmental, Occupational Health & Risk Assessment News Sept 2002 (Vol. 1- 9)
|
ToxProbe Today |
Environmental, Occupational Health & Risk Assessment News Sept 2002 (Vol. 1- 9) |
|
Legislation/Regulation Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection
Agency (CFIA) have released a new discussion paper on developing revised
federal regulations concerning bottled water and prepackaged ice. Making
it Clear - Renewing the Federal Regulations on Bottled Water: A Discussion
Paper is now available at http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/food-aliment/friia-raaii/frp-pra/water-eau/e_rfr_bottle_water_tofc.php.
Responses to the proposal will be accepted until November 30, 2002. Publications Environment Canada recently published the results of investigations and recommendations for substances pursuant to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (Canada Gazette, Part I, Sept. 28, 2002). The specific substances are di-n-octyl phthalate, styrene, 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane, 1,2-dichlorobenzene, 1,4-dichlorobenzene, trichlorobenzenes, tetrachlorobenzenes and pentachlorobenzene. The deadline date for public comment on the reports is November 27, 2002. Toxic Chemicals Update (Environment Canada Atlantic Region, Vol. 5, Issue 1, 2002). Highlights of the latest newsletter include a discussion of the Stephenville, Newfoundland risk assessment and chemical spill contingency planning. The newsletter is be found at http://www.ns.ec.gc.ca/epb/newsletters/toxchem/toxic_chem8.html 11th Biennial Report: Great Lakes
Water Quality (International Joint Commission, 2002). One of the findings
of the report is that a convincing body of scientific research shows that
toxic substances accumulate in humans who eat certain Great Lakes fish,
and that this exposure can cause serious injury to health. http://www.ijc.org/ijcweb-e.html Environmental Health The South Coast Air Quality Management District in California has proposed to phase out perchloroethylene (the most commonly used dry cleaning solvent) on the grounds that it endangers public health. The district's board is expected to vote as early as November 1. If the measure passes, the use of perchloroethylene would be phased out by 2019. Among the toxic substances in the Los Angeles region's air, perchloroethylene is estimated to cause more cases of cancer than anything except diesel exhaust, according to a 2000 air district study. Technical Guidelines The U.S. EPA, in conjunction with other
partners, has developed a no-cost, online Persistent, Bio-accumulative,
Toxic (PBT) screening methodology. The methodology, called "PBT Profiler",
was designed to be an easy to use, widely available, no-cost tool to screen
chemicals lacking experimental data in order to help identify pollution
prevention (P2) opportunities. It is a continuation of the U.S. EPA P2
Assessment Framework - a collection of screening models and methods to
help promote the design, development, and application of safer chemicals
and processes. The P2 Framework uses computerized methods, such as structure/activity
relationships (SARs) and standard scenarios, to predict risk related data
on chemicals lacking experimental data. The PBT Profiler is available
at http://esc.syrres.com/pbt/
- soon to be www.pbtprofiler.net. Research & Development The U.S. EPA National Center for Environmental Assessment recently released a report that concluded diesel exhaust from large trucks and other sources probably cause lung cancer. While noting that there are still uncertainties about the long term effects of exposure to diesel exhaust, the report warns that chronic inhalation of the fumes at levels now present in many urban environments "is likely to pose a lung cancer hazard to humans, as well as damage the lung in other ways depending on exposure." A recently released study analyzed population-based
childhood cancer incidence rates throughout California in relation to
agricultural pesticide use. Building on the availability of population-based
cancer incidence information, the authors used a geographic information
system to assign summary population, exposure, and outcome attributes
at the block group level. The authors generally found no association between
pesticide use density and childhood cancer incidence rates. Although follow-up
studies that can better address timing of exposure will be important in
assessing the etiologic significance of pesticide exposures, this study
does address the public concern about whether rates of childhood cancer
are higher in areas of heavy agricultural pesticide use. The observed
lack of association in this study stands in contrast to evidence on household
use from the case-control literature, but does not necessarily imply a
lack of association with pesticide exposures in general. The current study
focuses on residence in areas of high agricultural pesticide use. Environ
Health Perspective 110:319-324(2002). Risk Trivia How many time as likely is it for whites to die from the following causes than blacks (e.g. 3 to 1)? 1. Suicide. Answers will be provided in next month's
issue of ToxProbe Today. Answer: August 2002 Risk Trivia How many time as likely is it for blacks to die from the following causes than whites (e.g. 3 to 1)? 1. Cerebrovascular disease. Answers: 1. 2 to 1.
|