Health and Safety

Cancer

• Cancer is devastating

in the 1930s, one In ten Canadians contracted cancer

in the 1970s, that figure had increased to one in five

today, one in three Canadians will contract cancer

• between four and forty percent of cancers are work-related, with the most likely figure around 20%

• about 80% of cancers are caused in some way by the environment, including the work environment, i.e., if we change our environment, cancer can be prevented

• common carcinogens include

workplace chemicals and by-products such as: aromatic amines, arsenic, benzene, chromium compounds, dioxins, formaldehyde, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) - including those in diesel exhaust and soot

carcinogenic products which workers may manufacture, process, or be exposed to, such as asbestos, synthetic mineral fibres, wood dust, tobacco, alcohols, very many pesticides and herbicides, some lubricating and cutting fluids, many organic solvent

certain food additives, including hormones and antibiotics, and some drugs

ionizing radiation, including radon gas and sunlight, affecting many workers as well as uranium miners, nuclear and hospital workers

other workplace factors such as electromagnetic fields, stress and shift work have been linked to increased cancer rates

• what can we do about environmental carcinogens

eliminate carcinogens and use non-carcinogenic substitutes

reduce exposures, by limiting the amount of carcinogens in use, "Toxics Use Reduction" (TUR)

control exposures, e,g., by "closed loop" (sealed) systems and total enclosure of carcinogenic processes

support the Prevent Cancer Campaign mounted by the CLC and affiliated unions

support collective bargaining and joint committee action to eliminate workplace carcinogens

demand effective legislation to eliminate carcinogens and restrict their use in society

support Just Transition for workers displaced from the "toxic economy"