Expert forecast on em erging chem ical risks related to OSH Chem - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

“Chem ical substances at w ork: facing up to the challenges” Brussels, 2 -3 March 2 0 0 9

Expert forecast on em erging chem ical risks related to OSH

Emmanuelle Brun

Project Manager European Risk Observatory

Background: Com m unity Strategy for OSH

• 2 0 0 2 -2 0 0 6 : asked the Agency “to anticipate

risks and bring them under control” and “to create a European Risk Observatory, to provide forw ard-looking inform ation for policy-m akers”

• 2 0 0 7 -2 0 1 2 : the ERO should contribute to

enhancing “risk anticipation”. The Agency w ill help to pinpoint and m onitor trends and new risks and identify m easures w hich are essential.

Em erging risks: “New and increasing risks”

“New ” if:

• A com pletely new risk, or
• A long-standing issue newly

considered a risk due to a change in public perception, or

• New scientific know ledge leads a

long-standing issue to be identified as a risk

1936 1936

New risks…?

“New and increasing risks”

“I ncreasing” if…

• The number of hazards leading to

the risk is growing, or

• There is a higher likelihood of

exposure to those hazards, or

• The harm caused is worsening (in

severity, or in numbers affected)

Expert forecasts of ERs: Delphi surveys

4 Delphi surveys (physical, chemical, biological & psychosocial risks): 520 experts from 27 EU countries contacted Round 1: Identification of issues Round 2: Validation and prioritisation Round 3: Final consultation Forecast by 188 experts (RR= 35% ): prioritised lists of ERs

if necessary

Expert forecast on Em erging Chem ical Risks

• Carried out in 2004-2006 with the Topic Centre TCRO
• Selection of participants:

 Proposed by Focal Points and TCRO  At least 5 years experience in dangerous substances and OSH

• Expert participation

 1st round: N experts contacted = 174 / Responses = 54 (RR=31%)  3rd round: N experts contacted= 152 / Responses = 49 (RR=32%)

• Replies from 21 EU countries (19 Member States + 2 EFTA)
• Mainly researchers / heads of department in OSH research body
• Items rated on a 5-point Likert scale
• Items prioritised with mean values (MV) of ratings
• Standard deviations used to check the consensus

Five m ain risk groups em erging ( 1 )

• Particles and dust

 Nanoparticles and ultrafine particles, diesel exhaust, man-

made mineral fibres, dust in the recycling sector, welding fumes, crystalline silica, asbestos, powder paints, wood particles

• Allergenic and sensitising substances

 Epoxy resins, isocyanates, hardeners in polymers (acrylates

and isocyanates), organic acid anhydrides (e.g. new applications in epoxy resins and paints), dertergents (especially containing glycols and esters), enzymes, UV- curable inks containing acrylates, metal-cutting fluids, allergenic metals (nickel, cobalt, chromium ions), hydrocarbon mixtures

 Dermal exposure

Five m ain risk groups em erging ( 2 )

• Carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic substances

 Asbestos, (passive) tobacco smoke, crystalline silica, diesel exhaust,

radon, wood dust, organic solvents, endocrine disruptors, POPs, aromatic amines (in hair products), biocides, additives in food & textile industries (azo dyes), combined carcinogens, reprotoxicants

• Sectors specifically highlighted

 Waste treatment, construction (incl. low awareness of poorly qualified

workers), cleaning and wet work, semi-conductor and fine metal industries (metal fumes and dust), agriculture, home nursing

• Combined exposures:

 Combined exposure to chemicals (even when each element taken

separately is not toxic)

 With organisational/ psychosocial risk factors: Dangerous

substances in SMEs and sub-contracted activities, vulnerable workers’ groups (migrant workers, workers in precarious jobs, older workers, immuno-compromised workers

 Ototoxic substances and noise

Occupational exposure to chem icals in the EU

• Still high exposures of w orkers ( ESW C 2 0 0 5 ) :

 handling dangerous substances: 1 5 %  exposed to sm oke, fum es, pow der, dusts: 1 9 %  to vapours such as solvents and thinners: 1 1 %  to tobacco sm oke from other people 2 0 %

• Occupational diseases in EU ( EODS harm onised

figures) :

 about 5 0 % related to dangerous substances  skin diseases are decreasing, but respiratory

diseases still recognised for 1 4 -1 5 % of w orkers

 5 % are occupational cancers

• Big differences betw een genders in the distribution of
• cc. diseases, incl. the ones related to DS

Estim ation of w ork-related Fatalities – EU 2 7

• 2 0 5 m illion people in em ploym ent
• 1 6 7 ,0 0 0 fatalities attributed to w ork-related

accidents and diseases in EU, and w ithin that:

• 1 5 9 ,0 0 0 fatalities attributed to w ork-related

diseases

• 7 ,4 6 0 fatalities caused by accidents at w ork
• 7 4 ,0 0 0 fatalities attributed to hazardous

substances at w ork ( asbestos included)

• 8 .4 % of all cancer deaths estim ated to be

attributable to w ork

CMRs: Mem ber State exam ple: France

• French report on CMR use in 3 0 industrial sectors ( I NRS 2 0 0 6 )

 3 2 4 substances studied  in 2 0 0 5 , 4 .8 m illion tons w ere used  for 1 0 CMR substances am ount is > 1 0 0 0 0 0 T/ year

• SUMER survey 2 0 0 3 ( w orker survey) ( DARES 2 0 0 5 )

 studied 2 8 carcinogens  2 ,2 6 0 ,0 0 0 w orkers ( 1 3 ,7 % ) exposed to 8 substances ( 2 / 3

• f exposures) : m ineral oils, benzene, perchloroethylene,

trichloroethylene, asbestos, w ood dust, diesel exhaust, crystalline silica

 3 7 0 ,0 0 0 w orkers ( 2 % ) exposed to m utagens/ reprotoxicants  7 0 % of the exposed are blue-collar w orkers  2 0 % in industry and health care  1 0 % of the m en exposed to w ood dust once at w ork

• 1 1 ,0 0 0 -2 3 ,0 0 0 new occ. cancers yearly ( 4 -8 .5 % of all cancers)

( I NVS 2 0 0 3 , French initiative against occupational cancer 2 0 0 7 )

Occupational exposure to carcinogens: Gender issues

• Estim ates that 1 % of cancers in w om en is w ork-related

are based on research in the 7 0 s am ong m en ⇒ Do not reflect changes in the participation of w om en in the labour m arket!

• Need for gender-specific occupational cancer research:

 Gender differences in metabolism, genetics, and other

biological factors

 Gender differences in jobs and tasks w ithin sim ilar

jobs

 Risks of gynaecological cancers cannot be studied

am ong m en

 Participation in recently developed industries ( e.g.

sem iconductor industry) not previously studied

 Possible exposure and modifying factors from home

responsibilities

Nanoparticles ( NPs) ( MV= 4 .5 0 )

• NPs have different properties than materials at the macro scale.
• NPs can enter the human body and translocate to organs/ tissues

distant from the entry point

• The degree of damage they can cause is still unknown and is very

specific to the type of NP .

• Safety concerns about catalytic effects or fire and explosion
• No official data on the number of workers exposed to NPs

about 24,400 were in companies working only with nanotechnology in 2004.

• Expected to grow rapidly

 by 2014, 15% of manufactured products would contain NPs  and 10 million jobs worldwide involved in NP manufacturing

 Need to determine the physicochemical, toxicological and behavioural properties of each NP type  To develop reliable methods for their detection and measurement in the environment and in the human body

Poor m anagem ent of chem ical risks in SMEs ( MV= 4 .3 9 )

• 9 9 .8 % of enterprises are SMEs ( EU-2 5 , 2 0 0 3 )
• Em ploy 6 6 % of EU private sector w orkforce.
• Poorer OSH situation in SMEs:

 8 2 % of reported occupational injuries  fatal accident rate in m icro and sm all com panies 2 x higher

• CMRs in France: 2 0 % of m icro enterprises assess risks, 3 8 %
• f sm all com panies, 5 7 % of m edium com panies, and 6 7 % of

com panies w ith > 2 0 0 w orkers.

• Lack of aw areness/ internal expertise on OSH risks and

legislation; of tim e/ resources; poor contact w ith OSH bodies, internal consultation and inform ation/ training to w orkers  SMEs w ant to be told exactly how to control chem icals so as to m eet all regulatory requirem ents  Easy-to-use instrum ents to assess chem ical risks exist – they need to be shared and m ade available/ know n to SMEs  Need to m ake SMEs’ ow ners aw are that OSH is w orth it.

Epoxy resins ( MV= 4 .1 4 )

• Continuous dem and for epoxy resins w ith enhanced

properties m ay introduce unknow n adverse health effects

 E.g. in m anufacture of adhesives, paints, coatings,

reinforced polym er com posites, in construction, electronics industry, m anufacturing of com posite products

• Major cause of occupational allergic contact derm atitis
• Also reported: skin sensitisation, irritation of the eyes and

respiratory tract, contact urticaria, rhinitis and asthm a

• May be caused by the uncured epoxy resins or by curing

agents, diluents and other constituents

 Epichlorohydrin « carcinogenic category 2 » by EU  Bisphenol A: allergic contact derm atitis, w eak estrogenic

Chem ical substances in w aste treatm ent ( MV= 4 .1 1 )

• One of the m ost hazardous occupations
• I llness rate 5 0 % higher than in other sectors
• W aste regulations prim arily for environm ental purposes
• High level of dust and up to 1 0 0 VOCs found
• Grow ing am ount of w aste in the EU – largest volum e from

m anufacturing, construction, dem olition, m ining

• Electrical/ electronic equipm ent and end-of-life vehicles

increasingly recycled: contain lead, cadm ium , m ercury, PCBs

• Most efficient m easure is to reduce the generation of dust,

aerosols and VOCs

• Technical collective m easures and hygiene plans
• Prevention m easures to be adapted to the specificity of the

w aste and treatm ent activity

Derm al exposure and skin diseases ( MV= 4 .1 1 )

• 2 nd m ost com m on occupational disease in EU – after MSDs
• Contact derm atis the m ost com m on

also chem ical burns, contact urticaria, photoderm atitis, contact leukoderm a, infectious derm atitis, skin cancer

• Chem icals responsible for 8 0 -9 0 % of w ork-related skin disorders

– incl. soaps, detergents, solvents, fragrances

• Not only hands exposed – other skin parts exposed to airborne

susbtances or touched w ith dirty hands

• No validated m ethod to assess derm al exposure
• Lack of data on health effects and dose-effect relationship
• Com bined exposures ( incl. hum idity factor) , repeated exposure,

exposure to diluted preparations, etc. to be considered

• No « derm al OELs » available
• Gloves not ( alw ays) a solution: occlusive, w et atm osphere inside
• I dentification and control of risk factors very im portant

Diesel exhaust ( MV= 4 .0 2 )

• 3 .1 m illion w orkers in EU-1 5 exposed > 7 5 % of the

tim e early 9 0 s ( CAREX)

• 4 th m ost com m on carcinogen in the w orkplace
• Found in m any occupations, from m ining to driving

diesel-fuled trucks, forklifts, etc.

• Com plex m ixture of particles and gases, m ainly:

CO, CO2, NO2,NO, SO2, particulate m atter

• I ARC classification: « probably carcinogenic to

hum ans » ( group 2 A)

• Positive association w ith lung cancer suspected Link

w ith non-cancer lung dam ages also found

• Need for m ore research into health effects

Man-m ade m ineral fibres ( MMMF) ( MV= 3 .9 6 )

• Size linked to toxicity but not w ell m easured by standard m ethods
• Specific MMMF sizes suspected of biological activity - need

epidem iological data

• I ncrease inflam m atory, cytotoxic, carcinogenic potential
• Possible oxidising stress of the cells for repetitive exposures
• MMMF com position continuously evolving - no toxicological data
• Som e contain up to 2 5 % additives - rarely taken into account
• Need for research on toxicity of EU unclassified fibres
• High exposure risk w hen laying, m aintaining, rem oving fibre-

based products

• Study by Afsset in France:

 No specific code/ labelling clearly indicating RCFs in item s  Som e com panies unaw are of the fibres’ nature in w hat they buy  Most of them don’t evaluate w orkers’ exposure

Follow -up activities to the forecast

• Literature review on nanoparticles ( published)
• Policy and practices overview on skin diseases ( published)
• Literature review on noise & ototoxic substances ( on-

going)

• Policy and practices overview + literature review on

carcinogens ( on-going)

• Review of national OELs for CMRs ( on-going)
• Data collection on the w aste treatm ent sector ( on-going)
• Risk perception and risk com m unication on

nanotechnologies ( 2 0 1 0 )

• Large-scale foresight on OSH risks linked to technological

innovations ( 2 0 0 9 -2 0 1 1 )

• W orkshop on CMRs ( 2 0 1 0 )

http:/ / riskobservatory.osha.europa.eu/

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• n

em erging issues

All this inform ation is available from the ERO w ebsite

Thank you for your attention!

http: / / riskobservatory.osha.europa.eu/