Expert forecast on em erging chem ical risks related to OSH “Chem ical substances at w ork: facing up to the challenges” Brussels, 2 -3 March 2 0 0 9 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
New risks…? 1936 1936
“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 if necessary Round 3: Final consultation Forecast by 188 experts (RR= 35% ): prioritised lists of ERs
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 1 st round: N experts contacted = 174 / Responses = 54 (RR=31%) 3 rd 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 occ. 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 of 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 % of 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
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