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Exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) in British Columbia’s outdoor workers

Exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) in British Columbia’s outdoor workers. Cheryl E. Peters 1,2 Sunil Kalia 3 Paul A. Demers 4,5 Anne-Marie Nicol 2 Mieke W. Koehoorn 1. School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia

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Exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) in British Columbia’s outdoor workers

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  1. Exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) in British Columbia’s outdoor workers Cheryl E. Peters1,2 Sunil Kalia3 Paul A. Demers4,5 Anne-Marie Nicol2 Mieke W. Koehoorn1 School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia CAREX Canada, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University Dermatology and Skin Science, University of British Columbia Occupational Cancer Research Centre, Cancer Care Ontario Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto

  2. Background Skin cancer = ~88,000 of ~269,000 new cancer cases (2013) 1

  3. Health impacts from UV radiation • Outdoor work • Pattern of exposure • Intermittent • Cumulative • Behaviour: • Sun-seeking • Sun-protective • Genetics: • Skin colour • Sun sensitivity • Cultural • Dress • Other behaviours • Immune competence Melanoma Squamous cell carcinoma (skin) Basal cell carcinoma (skin) Solar keratoses Sunburn Cortical cataract Pterygium Cold sores Sqamous cell carcinoma (cornea and conjunctiva) Ozone Cloud cover Latitude Season Air pollution Elevation Reflection UV radiation Modified from ‘Global burden of disease from solar UVR’, World Health Organization, 2006

  4. Number of outdoor workers in Canada • 1.5 million exposed • 8.8% of the working population • Most of those exposed are men (82%) Peters CE, Nicol AM, Demers PA. Prevalence of exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) on the job in Canada. Can J Public Health. 2012. 103(3):223-6 3

  5. The Outdoor Workers Project:Solar exposure in BC construction workers Objectives: • To characterize ultraviolet radiation exposure in BC’s outdoor construction workers • To understand the determinants of solar UVR exposure 4

  6. Outdoor Workers Project: Methods Questionnaire UV dosimeter Activity diary 5

  7. Results (1): Recruitment and demographics 6

  8. Results (2): Exposure levels by job type 7

  9. Results (3): Exposure levels 8

  10. Results (4): Sunburn in outdoor workers by time spent outside at work 9

  11. Discussion: Outdoor Workers Project • Potential for solar UV radiation at work in the summer; levels differ by job site and are highly variable • Workers are regularly getting sunburned at work 10

  12. Conclusions • 1.5 million Canadians likely exposed to solar UVR on the job, evidence suggests inadequate protection • Exposure levels in Vancouver summers are at high levels, sometimes dangerously so • We have many challenges to address 11

  13. Acknowledgements • PhD committee: • Mieke Koehoorn • Sunil Kalia • Paul Demers • Anne-Marie Nicol • Brynn Bourke & The BC Building Trades • Van Pile Ltd. • Seaspan/ Vancouver Shipyard • JDG Construction • Environment Canada (Atmospheric Monitoring) • WinVan Paving Ltd. • Arbutus Ridge Golf & Country Club • Outdoor Workers Project participants

  14. Amusement & Recreation 45,000 exposed Foundation & Building Exterior Contractors 68,000 exposed Farming 264,000 exposed Residential Building Construction 108,000 exposed Services to Buildings 83,000 exposed

  15. Examples of exposure patterns

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