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800-ARL-01-IMKI © 2019, Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS)
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Lung Transplant Cases Cause for Alarm Over Workplace Toxins
A series of disturbing research results highlights the need for vigilance in preventing workplace
exposure to toxics substances. The U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
issued an alert on exposure to silica
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. The alert was triggered by reports of silicosis among 45
workers who make or install stone countertops. Ten required lung transplants.
These three findings also made headlines in recent months:
lead exposure and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). People with chronic exposure may
have 80% greater odds of contracting ALS than people with no exposure
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short-term diesel exhaust exposure and DNA damage. The speed with which damage
occurred exceeded their expectations, researchers told CBC. "Quite rapidly, it turns out
– we're showing in hours – you observe changes in the blood that may have long-term
implications."
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cadmium exposure and premature aging of cells. "People with the highest cadmium
exposure had cells that looked on average 11 years older than their chronological age,"
reported one researcher.
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"Findings like this remind us that we can't take exposure control for granted," says WSPS
Manager, Specialty Services Wagish Yajaman. Here's more to keep in mind:
Occupational exposure limits (OELs) are set by Ontario's Ministry of Labour
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.
OELs change, typically becoming more stringent rather than less.
OELs are not a goal to aim for. They're a maximum exposure level.
Take these 7 steps to protect your people
1. Rely on science, not your gut. People may not see, hear, feel or taste exposure, and such
symptoms as cancers, chemical hypersensitivity and nervous system impairment may take
years to appear.
2. If you're already measuring workplace exposures, check your most recent readings against
current OELs and adjust your control strategy as needed. "OEL changes may impact the type of
controls already in place to protect employee health," says Yajaman. "Also consider updating any
sampling you conducted previously to find out what workers are being exposed to now."
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