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| The first day of the rest
of your life.
What better
time is there to prevent cancer?
Prevent Cancer Now works on many ways to tip the odds in your favour, against cancer. Today’s
topics are smoking, safer chemicals, and the Chalk River Nuclear Laboratory Licence
hearing. |
| First, a Quirky Question: In celebration of World Cancer Day
and Groundhog Day, apart from timing, what is a cancer connection? Read on… |
| | | Smoke
All sorts of smoke cause cancer. This includes tobacco and cannabis,
not to mention engine exhaust, incineration and power generation, and
industries. Particles and toxic vapours damage the mouth, throat and lungs, and
become trapped in mucus and swallowed. The toxins move on to damage the
stomach and intestines, while chemicals absorbed in the bloodstream reach the
body and brain. Chronic diseases including cancers decrease quality of life and
lifespan, and even harm the unborn child.
National non-smoking week launched just as the federal
Cannabis Consultation wrapped up. With the banner of “harm reduction,” it
would be a public health tragedy if cannabis legalization brought increased
harm to users and to non-smokers. Today in Canada, most second hand exposure
occurs when smoke and vapours infiltrate neighbours’ units in multi-unit
buildings. Prevent Cancer Now advocated protection from smoked and vaped
products federally,
and in B.C,
Alberta
and Ontario.
No-smoking clauses in leases, are the best bet for now. Check out Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada, and Smoke-Free Housing Canada.
A word of caution: Edible and dermal products do no
negate the established harms of cannabis to the developing brain, including
during pregnancy, and in teenagers and young adults.
Good news! Fewer Canadians
are smoking heavily. Indeed, the 2017
Canadian Cancer Statistics show that cancer diagnoses are stable overall,
with declining smoking-related cancers (normalized for age and population). For those still addicted, there are many sources of
help including your doctor, public health unit, workplace, community and even ex-smokers.
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| | | Flip Side – Non-smoking-related cancers are on the rise, particularly at younger ages. Most
notable are colorectal cancer, and malignancies linked to hormone mimicking exposures.
Many common substances in plastics, everyday products and pesticides may contribute
to cancers, and harm children from conception on. Federal chemicals management
is leaving these “endocrine disrupting” chemicals (EDCs) on the market, or
permitting similar problematic substances to take their place. Lots more
details are in our submissions
including Federal
legal and scientific reform and a Roadmap
for EDCs.
Setting the stage for unfortunate
substitutions – two recent examples
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| | ... and now for something different
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| | Nuclear
research and waste - CNSC hearing re. Chalk River Licence
· against a long-term nuclear waste
landfill close to the Ottawa River, in an earthquake zone;
· against plans for nuclear research
by a private consortium (Canadian Nuclear Laboratories or CNL); and ultimately
· for at most a three-year licence for
the consortium(five-year licences are the norm; the consortium wants ten
years).
Last
summer, scientists
decried the plans for a 5-story dome of nuclear waste, proposed by the
private consortium to operate the Chalk River Laboratories upstream of
Ottawa, on the Ottawa River. Following splintering of AECL by
the Harper government, former employees highlight inadequate
technology that does not meet regulatory requirements to protect health and
safety of persons and the environment. Scientists fear that the private consortium taking over the
Chalk River site “will walk away with pockets full of
money and Canadians will be left with an enormous bill." Although the Canadian
Cancer Society welcomes CNL, other submissions to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
noted
· instability
in Canadian Nuclear Laboratories management;
· lack
of knowledge of key regulations and international obligations; and
· lack
of open, transparent and meaningful public engagement.
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| ANSWER to Quirky Question: Some spots on the Chalk River nuclear site have soil that is so
contaminated, that radon in burrows may pose risks to burrowing rodents. |
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Go HERE or
email Info@PreventCancerNow.ca if you would like to help to stop cancer before
it starts. Prevent Cancer Now is funded by folks like you. Please chip in to help to stop cancer before it starts.
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