Service have now arranged a half-day
seminar for tanning opersters in an effort
to educate them on the effects of
ultraviciet radiation and help them
develop risk management techniques.

Since the initial investigation of the
Richmond area, the “Tanning Operator
Knowledge Questionnaire" has been used
to survey tanning facility operators in
Victoria and three municipalities within
the Simon Fraser Health Unit district. A
report summarizing the results of the
surveys and the survey methodology, has
been submitted to the Canadian Journal of
Public Health for publication.

The "Tanning Operator Knowledge
Questionnaire" (and answers) is available
to any Health Unit/Department wishing to
conduct a survey of their district,

The Radiation Protection Service would
like to remind all Mealth
Units/Departments that they are available
to serve their needs regarding any health
risk that-results from radiation ¢xposure.
or more information, please contact
Randy Ross at 669-6634 or fax
660-6663.

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Subinitted by Dr. Ray C
Medical Toxicologist

In response to a growing public concem
over the potential ecological and human
health effects associated with exposure to
contaminated sites, the Canadian Council
of Ministers of the Environment (CCME
initiated the National Contaminated Sif
Remediation Program (NCSRP) for th
remediation of high priority contaminated

in the assessment and remediation of
contaminated sites under this program, the
CCME requested the development of
numerical criteria that could provide
guidance for the remediation of
contaminated sites in Canada. A. CCME
Subcommittee on Environmental Quality
Criteria for Contaminated Sites was
established to create an improved
scientific derivation basis for application in
this program. ‘The subcommittee has since
released a draft document which considers
the effects of contaminated soil exposure
on human and ecological receptors for
given land uses. The pathways and
receptors of contaminated soil considered
in their derivation of soil quality criteria
were selected based on expowure scenarios
illustrated for agricultural, residential,
parkland, coramercial and industrial land
uses,

What follows are some selected comments
by Dr. Ray Copes, Medical Specialist,
Environmental Health Risk Assessment &
Toxicology, on the CCME Subcommittee's
draft document on Environmental Quality
Criteria for Contaminated Sites.

The Executive Summary indicates that the
National Contaminated Sites Remediation
Program (NCSRP) was initiated in
response to "growing public concern’.
This wording seems to indicate a
perceived problem rather than one based
on actual health effects. At this point,
with some experience in dealing with
contaminated sites in Canada and
elsewhere, the premises behind the
NCSRP should be questioned. While it
would be rash to claim that these sites
never pose a threat to human health or
the environment, it is clear that the
perceived problem is much greater than
the actual impacts on humans or the
environment. The United States
Superfund Program was an attempt by
U.S. legislators to deal with
understandable public outrage brought on
by poor handling of situations, such as

_Love Canal, by government officials.

lan trying to duplicate this type

Orram in Canada, we would do well,

from some of the mistakes that
made. Among these isa

sites in Canada Toa promote CONSISECN