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