Chronic Obstructive
Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Day
November 15, 2023
OHCOW's Progress on COPD Research
A variety of workplace exposures can contribute to the development of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), such as respirable crystalline silica, diesel exhaust, respirable dust including McIntyre Powder, and other vapours, gases, dusts and fumes. As part of our occupational disease cluster investigation work, OHCOW recently completed a report examining the Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board’s guideline for adjudicating claims made by Ontario miners for COPD. We found that the current scientific literature supports that COPD can develop at much lower dust exposure levels than what the current WSIB guideline reflects.
Provincial Recognition
World COPD Day has been held since 2002. In support of the initiative, Bill 157 was enacted as Chapter 18 of the Statutes of Ontario in 2021, proclaiming the third Wednesday in November of each year as COPD Awareness Day. According to the Ontario Web Site COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in Canada. In Ontario, approximately 10 per cent of adults are living with the disease. Smoking, air pollution, industrial irritants found in the workplace and some genetic conditions can all be causes of COPD.
Webinars
The presentation on respirable dust exposure for Ontario miners was made during the 2021 Occ-tober Webinar Series: Examining Change by Paul Sampara, Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW).
Research Papers
Review of the WSIB Adjudicative Support Material Binder (ASMB) for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Prepared by: Paul Sampara, BSc., DOHS, MEng,
ROH Occupational Hygienist, OHCOW
Review of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) Adjudicative Support Material Binder (ASMB) for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Occurrence and Associations with Occupational Exposures and Smoking
This paper is a review COPD and etiologic factors that have been shown to be important to development of disease. The impact of Interactions between occupational exposures and smoking on risk for disease will be examined.
Reported by: Dr. Christine Oliver, MD, MPH, MS, FACPM Medical Consultant, Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW)
For more information on this topic, see our page on Vapours, Gases, Dust and Fumes, as well as our extensive information on Mcintyre Powder. World COPD Awareness Day is an annual event - learn more.
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