MATLINE - A matrix for exposure to carcinogenic agents
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ABOUT MATLINE MATline is a job-exposure matrix for carcinogenic chemicals that can be accessed via the website of the Piedmont Regional Health Promotion Documentation Centre (www.dors.it/MATline). The database includes all the simple chemicals and compounds that may be used in industrial processes and are covered by EC regulations on labelling and packaging up to the 29th amendment to Annex I of EC Directive 67/548 with risk phrases R40, R45 and R49 and/or in category 1 (carcinogenic to humans), 2A (probably carcinogenic to humans) and 2B (possibly carcinogenic to humans) as classified in the Monographs of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). The current version does not include the following:
On the basis of data taken from the literature, each agent is associated with the organs reported to be the targets of its carcinogenic activity, on the basis of a causal relationship, and the specific industrial processes in which the agent might be present. Each process is coded according to the tariff headings used by the National Institute of Insurance against Occupational Injuries and Diseases (INAIL). The matrix includes 28 agent classes (e.g. "mineral oils") and 617 agents classified as carcinogenic by the IARC and by the EC associated with 437 INAIL codes. Users can search the database by the name of the agent, industrial process or target organ. There is also a new company/worker search function, which was added recently. This gives access to Excel tables showing the number of firms and number of workers associated with the selected industrial process for each Italian region. The data, supplied by INAIL, refer to companies that were up and running in Italy as at 31 December 2006. SOURCES OF INFORMATION The information provided in the data sheets is obtained from the following sources:
Information about the uses of the substances was translated into economic activities, using the INAIL classification codes, by a multi-disciplinary working group. The lists of processes associated with each agent were then validated by a group of experts comprising occupational physicians and industrial hygiene professionals. The data used to identify the target organs were also taken from the IARC Monographs and are based on sound, broad-based epidemiological studies. In the absence of data on humans, the carcinogenic agent is not associated with any specific target organs but the data sheet contains a summary of the findings from studies in animals. WHY CONSULT MATLINE? The matrix enables users to:
The matrix can be used, for example, to find information about the causes of cancer, to facilitate the planning and organisation of interventions for the supervision and control of occupational health, to estimate the number of workers associated with each industrial process and plan preventive measures that target a specific sector in a certain geographical area. INSTRUCTIONS ON THE CORRECT USE OF MATLINE There are certain limits that must be considered in order to ensure the correct use of MATline. Information on industrial uses is taken from bibliographic sources and the uses and industrial processes described may therefore not always reflect the technological state of the art and industrial context in Italy: the substances included might no longer be in use, or used in situations other than those described in the database. Since exposure to the various carcinogenic agents is assigned on the basis of bibliographic sources rather than from actual observations, it should be regarded as potential exposure. The matrix should therefore be regarded as a tool for predicting trends. The results must be critically interpreted and evaluated on the basis of observations or environmental monitoring campaigns. The matrix cannot be used to examine specific industrial sectors in greater detail or identify homogeneous groups exposed to the same conditions, nor does it provide information on the prevalence and intensity of exposure. WHO IS MATLINE FOR? MATline may be useful for:
The MATline database will be updated to include the new classifications set out in Regulation (EC) No. 1272/2008 (CLP). Information about threshold limit values for exposure at work will be constantly revised in accordance with American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) guidelines, as will data on tumour sites on the basis of the most recent epidemiological studies, and the classifications assigned by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. The database has already been linked to the REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation of Chemicals) regulation to indicate any substances that have to be authorised or are subject to specific restrictions on their use, in accordance with the REACH regulation. We (the authors and matrix compilers working on the DoRS project) hope this tool will gain widespread use and would welcome any suggestions and criticisms that might help us to improve our work. We are also willing to organise training events and work together to meet specific needs. FOR INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT Umberto Falcone e Luisella Gilardi DoRS - Centro di Documentazione per la Promozione della Salute; Via Sabaudia, 164 - 10095 Grugliasco TO Tel. +39 01140188210-502 - FAX +39 01140188501 - Website: www.dors.it/MATline Download the presentation 
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