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Topics: Contaminants and Hazards, Air, Biological Agents, Indoor Air General, Canada
Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) and Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) across Canada have different responsibilities, policies, and guidelines when it comes to investigating public inquiries about mould in indoor environments. Some PHIs/EHOs conduct initial walkthroughs only, some conduct comprehensive investigations, and others educate the public about next steps without conducting any field...
Mould_Toolkit_Overview_Nov_2014.pdf, Mould_Toolkit_Checklists_Forms_Nov_2014.pdf, Mould_Toolkit_Typical_Fungi_Nov_2014.pdf, Mould_Toolkit_Sampling_Methods_Nov_2014.pdf, Mould_Toolkit_Interpretation_Lab_Reports_Nov_2014.pdf, Mould_Toolkit_Reviewing_Investigation_Reports_Nov_2014.pdfTopics: Children's Environmental Health, Air, Outdoor Air General, Canada
The period between conception and early childhood when vital organs are forming and rapidly developing is the most vulnerable of life stages to the effects of toxic environment exposures, including traffic-related air pollution (TRAP). Epidemiologic studies on preterm birth have consistently shown elevated risks with a number of measures of TRAP, including distance of residence from traffic...
View Full ArticleTopics: Contaminants and Hazards, Air, Biological Agents, Indoor Air General, Canada
Excessive dampness and mould growth on building material surfaces and contents can pose health risks and should not be tolerated in indoor environments. A mould assessment determines if mould is present, but does not determine or estimate mould exposure. Health-based exposure limits for indoor mould in residential environments have not been established; inspecting for visible and hidden mould,...
View Full ArticleTopics: Contaminants and Hazards, Air, Biological Agents, Indoor Air General, Canada
Excessive dampness and mould growth on building material surfaces and contents can pose health risks and should not be tolerated in indoor environments. The main goal of remediation is to reduce the risk of exposure to mould and to prevent structural damage; the underlying cause of dampness must be identified and eliminated or mould will reappear. Effective mould remediation requires the ...
View Full ArticleReducing cardiovascular health impacts from traffic-related noise and air pollution: intervention strategies
Topics: Air, Outdoor Air General, Canada
Recent studies suggest that exposure to both traffic-related air pollution (TrAP) and to road traffic noise (RTN) are independent risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). While the exact pathophysiologic mechanisms are not known, plausible biological models exist for both associations. This paper describes interventions and mitigating measures aimed at reducing both air and noise pollution...
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Topics: Contaminants and Hazards, Air, Biological Agents, Indoor Air General, Canada
Moulds are naturally occurring and widespread in the environment; therefore, it is not possible to eliminate exposure. Sufficient evidence exists to conclude that exposure to mould in indoor environments is associated with asthma and asthma-like symptoms (in asthmatic people), upper respiratory tract symptoms, cough and wheeze, and hypersensitivity pneumonitis in susceptible people. There is...
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Topics: Air, Contaminants and Hazards, Indoor Air, Outdoor Air, Physical Agents General, Canada
This report summarizes information on woodsmoke emissions and health effects associated with woodsmoke exposures from residential wood-burning (RWB) in Canada and provides a qualitative indication of the potential effectiveness of different intervention strategies based on a review of the available literature and interviews with Canadian health authorities. The purpose of this report is to...
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Topics: Air, Outdoor Air General, Canada
Air quality advisories are a mechanism by which provincial and regional governments actively provide the public with information on hourly or daily periods of poor outdoor air quality. Advisories are issued for specific geographical locations when one or more pollutants approach or exceed (or are forecasted to approach/exceed) a relevant air quality trigger. Advisories inform the public about...
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Topics: Air, Contaminants and Hazards, Indoor Air, Radiation General, Canada
Radon represents one of the environmental exposures that can be reduced with effective and practical solutions, reducing an individual’s risk of developing lung cancer. There is extensive literature supporting the cost-effectiveness of radon abatement compared with other healthcare and environmental interventions. Of the remediation measures evaluated to reduce indoor radon levels in already...
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Topics: Air, Contaminants and Hazards, Indoor Air, Radiation General, Canada
Radon is a known carcinogen, and is estimated to cause up to 10% of all lung cancers in Canada. It is a radioactive gas that is produced by the decay of uranium. Radon is naturally occurring, and emanates from soil and rocks. It percolates up through soil into buildings, and if it is not evacuated there can be much higher exposure levels indoors than outdoors. Fortunately, high radon levels can...
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Evaluating the Carbon Monoxide Monitoring and Response Framework in Long-term Care Facilities: A Brief Guide
This guide is intended for public health practitioners, facility/property maintenance managers, risk managers, occupational hygienists, clinicians, or other persons working at long-term care facilities (residential care facilities, nursing homes, seniors’ residences, care occupancies, etc.) when they:
have implemented a carbon monoxide (CO) policy in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) consistent...
View Full ArticleGuide for Implementing the Carbon Monoxide Monitoring and Response Framework in Long-term Care Facilities
Topics: Air, Contaminants and Hazards, Indoor Air, Practices and Procedures, Risk Analysis General, Canada
This guide is intended for public health practitioners, facility/property maintenance managers, risk managers, occupational hygienists, clinicians, or other persons working at long-term care facilities (residential care facilities, nursing homes, seniors’ residences, care occupancies, etc.) who would like to implement a program to reduce the risk of indoor carbon monoxide (CO) exposure to...
Carbon_Monoxide_Framework_Implementation_Guide_Aug_2016.pdf, 
Carbon_Monoxide_Framework_Implementation_Slides_Aug_2016.pptxTopics: Air, Environmental Health Surveillance, Equity, Outdoor Air, Practices and Procedures, Risk Analysis General, Canada
This case study explores the issue of health impacts in the community from persistent landfill fires and covers a number of topics including: outdoor air pollution; waste management; health equity; health surveillance; environmental surveillance; and occupational health.
Although written from a broad public health and medical health officers’ point of view, this case study may be helpful to...
Persistent_Landfill_Fire_Health_Impacts_Case_March_2015.pdf, Persistent_Landfill_Fire_Health_Impacts_Solutions_March_2015.pdfTopics: Air, Indoor Air General, Canada
Canadians typically spend about 90% of their time indoors. Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) resulting from biological and chemical exposures is associated with the development of acute and chronic cardio-respiratory disease. Biological agents commonly found in indoor environments include mould, house dust mites (HDM), pests, and pet dander. Chemical agents can include environmental tobacco smoke (...
Full_Review-Effective_Indoor_Air_Interventions_Jan_2015.pdf, Summary-Effective_Indoor_Air_Interventions_Jan_2015.pdfCardiovascular Health, Traffic-related Air Pollution and Noise: Are associations mutually confounded? A systematic review
Topics: Air, Built Environment, Nuisance Control, Outdoor Air General, Canada
This review assessed the confounding effect of one traffic-related exposure (noise or air pollutants) on the association between the other exposure and cardiovascular outcomes. A systematic review was conducted with the databases Medline and Embase. The confounding effects in studies were assessed by using change in the estimate with a 10 % cutoff point. The influence on the change in the...
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Topics: Air, Contaminants and Hazards, Waste, Outdoor Air General, Canada
Forest residues are non-merchantable woody biomass found in forests and wood waste from logging practices and industrial operations, such as sawmills. Forest residues are a convenient fuel for open-burning and conventional biomass burning systems (e.g., fireplaces and wood stoves), but more recently have been considered as a fuel for advanced wood combustion (AWC) integrated energy systems, used...
View Full ArticleTopics: Air, Outdoor Air General, Canada
Several tools exist to assess local air quality, including the impact of specific sources, emissions, and meteorological conditions. Information generated from the use of air quality assessment tools can inform decisions on permitting of emissions, industrial siting, and land use; all can impact local air quality, which in turn can influence air pollution related health effects of a population....
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Topics: Air, Built Environment, Agriculture, Nuisance Control, Outdoor Air General, Canada
Nearly 200 million tonnes of livestock manure are generated in Canada each year.1 Manure storage and land application tends to produce odour, greenhouse gases, microbes, and particulate matter, which can negatively impact the environment and human health. Occupational exposures of manure management have been linked to psychological stress and adverse effects on the respiratory system and heart...
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Topics: Air, Children's Environmental Health, Outdoor Air General, Canada
A significant portion of children’s exposure to traffic-related pollution occurs in and around schools and daycares and in transit to these locations. New schools and daycare facilities should be located at least 150 m from major roads (15,000 or more vehicles/day) and should incorporate appropriate ventilation systems to reduce infiltration of outdoor pollutants. Interventions for existing...
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Topics: Air, Built Environment, Indoor Air, Public Facilities General, Canada
Green building rating systems such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) employ a variety of design solutions to reduce energy and minimize environmental damage. These solutions, such as the use of passive ventilation, do not necessarily lead to improvements in occupant health
Passive ventilation strategies employed to reduce energy can lead to uneven airflow distribution and...
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Topics: Air, Built Environment, Outdoor Air General, Canada
Active transportation refers mainly to walking and cycling for transportation.
Health Benefits:
People who use active transportation are, on average, more physically fit, less obese, and have a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease compared to people who use only motorized transportation.
A shift from motorized transportation to active transportation has the potential for societal benefits...
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Workshops Presentations
Topics: Air, Indoor Air, Outdoor Air General, Canada
L'Institut national de santé publique (INSPQ) 8e Atelier de santé environnementale
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Topics: Air, Outdoor Air, Forest Fires General, Canada
Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors (New Brunswick Branch) 2010 Annual Conference
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Topics: Aboriginal Environmental Health, Air, Indoor Air General, Canada
International Union for Circumpolar Health (IUCH) 14th International Congress on Circumpolar Health
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Topics: Air, Outdoor Air BC, Canada
In March 2011, the British Columbia Lung Association held its 8th Annual Air Quality & Health Workshop in Vancouver. As a pre-meeting event, the NCCEH, in combination with the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) and the BC Lung Association, organized an air quality training workshop.
Workshop Objective
The objective of this training workshop was to increase the understanding and...
View Full ArticleTopics: Air, Equity, Food, Practices and Procedures, Tobacco Reduction BC, Canada
Presentations:
Introductions and purpose of the workshopMona Shum, NCCEH
What is Health Promotion in the context of Health Protection?Audrey Campbell, University of British Columbia
A Collaborative Health Promotion ApproachWayne Fletcher, Toronto Public Health
The Role of Health Protection in a Safe Housing ProgramNelson Fok, Alberta Health Services
Getting Local Food to the Table for Food...
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Topics: Air, Public Facilities, Indoor Air ON, Canada
Presentation:
Housing and HealthTom Kosatsky, NCCEHMona Shum, NCCEH
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Topics: Air, Indoor Air, Seniors' Environmental Health SK, Canada
Saskatoon 2013
Presentations:
Carbon monoxide exposures in long-term care facilities and hospitals: Developing a monitoring frameworkPrabjit Barn & Tom Kosatsky, BCCDC/NCCEH
Modeling of the Kinetics of Carbon Monoxide for Long Term Care Facilities and HospitalsNathalie Gosselin, Pharsight Consulting ServicesMichele Bouchard, University of Montreal
CO Exposure – St. Mary’s Villa, December 26...
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Topics: Air, Indoor Air General, Canada
Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors (CIPHI) 79th Annual National Educational Conference
Presentations
General indoor air quality parameters: CO, CO2, relative humidity, temperatureDru Sahai, Public Health Ontario
Volatile organic compoundsPrabjit Barn, NCCEH
MouldDaniel Fong, NCCEH
RadonPam Warkentin, Radonmatters
Additional indoor pollutantsDru Sahai, Public Health Ontario
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Event
Topics: Air, Children's Environmental Health, Indoor Air, Outdoor Air, Tobacco Reduction General, Canada
Dr. Amy Kalkbrenner uses epidemiologic methods to study how exposures to environmental pollutants during pregnancy cause poor birth outcomes (such as preterm birth) or neurodevelopmental disorders (like autism). She especially focuses on airborne exposures, such as traffic-related pollutants like fine particulate matter, the hundreds of airborne metals and volatile organic compounds known as air...
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BC Lung Association - Effect Modification of Prenatal Exposure to Ambient Air Pollution and Childhood Asthma Incidence
Topics: Air, Children's Environmental Health, Indoor Air, Outdoor Air General, Canada
Prenatal exposure to ambient air pollution has been associated with development of childhood asthma, however, less is known regarding the potential modifying factors in this association. This presentation will go through the literature on this issue and will present findings from a retrospective cohort study conducted in Ontario, Canada. This study examined effect modification by maternal asthma...
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UBC School of Population and Public Health - Air quality and demands for ambulance services: Is there an association?
Presenter: Dr Fay Johnston, Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania and Department of Health and Human Services
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UBC School of Population and Public Health - Meanwhile, back at the ranch: Health effects of air pollution in rural areas
Presenter: Dave Stieb, Health Canada and University of Ottawa School of Epidemiology, Public Health and Preventive Medicine
Rural residents have poorer health status and spend more time outdoors than urban residents, but there is limited evidence on the effects of air pollution in this population. This presentation reviews factors which make rural residents more vulnerable and describes findings...
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Topics: Air, Indoor Air General, Canada
The Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) and Indoor Air Contaminants Assessment Sections at Health Canada are inviting their stakeholders, including public health officials, urban planners, policy decision-makers, and health and emergency management Non-Governmental Organizations to participate in our next Air-Health webinar. This webinar series has been designed to provide a forum for communities to...
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Topics: Air, Indoor Air BC, Canada
IAQA Vancouver is pleased to present the fourth of its quarterly chapter meetings at the University of British Columbia on Indoor Air Quality in Green and LEED Buildings.
Cost: $25 for members, $35 for non-members (cheque made out to “IAQA Vancouver” or cash at door)
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Public Health Ontario (PHO) Grand Rounds - Environmental pollution and chronic disease: it's up in the air
Topics: Air, Indoor Air, Outdoor Air ON, Canada
The recent Global Burden of Disease Study has highlighted the substantial impact of air pollution on premature mortality worldwide. Over the past decade, there is also an increasing body of evidence linking exposure to air pollution to the onset of major chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and more recently, dementia. These associations were observed even at the relatively...
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Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC) - Shale petroleum development: Air Emissions and Implications
Topics: Air, Contaminants and Hazards ON, Canada
Shale petroleum resource development has been a driving force for the renaissance of the North American energy industry. This development creates concerns regarding environmental and health impacts; many of which are not well understood or quantified. From the atmospheric perspective, knowledge on emissions of pollutants is critically lacking. Whether these new development activities...
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Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC) - Radon in Canada: the challenges of putting prevention into action
Topics: Air, Contaminants and Hazards, Indoor Air, Practices and Procedures, Radiation, Risk Analysis ON, Canada
Radon is an invisible, radioactive gas that contributes to the deaths of thousands of Canadians every year. Conventional wisdom suggests there should be outrage about the number of Canadians unnecessarily and unwitting exposed to elevated levels of alpha radiation from radon gas. Unfortunately, most Canadians are still not aware of the threats posed by this leading cause of lung cancer; or how...
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NCC for Methods and Tools and NCCEH - Leveraging Evidence for Policy Change: Reducing Carbon Monoxide Exposure in Long-term Care Facilities
Please join Dr. Susan Snelling and Mr. Daniel Fong (MPH, CPHI(C)) for a practice-oriented discussion of how public health professionals can adapt information and implement and evaluate policy change. This webinar draws on the National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools (NCCMT) seven-step process for evidence-informed public health, with a focus on the process by which research evidence...
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