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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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Topics: Air, Contaminants and Hazards, Biological Agents, Chemical Agents, Indoor Air, Practices and Procedures, Radiation General, Canada
Personal cultivation as described by the proposed Cannabis Act (2017) will permit adults to cultivate up to four cannabis plants per household. This provision is intended to both promote equity by facilitating access to legal cannabis, particularly when retail outlets are difficult to access, and to undercut the black market. However, indoor cultivation and processing of cannabis may also...
View Full ArticleTopics: Air, Contaminants and Hazards, Outdoor Air General, Canada
Primary inquiry: A citizen’s group reported that putrid smells were occurring daily from a local commercial compost facility located in a suburban area of the city. The local public health agency was contacted to provide information to answer the following questions:
What types of contaminants are potentially emitted in air from commercial composting facilities?
What causes odours associated...
View Full ArticleEvaluating 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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Topics: Air, Contaminants and Hazards, Chemical Agents, Indoor Air General, Canada
A Public Health Inspector calls about an issue flagged at an older elementary school. As part of a teacher complaint process, the provincial health and safety agency has been conducting a workplace investigation. Carbon dioxide (CO2) levels were measured and ranged from 412 ppm in an unoccupied classroom to 1,130 ppm in the school library and 1,660 ppm in an occupied classroom that had closed...
View Full ArticlePepper Spray in the Indoor Environment and in the Vicinity of Food Products and Preparation Surfaces
Topics: Air, Contaminants and Hazards, Chemical Agents, Food, Indoor Air General, Canada
Pepper spray is discharged during an attempted robbery of a jewellery store in a large urban mall. The robbery site is located next to the mall’s food court. For several days, mall patrons continue to report uncomfortable symptoms (e.g., burning sensation in their eyes and throat) when they enter the food court. Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) are asked to respond to concerns about...
View Full ArticleWorkshops 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
NCCEH eJournal Club - Prevalence of problematic cannabis use in Canada: Cross-sectional findings from the 2013 Canadian Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey
Topics: Air, Contaminants and Hazards General, Canada
The NCCEH eJournal Club is a series of informal hour-long sessions discussing and appraising articles relating to environmental health. Active participation is encouraged. Although these sessions are directed at public health inspectors, anyone interested in a given topic is more than welcome to take part. Remote viewing instructions are available on the Eventbrite registration page.
Title of...
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Canadian Urban Environmental Health Research Consortium (CANUE) - Urban Green and Built Infrastructure as a Tool to Mitigate Local Air Pollution
Topics: Air, Built Environment, Outdoor Air General, Canada
For his presentation, Dr. Baldauf will summarize the U.S. EPA’s research program on the use of built and green infrastructure to mitigate local air pollution impacts from transportation facilities. His presentation will describe the current scientific understanding of how urban infrastructure affects local air quality, including a review of projects conducted in the US and other parts of the...
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Canada is poised to pass the Cannabis Act. But, is it just about providing legal access to the drug? Regulations that lessen the risks and enhance the benefits of legalization will be key to the success of the policy.
The Canadian Public Health Cannabis Webinar Series is focused on a range of issues related to cannabis consumption. It is imperative that Canadians are able to access unbiased and...
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Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) - Air Quality Planning for Wildland Smoke: Part 4 of 5
Topics: Air, Emergency Preparedness, Environmental Health Surveillance, Forest Fires, Outdoor Air General, Canada
This webinar series will provide attendees with an understanding of the impacts of wildland smoke on the health of tribal communities and strategies to minimize exposure. Each 90-minute webinar will feature multiple presentations on the topics listed below. The webinars are free and open to anyone; registration for the webinars will be available in late November. The webinars will be recorded....
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Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) - Air Quality Planning for Wildland Smoke: Part 5 of 5
Topics: Air, Emergency Preparedness, Forest Fires, Indoor Air, Outdoor Air General, Canada
This webinar series will provide attendees with an understanding of the impacts of wildland smoke on the health of tribal communities and strategies to minimize exposure. Each 90-minute webinar will feature multiple presentations on the topics listed below. The webinars are free and open to anyone; registration for the webinars will be available in late November. The webinars will be recorded....
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Ecohealth Knowledge to Action Research Group (EKTA) - Wildfires and ecosocial determinants of health: Reflections on the experience in the NWT and BC
Topics: Air, Contaminants and Hazards, Forest Fires, Outdoor Air General, Canada
This webalogue will explore the complex implications of wildfires for the ecosocial determinants of health, exemplified by experiences of recent wildfire events in the NWT and BC. Consideration of wildfire impacts on public health will be explored in relation to environment, social and cultural impacts, with consideration of impacts on communities, wildfire and ecosystems. The session will...
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UBC School of Population and Public Health - How low to go? Assessing the health effects of low levels of air pollution
Topics: Air, Indoor Air, Outdoor Air BC, Canada
The best of current research in the Occupational and Environmental Hygiene (OEH) field is presented at these seminars, which run weekly during the academic year.
Title: How low to go? Assessing the health effects of low levels of air pollution. The Mortality Air Pollution Associations in Low Exposure environments (MAPLE) project.
Presenter: Anders Erickson
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UBC School of Population and Public Health - Indoor air quality and health in Canadian First Nations communities
Topics: Aboriginal Environmental Health, Air, Indoor Air BC, Canada
The best of current research in the Occupational and Environmental Hygiene (OEH) field is presented at these seminars, which run weekly during the academic year.
Title: Indoor air quality and health in Canadian First Nations communities
Presenter: Karen Bartlett
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UBC School of Population and Public Health - Characterizing the Impacts of Residential Woodsmoke in BC Communities
Topics: Air, Contaminants and Hazards, Indoor Air, Outdoor Air BC, Canada
The best of current research in the Occupational and Environmental Hygiene (OEH) field is presented at these seminars, which run weekly during the academic year.
Presenter: Matthew Wagstaff
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Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC) - Tackling Local Air Quality at the Local Level: Peel Public Health’s Experience
Topics: Air, Outdoor Air ON, Canada
Ambient air quality is a long-standing concern in Peel region. While health is the common concern, the sources of pollution range from industrial emissions, to power plants, aggregate extraction and transportation and growth. The two ambient air monitors in Peel region, in Mississauga and Brampton, operated by the Ontario Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, do not provide sufficient...
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Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) - Air Quality Planning for Wildland Smoke: Part 1 of 5
Topics: Air, Forest Fires, Outdoor Air General, Canada
This webinar series will provide attendees with an understanding of the impacts of wildland smoke on the health of tribal communities and strategies to minimize exposure. Each 90-minute webinar will feature multiple presentations on the topics listed below. The webinars are free and open to anyone; registration for the webinars will be available in late November. The webinars will be recorded....
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Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) - Air Quality Planning for Wildland Smoke: Part 2 of 5
This webinar series will provide attendees with an understanding of the impacts of wildland smoke on the health of tribal communities and strategies to minimize exposure. Each 90-minute webinar will feature multiple presentations on the topics listed below. The webinars are free and open to anyone; registration for the webinars will be available in late November. The webinars will be recorded....
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Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) - Air Quality Planning for Wildland Smoke: Part 3 of 5
Topics: Air, Emergency Preparedness, Forest Fires, Outdoor Air General, Canada
This webinar series will provide attendees with an understanding of the impacts of wildland smoke on the health of tribal communities and strategies to minimize exposure. Each 90-minute webinar will feature multiple presentations on the topics listed below. The webinars are free and open to anyone; registration for the webinars will be available in late November. The webinars will be recorded....
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