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Drinking Water
Project
Topics: Contaminants and Hazards, Chemical Agents, Children's Environmental Health, Drinking Water, Water
Lead is a potent neurotoxin that is commonly present in our environment and can have serious, irreversible cognitive and behavioral impacts, particularly in children. Historically, most lead exposure has occurred through inhaling leaded-gasoline combustion products in the atmosphere; this contribution has drastically declined due to the global phase-out of leaded gasoline. Other sources of...
View Full ArticleCyanobacteria, commonly known as blue-green algae, are naturally occurring microscopic organisms found in fresh, brackish, or marine water that can form cyanotoxins. These toxins are a serious public health issue as exposure can cause illness and, in worst case scenarios, can be fatal (Svirčev et al. 2017). Under certain environmental conditions, cyanobacteria multiply quickly and create blooms....
View Full ArticleTopics: Contaminants and Hazards, Communicable & Infectious Diseases, Drinking Water, Personal Service Establishments, Water
Floatation or float tanks have resurged in popularity since their initial commercialization in the 1970s. These tanks, pods, or chambers are intended to help users achieve certain physical and mental benefits through the elimination (or minimization) of sensory inputs. Briefly, the user floats on his or her back in a warm, near-saturated solution of magnesium sulphate (MgSO4), which buoys the...
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Primary inquiry: Small horticulture growers have been watering their crops with surface water containing a cyanobacterial bloom, before selling their crops at local markets.
Can irrigation of food crops using surface water affected by cyanobacteria blooms result in bioaccumulation of cyanotoxins in these crops?
Can cyanotoxins bioaccumulate to a concentration that might cause a public health...
View Full ArticleWhat are cyanobacteria? Are cyanoblooms preventable? Who is at risk and how does exposure occur? Is there testing for cyanotoxins?
This NCCEH document provides a brief outline of these key questions related to cyanobacteria and the toxins they produce.
View Full ArticleTopics: Contaminants and Hazards, Water, Food, Air, Chemical Agents, Drinking Water, Outdoor Air
Nanotechnology is the creation of materials, devices, and systems by controlling matter at the nanometer scale (1-100 billionths of a meter). Potential exposures to engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) through contact with consumer products or air, water, and food sources are an emerging potential threat to human health. ENPs have unique properties and characteristics in addition to size, such as a...
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Waterborne infections are an important cause of preventable enteric disease. This report obtained information on: characteristics of waterborne disease events (WBEs) in Canada; factors contributing to WBEs; current WBE detection and prevention practices; and, information needs of front-line public health staff.
Forty-seven WBEs were identified, the majority occurring prior to 2001. Giardia and...
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The challenge of judging and managing public health risks “caused by” chlorination disinfection by-products (DBPs) in drinking water is likely the most complex issue faced by the drinking water industry in the developed world over the past three decades. Public health professionals must be sure that precautionary efforts in managing DBP risks are never allowed to compromise necessary measures to...
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Topics: Contaminants and Hazards, Water, Biological Agents, Communicable & Infectious Diseases, Drinking Water
While boiling water is an effective way to kill most microbial pathogens, research performed in the United Kingdom has shown that people do not necessarily comply with boil water advisories. Similarly, in Walkerton, Ontario in 2000, only 44% of respondents reported that they were aware of the order to boil water when it was first issued on the local radio at the start of the outbreak and in...
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Workshops Presentations
Topics: Contaminants and Hazards, Chemical Agents, Children's Environmental Health, Communicable & Infectious Diseases, Drinking Water, Water
The BCCDC/NCCEH Environmental Health Seminar Series provides an opportunity for learning and knowledge exchange on a variety of environmental health topics. The seminars can be attended in-person or online.
Title 1: Assessing the risk of lead exposure to children from drinking water in Metro Vancouver child care facilitiesSpeaker: Thomas Quach, BCIT Environmental Health Student
Abstract: With...
2017-06-29_EH_Seminar_Risk_lead_exposure_drinking_water_child_care_facilities-Quach.pdf, 2017-06-29_EH_Seminar_Lead_analysis_in_drinking_water_of_daycares-Lin.pdf, 2017-06-29_EH_Seminar_Mobi_bike_share_program-Moore.pdfTopics: Contaminants and Hazards, Chemical Agents, Drinking Water, Environmental Health Surveillance, Practices and Procedures, Risk Analysis, Water
Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors (CIPHI) 82nd Annual National Educational Conference
In January 2016 a US federal state of emergency was declared in Flint Michigan due to elevated lead concentration in the city’s drinking water. This presentation gives an overview of the Flint lead crisis and how regulation was insufficient to protect public health given human error and omission....
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American Public Health Association (APHA) - Drinking Water and Lead Service Lines: Partnering to Protect Public Health
Lead exposure contributes to cognitive impairments, behavioral problems and lowered IQ. While there is no safe level of lead exposure, lead can be found in dust in our homes, air, soil, and drinking water. Lead service lines are the largest source of lead in drinking water - with an estimated 6-10 million lead service lines bringing water to taps across the U.S. Following the tragedy in Flint,...
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