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Outdoor Air
Project
Background
The frequency and intensity of Canadian wildfires is increasing as a consequence of the changing global climate, as well as long-standing forest management practices (Flannigan et al., 2013). Fires pose a direct threat to lives and properties in some communities, and also cause episodes of extreme smoke pollution that threaten the health of populations over large geographic areas....
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Aspects of the built environment, including man-made and natural features, impact human health directly and indirectly through air quality, traffic injuries, and toxic substances. These aspects can also modify and influence physical activity levels, social connectedness and interactions, access to healthy foods, mobility, and housing quality. Many of these environmental and social...
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Topics: Contaminants and Hazards, Outdoor Air General, Canada
In Canada, preference for cremation is increasing. The Cremation Association of North America (CANA) estimates that about 80% of human remains in Canada will be cremated by 2020. The increased demand for cremation services may result in construction of new crematoria or expansion of existing facilities. This could lead to a rise in inquiries about potential health risks to nearby communities....
View Full ArticleTopics: Climate Change, Emergency Response, Outdoor Air, Public Facilities, Seniors' Environmental Health General, Canada
Canada is experiencing more extremely hot days and longer periods of heat than during the late 20th century and it is going to get worse. Every year, about 120 people die from heat related causes in Canada's big cities. In 2009, Vancouver saw a dramatic increase in the death rate during a week-long extreme heat event. Rather than simply extreme temperatures, it can be just the temperature change...
View Full Article 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 ArticleReducing cardiovascular health impacts from traffic-related noise and air pollution: intervention strategies
Topics: 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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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: 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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Please note: a printer friendly version is attached at the bottom of this document.
Primary inquiry
A municipality received an application from a funeral home to install a cremator within their facility. Objections were received from nearby residents who were concerned about potential exposure to harmful emissions. A public health unit was contacted to help answer the following questions:
Do...
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Health Impact Assessment (HIA) is a structured approach that allows decision makers to consider how a policy, program or project could affect health. HIAs are often carried out as part of other assessment processes (e.g., environment, transportation, planning) but may be conducted on a stand-alone basis. The findings of an HIA may be used to inform recommendations on whether to...
View Full ArticleTopics: Built Environment, Climate Change, Emergency Preparedness, Outdoor Air, Public Facilities General, Canada
Video Transcript
Canada is experiencing more extremely hot days and longer periods of heat than during the late 20th century and it is going to get worse. Every year, about people die from heat related causes in Canada's big cities. In 2009, Vancouver saw a dramatic increase in the death rate during a week-long extreme heat event. Rather than simply extreme temperatures, it can be just the...
View Full ArticleTopics: Forest Fires, Outdoor Air General, Canada
Population level wildfire smoke exposure is complex. It is difficult to measure and prevent. Reducing the adverse physical and mental health effects related to smoke exposure requires insight into social, economic, political and health-related factors within communities. In an attempt to understand some of the challenges of planning for wildfire smoke events, this report outlines the findings...
View Full ArticleTopics: Indigenous Environmental Health, Agriculture, Built Environment, Cannabis, Chemical Agents, Children's Environmental Health, Climate Change, Drinking Water, Emergency Preparedness, Surveillance, Equity, Food, Forest Fires, Health Impact Assessment, Indoor Air, Outdoor Air, Personal Service Establishments, Pest Control, Physical Agents, Radiation, Recreational Water, Risk Analysis, Waste, Water, Zoonoses General, Canada
Full Scan
The attached PDF version of the Research Scan has over 100 references and is broken into over 30 categories.
Editor’s Picks
After searching through the dozens of articles referenced in the scan, our librarian picks the ones she feels may be especially interesting to our stakeholders. Her “Editor Picks” for March 2018 include:
Wildfires, emergency preparedness, and the importance of...
View Full ArticleTopics: Indigenous Environmental Health, Agriculture, Built Environment, Biological Agents, Cannabis, Chemical Agents, Climate Change, Infectious Diseases, Contaminants and Hazards, Drinking Water, Emergency Preparedness, Surveillance, Equity, Food, Forest Fires, Health Impact Assessment, Indoor Air, Nuisance Control, Outdoor Air, Personal Service Establishments, Pest Control, Physical Agents, Practices and Procedures, Public Facilities, Radiation, Recreational Water, Risk Analysis, Seniors' Environmental Health, Tobacco Reduction, Waste, Water, Zoonoses General, Canada
Full Scan
The attached PDF version of the Research Scan has over 100 references and is broken into over 30 categories.
Editor’s Picks
After searching through the dozens of articles referenced in the scan, our librarian picks the ones she feels may be especially interesting to our stakeholders. Her “Editor Picks” for April 2018 include:
The built environment: Understanding how physical...
View Full ArticleTopics: Indigenous Environmental Health, Agriculture, Built Environment, Biological Agents, Cannabis, Chemical Agents, Climate Change, Infectious Diseases, Contaminants and Hazards, Drinking Water, Emergency Preparedness, Surveillance, Equity, Food, Forest Fires, Health Impact Assessment, Indoor Air, Nuisance Control, Outdoor Air, Personal Service Establishments, Pest Control, Physical Agents, Practices and Procedures, Public Facilities, Radiation, Recreational Water, Risk Analysis, Seniors' Environmental Health, Shale Gas, Tobacco Reduction, Waste, Water, Zoonoses General, Canada
Full Scan
The attached PDF version of the Research Scan has over 100 references and is broken into over 30 categories.
Editor’s Picks
After searching through the dozens of articles referenced in the scan, our librarian picks the ones she feels may be especially interesting to our stakeholders. Her “Editor Picks” for February 2018 include:
A review of the experimental evidence on the...
View Full ArticleTopics: Indigenous Environmental Health, Agriculture, Built Environment, Biological Agents, Cannabis, Chemical Agents, Children's Environmental Health, Climate Change, Infectious Diseases, Contaminants and Hazards, Drinking Water, Emergency Preparedness, Surveillance, Equity, Food, Forest Fires, Health Impact Assessment, Indoor Air, Nuisance Control, Outdoor Air, Personal Service Establishments, Pest Control, Physical Agents, Practices and Procedures, Public Facilities, Radiation, Recreational Water, Risk Analysis, Tobacco Reduction, Waste, Water, Zoonoses General, Canada
Full Scan
The attached PDF version of the Research Scan has over 100 references and is broken into over 30 categories.
Editor’s Picks
After searching through the dozens of articles referenced in the scan, our librarian picks the ones she feels may be especially interesting to our stakeholders. Her “Editor Picks” for January 2018 include:
Adverse effects after medical, commercial, or self-...
View Full ArticleTopics: Contaminants and Hazards, Outdoor Air General, Canada
[please note that a printable version of this Field Inquiry is linked at the bottom]
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...
View Full Article 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.pdfCardiovascular Health, Traffic-related Air Pollution and Noise: Are associations mutually confounded? A systematic review
Topics: 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: 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: 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: 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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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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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: Indoor Air, Outdoor Air
Air cleaners are designed to remove pollutants from indoor air, but their effectiveness depends on the air cleaner design and set-up, as well as on the presence of specific pollutants, their concentrations, and air exchange rates in the room/home. Ozone generators and some electrostatic precipitators produce ozone at levels that pose health concerns. Little evidence is available on removal of...
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Topics: Practices and Procedures, Surveillance, Outdoor Air
Based on appraisals of recent systematic reviews and patient information, this report provides an overview of: 1) evidence available to generate health protection measures; 2) health protection advice currently recommended to persons with/at risk of cardio-vascular diseases through public health, medical, patient information, environmental, and meteorological websites; and 3) a general framework...
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Topics: 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: Outdoor Air
While the effects of daily fine particulate exposure (PM) have been well reviewed, the epidemiological and physiological evidence of cardiovascular effects associated to sub-daily exposures has not. We performed a theoretical model-driven systematic non-meta-analytical literature review to document the association between PM sub-daily exposures (≤6 hours) and arrhythmia, ischemia and myocardial...
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Workshops Presentations
Topics: Indoor Air, Outdoor Air General, Canada
L'Institut national de santé publique (INSPQ) 8e Atelier de santé environnementale
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Topics: Outdoor Air, Forest Fires General, Canada
Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors (New Brunswick Branch) 2010 Annual Conference
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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.
Speaker: Anne-Marie Nicol, MES, PhD, Environmental Health Scientist, NCCEH
Abstract: This seminar describes the processes involved in shale gas production, including hydraulic fracturing, and...
View Full ArticleTopics: 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...
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What Do We Know about the Risk of Asthma and the Environment (Air Pollution)? A Population-based Approach
Topics: Outdoor Air General, Canada
Outdoor air pollution is a major cause of death and disease globally. The health effects range from increased hospital admissions and emergency room visits, to increased risk of premature death. Globally, more than 540 million people live with a chronic respiratory disease (such as asthma), in areas where air pollution plays a significant role in disease morbidity and mortality.
This...
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A closer look at energy expenditure and pollution inhalation during urban cycling: Physics, physiology, and travel behaviour
Topics: Built Environment, Outdoor Air General, Canada
Although urban cycling is widely known and promoted as physically active transportation, the actual physics of utilitarian cycling have been given little attention in transportation engineering and planning. In contrast, the field of sports science has developed detailed data and models of road bicycle performance, but only for sport and racing cyclists. What can we learn about utilitarian...
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Climate Change and Air Pollution: Health Inequities, Global Premature Mortality, and Decarbonization Health Co-benefits
Topics: Climate Change, Outdoor Air General, Canada
Ambient air pollution poses a significant health burden, which disproportionally impacts some of the most vulnerable populations and is exacerbated by climate change. There is scientific evidence that simultaneous reductions of air pollution and GHG emissions would reduce health and climate costs in the future, but a better understanding of the different technology pathways is important to...
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Topics: Forest Fires, Outdoor Air General, Canada
Wildfire smoke causes episodes of the worst air quality that most people in British Columbia (BC) will ever experience. Research from BC and around the world has shown that wildfire smoke exposure is associated with large increases in respiratory health risk, and somewhat smaller increases in cardiovascular and mortality risk. With the record-breaking seasons of 2017 and 2018 behind us, we are...
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Remote Indigenous communities in Canada overwhelmingly rely on diesel fuel for heating and electricity generation. Clean energy projects in these communities are more likely to succeed with strong and coordinated support from governments, utilities, regulators, and industry.
The Pembina Institute presents a webinar on the current policy context for remote community-led clean energy projects in...
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Algorithms, Air Pollution, and Adverse Outcome Pathways: Leveraging Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to Advance Environmental Health Research and Decisions
Topics: Outdoor Air General, Canada
Artificial intelligence (AI) has been called “the new electricity”—a technological invention that promises to fundamentally transform our lives and the world we live in. The resurgence of investment and enthusiasm for artificial intelligence, or the ability of machines to carry out “smart” tasks, has been driven largely by advancements in the subfield of machine learning. Machine learning...
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Can we improve air pollution estimates when extending land-use regression models to adjacent cities or backward in time?
Topics: Outdoor Air General, Canada
Land-use regression models can be used to estimate traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) at a fine resolution. This makes these models a useful tool for assessing if a relationship exists between specific TRAP and the development of adverse health outcomes such as dementia.
While these models are commonly used in epidemiological studies, the traditional way that these models are developed has...
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Dr. Leonardo Trasande a pediatrician, professor, and world-renowned researcher, will tell us a story of how our everyday surroundings are making us sicker, fatter, and poorer. He uncovers evidence that helps to show how emerging health conditions result from endocrine-disrupting chemicals in our food, our homes, and our personal care products.
Dr. Trasande will explore how industrializing...
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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: 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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Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) - Air Quality Planning for Wildland Smoke: Part 4 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 5 of 5
Topics: 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: 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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Topics: Climate Change, Forest Fires, Outdoor Air BC, Canada
Wildfires are becoming more frequent and intense as the global climate changes. Smoke from these fires causes episodes of the worst air quality that many populations will ever experience, sometimes lasting for weeks or months. The first part of the proposed workshop is intended to summarize the current state of the evidence on wildfire smoke generation, composition, toxicity, exposure assessment...
View Full ArticleTopics: Forest Fires, Outdoor Air BC, Canada
The forum theme -- Community Tools for Change -- will provide the opportunity for meaningful discussion about air quality challenges facing communities today, along with policy, education or regulatory mechanisms to apply toward lasting solutions. This forum is designed to bring together air quality managers, health professionals, policy and decision makers and community members from all over...
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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: 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 - Characterizing the Impacts of Residential Woodsmoke in BC Communities
Topics: 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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Topics: Forest Fires, Outdoor Air ON, Canada
Please see the event website for description.
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Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC) - Tackling Local Air Quality at the Local Level: Peel Public Health’s Experience
Topics: 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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Topics: Forest Fires, Outdoor Air General, Canada
The 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.
Presenter: Sally Maguet, Consultant, Context Evaluation Consulting
Population level wildfire smoke exposure is complex, and so reducing the adverse physical and mental health effects related to...
View Full Article This presentation will summarize the results from a study investigating the effects of ambient air pollution on the risk of developing pediatric-onset IBD using Ontario administrative health data. In-utero and childhood residential exposures to nitrogen dioxide (NO2), fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ozone (O3) were evaluated in terms of their potential associations with IBD diagnosed before...
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Topics: Indoor Air, Outdoor Air General, Canada
CAREX Canada is hosting a webinar on diesel exposure in workplaces, taking place June 5th, 2018. The goal of this webinar is to convey the importance of diesel engine exhaust as a workplace hazard and to discuss ways this hazard can be assessed and controlled in the workplace.
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Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) - Air Quality Planning for Wildland Smoke: Part 1 of 5
Topics: 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
Topics: 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 3 of 5
Topics: 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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