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Alberta biomonitoring program : chemicals in serum of pregnant women in Alberta

Description

A comprehensive list of priority environmental contaminants were monitored in blood serum of pregnant women in 2005, with the purpose of establishing the magnitude of exposure to environmental... More ≫

Description

A comprehensive list of priority environmental contaminants were monitored in blood serum of pregnant women in 2005, with the purpose of establishing the magnitude of exposure to environmental contaminants during pregnancy for women living in all regions of Alberta. The objectives were specifically to examine the influence of age, geographic location, and seasonality on the maternal serum concentrations of man-made or naturally occurring chemicals that women may absorb from food, drinking water, air, soil, household dust, or commercial products. This is the first Province-wide biomonitoring study for Alberta.

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Chemicals in serum of children in southern Alberta (2004–2006) : influence of age and comparison to pregnant women

Description

A comprehensive list of priority environmental contaminants were monitored in blood serum of healthy children with the objective to examine the influence of age and to compare these new data with... More ≫

Description

A comprehensive list of priority environmental contaminants were monitored in blood serum of healthy children with the objective to examine the influence of age and to compare these new data with concentrations in pregnant women that were reported previously for the same region. In general, concentrations of detected contaminants were either lower or similar to concentrations reported in other studies of children in North America or around the world.

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Maximum allowable loads for the Devon to Pakan reach of the North Saskatchewan River

Description

This information sheet explains the concept of maximum allowable loads and how these have been applied at the Devon and Pakan Long-term River Network monitoring stations. Maximum allowable loads... More ≫

Description

This information sheet explains the concept of maximum allowable loads and how these have been applied at the Devon and Pakan Long-term River Network monitoring stations. Maximum allowable loads represent the maximum amount of contaminants that a body of water can receive while still meeting water quality objectives.

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Overview of fish contaminant monitoring programs in jurisdictions and summary of Alberta studies : final report

Description

This report includes an overview of major fish contaminant monitoring programs in Canada and U.S.A., and a summary of available fish contaminant surveys or monitoring studies from Alberta.

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Assessment of the potential lifetime cancer risks associated with exposure to inorganic arsenic among indigenous people living in the Wood Buffalo region of Alberta

Description

The toxicity of arsenic is a subject of considerable research, as well as some controversy, particularly in relation to its potential to cause cancer. In order to better understand and assess the... More ≫

Description

The toxicity of arsenic is a subject of considerable research, as well as some controversy, particularly in relation to its potential to cause cancer. In order to better understand and assess the significance of the elevated cancer risk from arsenic exposure, Alberta Health and Wellness retained Cantox Environmental Inc. (CEI) to review previous research and assess the potential cancer risk using refined methodology consistent with that typically used by CEI. The work was meant to serve as a “second opinion” of the lifetime cancer risk that could be presented to people living in the Wood-Buffalo region from arsenic exposure.

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Health effects associated with short-term exposure to low levels of sulphur dioxide (SO₂) : a technical review

Description

In response to recommendations of the final report of the Provincial Advisory Committee on Public Safety and Sour Gas released in December 2000, Alberta Health and Wellness commissioned reports on... More ≫

Description

In response to recommendations of the final report of the Provincial Advisory Committee on Public Safety and Sour Gas released in December 2000, Alberta Health and Wellness commissioned reports on the health effects of low-level exposure to hydrogen sulphide (H2S) and sulphur dioxide (SO2). The present report on SO2 is the second of four reports. The goal of these reports was to provide a comprehensive review of the available primary scientific literature in order to develop a quantitative understanding of the current state of knowledge with respect to the dose-response relationship between exposure to these contaminants (H2S and SO2) and health effects based on the weight of evidence in the peer-reviewed scientific literature.

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Investigations of poly-chlorinated biphenyls in bottom sediments of the Bear-Wapiti-Smoky-Peace and Upper Athabasca river systems, 1989-2000

Description

Studies of contaminant distributions by the Northern River Basins Study (NRBS) revealed high levels of PCBs in fish in the upper Athabasca and in the Wapiti-Smoky rivers, relative to other areas... More ≫

Description

Studies of contaminant distributions by the Northern River Basins Study (NRBS) revealed high levels of PCBs in fish in the upper Athabasca and in the Wapiti-Smoky rivers, relative to other areas in the basins. In response to recommendations of the NRBS, the purpose of this work was to investigate the source and reasons for the PCB contamination. In co-ordination with other projects under the Northern Rivers Ecosystem Initiative (NREI) on fish, water, and benthos, this project investigated PCBs in river bottom sediments to see if there were spatial or temporal patterns that might identify the source(s) of contamination.

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The Fort Saskatchewan and area community exposure and health effects assessment : final report

Description

This report summarizes the results of a community exposure and health effects assessment undertaken in Fort Saskatchewan to assess the impact of airborne contaminants on the health of the... More ≫

Description

This report summarizes the results of a community exposure and health effects assessment undertaken in Fort Saskatchewan to assess the impact of airborne contaminants on the health of the population. The report describes the population and personal distribution of exposure to airborne chemicals and particulates in the city of Fort Saskatchewan and the surrounding region. Using a personal exposure model, the relative contribution of various exposure sources and pathways to airborne chemicals is estimated and associations between exposure to airborne chemicals and human health effects are described.

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Health effects associated with short-term exposure to low levels of hydrogen sulphide (H2S) : a technical review

Description

In response to recommendations of the final report of the Provincial Advisory Committee on Public Safety and Sour Gas released in December 2000, Alberta Health and Wellness commissioned reports on... More ≫

Description

In response to recommendations of the final report of the Provincial Advisory Committee on Public Safety and Sour Gas released in December 2000, Alberta Health and Wellness commissioned reports on the health effects of low-level exposure to hydrogen sulphide (H2S) and sulphur dioxide (SO2). The present report on hydrogen sulphide is the first of four reports. It focuses on the health effects information on short-term exposures to H2S at concentrations in the range of 0 to 100 ppm. A principal aim of the work was to update the conclusions reached in 1988 by the Ad Hoc Committee on H2S Toxicity. The review focused on the health effects of short-term exposures to low levels of H2S on normal, healthy individuals. Issues surrounding “hypersusceptible” individuals were not directly addressed. Similarly, health effects that might occur secondary to the odour of H2S were not specifically addressed.

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The Grande Prairie Community Exposure and Health Effects Assessment Program : final report

Description

This report summarizes the results of a community exposure and health effects assessment undertaken in Grande Prairie to assess the impact of airborne contaminants on the health of the population.... More ≫

Description

This report summarizes the results of a community exposure and health effects assessment undertaken in Grande Prairie to assess the impact of airborne contaminants on the health of the population. The report describes the population and personal distribution of exposure to airborne chemicals and particulates in the city of Grande Prairie and surrounding region. Using a personal exposure model, the relative contribution of various exposure sources and pathways to airborne chemicals is estimated and associations between exposure to airborne chemicals and human health effects are described.

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