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Swan Hills Treatment Center: PCBs and PCDD/F in wild game and fish tissue (1999-2014)

Description

The Swan Hills Treatment Centre (SHTC) is a facility for the safe disposal of special wastes located approximately 12 km northeast of the town of Swan Hills, AB. On October 16, 1996, a malfunction... More ≫

Description

The Swan Hills Treatment Centre (SHTC) is a facility for the safe disposal of special wastes located approximately 12 km northeast of the town of Swan Hills, AB. On October 16, 1996, a malfunction of a transformer furnace was discovered to have caused the release of a portion of process gases containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) into the ambient air. These chemicals can be harmful to human health. Therefore, in 1997 Alberta Health (AH) conducted a human health risk assessment study to estimate human exposure and to evaluate the effectiveness of public health interventions. As a result of the study, food consumption advice for wild game and fish taken within a 30 km radius of the facility were issued out of concern that PCBs and PCDD/Fs were accumulating in these locally caught foods. A long-term environmental monitoring and human exposure assessment program has been ongoing since 1998 to monitor concentrations of...

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Multiple chemical sensitivity : literature review and state of the science : summary

Description

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) is a complex, chronic health condition associated with numerous symptoms, linked to low-level exposure to one or more chemicals. Significant gaps exist in the... More ≫

Description

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) is a complex, chronic health condition associated with numerous symptoms, linked to low-level exposure to one or more chemicals. Significant gaps exist in the scientific understanding of MCS. Variability in observed symptoms and subsequent clinical diagnoses limit the certainty of population prevalence estimates. Alberta Health commissioned a literature review from a consultancy in the fields of toxicology and environmental assessment to understand the current state of science related to MCS.

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Multiple chemical sensitivity : literature review and state of the science

Description

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) is a complex, chronic health condition associated with numerous symptoms, linked to low-level exposure to one or more chemicals. Significant gaps exist in the... More ≫

Description

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) is a complex, chronic health condition associated with numerous symptoms, linked to low-level exposure to one or more chemicals. Significant gaps exist in the scientific understanding of MCS. Variability in observed symptoms and subsequent clinical diagnoses limit the certainty of population prevalence estimates. Alberta Health commissioned a literature review from a consultancy in the fields of toxicology and environmental assessment to understand the current state of science related to MCS.

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Odour thresholds in emergency management : a jurisdictional review

Description

This report summarizes the use of odour thresholds in emergency situations in various jurisdictions, discusses the policy tools used to guide appropriate emergency response, and defines various... More ≫

Description

This report summarizes the use of odour thresholds in emergency situations in various jurisdictions, discusses the policy tools used to guide appropriate emergency response, and defines various measures of odour and air quality, including odour thresholds, ambient air quality objectives, and emergency response criteria.

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2019 fish consumption guidance : mercury in fish

Description

This technical report was prepared to provide summary information about the fish consumption advice available for Alberta water bodies and to present new data collected from 2013 to 2016... More ≫

Description

This technical report was prepared to provide summary information about the fish consumption advice available for Alberta water bodies and to present new data collected from 2013 to 2016 (inclusive) along with attendant advice. The information in this report may be of interest to researchers, public health professionals, or members of the public who are interested in fish consumption advice in Alberta and want additional information. This document has been produced using methods described in past reports – as such, the information contained herein is a summary of available data related to mercury in fish and human health advice.

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Rabies prevention and control manual : guidance for public health and veterinary professionals

Description

This manual has been developed through a partnership between Alberta Health, Alberta Health Services, the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch – Alberta Region, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry,... More ≫

Description

This manual has been developed through a partnership between Alberta Health, Alberta Health Services, the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch – Alberta Region, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, and Alberta Environment and Parks to provide guidance to public health and veterinary professionals in Alberta about rabies prevention and control.

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Inventory and analysis of exposure factors for Alberta

Description

Presents the findings of a study conducted to provide information on human behaviours and characteristics that influence an individual's exposure to environmental contaminants in Alberta. The... More ≫

Description

Presents the findings of a study conducted to provide information on human behaviours and characteristics that influence an individual's exposure to environmental contaminants in Alberta. The purpose of the study was threefold: to inventory and evaluate data on exposure factors that are relevant to Albertans; to determine the most suitable exposure factors for use in exposure and human health risk assessments in Alberta; and to determine where gaps in the data exist and prioritize the gaps that could be considered for future study.

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Odours and human health

Description

This report explores and summarizes the findings from over 500 peer-reviewed epidemiology and experimental studies assessing odour and health outcomes in humans. The intended audience for this... More ≫

Description

This report explores and summarizes the findings from over 500 peer-reviewed epidemiology and experimental studies assessing odour and health outcomes in humans. The intended audience for this report is primarily health professionals or other professionals with related scientific backgrounds, but information is contained in this report that may also be relevant to interested members of the public.

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Endovenous ablation interventions for symptomatic varicose veins of the legs

Description

This report is an evidence assessment of the best available research evidence on the safety and effectiveness, cost effectiveness and budget impact of using Endovenous Laser Ablation or Endovenous... More ≫

Description

This report is an evidence assessment of the best available research evidence on the safety and effectiveness, cost effectiveness and budget impact of using Endovenous Laser Ablation or Endovenous Radiofrequency Ablation in the management of symptomatic varicose veins of the legs due to venous reflux in working age patients when compared to conventional open surgery. It also describes the nature varicose veins with venous reflux, the available clinical practice guidelines regarding the management of the condition, as well as the technologies currently being delivered in Alberta to treat the condition and the available system capacity for delivery of the technologies being assessed.

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Domestic well water quality in Alberta : 2002 – 2008 characterization : physical & chemical testing

Description

Under the framework of the Alberta Water for Life Strategy initiative to ensure safe drinking water for all Albertans, Alberta Health initiated a domestic well water quality monitoring and human... More ≫

Description

Under the framework of the Alberta Water for Life Strategy initiative to ensure safe drinking water for all Albertans, Alberta Health initiated a domestic well water quality monitoring and human health assessment program in 2009. This report presents the findings of the initial project conducted under this program. The objects of the project were to: provide baseline information on the occurrence and geographic distribution of physical and chemical properties of domestic well waters; assess drinking water quality and safety; develop and select relevant indicators for well water quality monitoring programs; provide province-wide, science-based information on domestic well water quality to enhance domestic well owners’ awareness and encourage involvement in the protection of their domestic well water quality; and assist other government departments by generating reliable scientific evidence to address practical and effective groundwater management and strategies.

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