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Swan Hills Special Waste Treatment Center human health impact assessment

Description

The Swan Hills Treatment Centre is a facility for the safe disposal of special wastes located approximately 12 kilometers northeast of the town of Swan Hills. A furnace malfunction in October 1996... More ≫

Description

The Swan Hills Treatment Centre is a facility for the safe disposal of special wastes located approximately 12 kilometers northeast of the town of Swan Hills. A furnace malfunction in October 1996 caused the release of a portion of process gases containing toxic substances into the ambient air. As a precautionary measure, Alberta Health issued a local food consumption advisory for wild game and fish and followed this with a detailed human impact assessment carried out from December 1996 to October 1997. The human impact assessment was designed to document the current status of exposure and to address questions about population exposures arising from accidental and fugitive emissions of PCBs, dioxins and furans from the waste treatment plant. This report presents the findings of the assessment. As a result of the assessment, Alberta Health determined that continued restrictions on the consumption of wild game and fish contaminated with PCBs and dioxins/furans are warranted.

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Geographic and temporal variations of selected respiratory diseases in Strathcona County and Fort Saskatchewan

Description

This report provides the findings of a descriptive epidemiologic study of asthma, bronchitis and emphysema in Strathcona County. Comparisons of rates of these selected respiratory diseases are... More ≫

Description

This report provides the findings of a descriptive epidemiologic study of asthma, bronchitis and emphysema in Strathcona County. Comparisons of rates of these selected respiratory diseases are made for Ft. Saskatchewan, Edmonton, Ft. McMurray and the province. The study was undertaken at the request of Strathcona County Council, due to a concern that respiratory diseases, especially asthma, may be higher in their community. A committee comprised of the medical officers of health and health inspectors from Lakeland and Edmonton Regional Health Authorities, and the Provincial Health Officers and the Director of the Surveillance Branch, Alberta Health have participated in the review of the findings. This report represents the first in a series of population health assessment and monitoring activities conducted by the Surveillance Branch, Alberta Health, in collaboration with Regional Health Authorities.

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