What We Do
Health Canada's Air Health Effects Division
Health Canada's mission is to help Canadians improve and maintain their health. A key element of this mission is health protection, and Health Canada works closely with other federal departments and provincial/territorial health departments to provide recommendations. Health Canada's Air Health Effects Division (AHED) is responsible for assessing the risks associated with Canadians' exposure to both indoor and outdoor air pollution.
To fulfill its mandate, AHED performs the following activities:
- Assesses the exposure of Canadians to outdoor and indoor air pollution.
- Investigates the health effects of air pollution through research studies.
- Reviews scientific studies on the health effects of air pollution to assess health risks.
- Develops standards and guidelines to reduce health risks, usually in collaboration with other federal departments and/or with provincial and territorial governments.
- Informs the public about health risks from indoor air pollution and provides guidelines for how to reduce these risks.
Recent AHED Publications Related to Indoor Air Quality
Articles
Gilbert, NL, M Guay, JD Miller, S Judek, CC Chan, and RE Dales.  Levels and determinants of formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and acrolein in residential indoor air in Prince Edward Island, Canada, Environmental Research 2005; 99: 11-17, [ http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2004.09.009].
Dales, R, D Miller, K Ruest, M Guay, and S Judek. Airborne endotoxin is associated with respiratory illness in the first two years of life, Environmental Health Perspectives 2006; 114: 610-614. [ http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.8142].
Kovesi, T, D Creery, NL Gilbert, R Dales, D Fugler, B Thompson, V Randhawa, and JD Miller. Indoor Air Quality risk factors for severe lower respiratory tract infections in Inuit infants in Baffin Region, Nunavut: a pilot study, Indoor Air 2006; 16: 266-275. [ http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0668.2006.00423.x]
Gilbert, NL, D Gauvin, M Guay, ME Héroux, G Dupuis, M Legris, CC Chan, RN Dietz, B Lévesque. Housing characteristics and indoor concentrations of nitrogen dioxide and formaldehyde in Québec City, Canada, Environmental Research. 2006; 102: 1-8 [ http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2006.02.007].
Reports
Other Publications
Gilbert, Nicolas L. Le formaldéhyde dans l'air intérieur : sources, concentrations et effets sur la santé, Bulletin d'information en santé environnementale, 2004, vol. 15(5), p. 1-7,
[http://www.inspq.qc.ca/pdf/bulletins/bise/BISE-15-5.pdf]
Working Group on Indoor Air Quality and Health
This working group is formed of experts on indoor air from Health Canada and from the provincial and territorial departments of health.
The objective of the working group is to advise the Health Canada's Director of the Water, Air and Climate Change Bureau (WACCB) on the development and review of indoor air quality guidelines. More precisely, the working group:
- Identify substances for which a guideline needs to be developed, or for which an existing guideline needs to be re-assessed;
- Develop a formal approach to set priorities among substances to be assessed;
- Assist Health Canada in identifying suitable experts within their jurisdiction to conduct scientific reviews in support of the guideline development process;
- Review the proposed guidelines;
- Make recommendations to WACCB Director regarding the endorsement / withdrawal of guidelines.
- Provide advice to the WACCB Director on any other issue related to residential indoor air quality.
The working group meets in person once a year and hold conference calls when needed.
Members:
| Dr. Mike Routledge |
Manitoba Health |
| Dr. Pierre Lajoie |
Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec |
| Dr. Gloria Rachamin |
Ministry of Health of Ontario |
| Dr. Doug Terry |
Kelsey Trail Regional Health Authority of Saskatchewan |
| Dr. Ray Copes |
British Columbia Center for Disease Control |
| Phil Bladgen |
Healh Canada, Acting Division Head |
| Nicolas Gilbert |
Health Canada, Indoor Air Section Head |
| Marie-Ève Héroux |
Health Canada, Indoor Air Section |
| Annie St-Amand |
Health Canada, Indoor Air Section |
Other Health Canada Groups with Indoor Air-Related Mandates
Tobacco Control Program
Responsible for administering and enforcing the Tobacco Act, which regulates the manufacture, sale, labelling and promotion of tobacco products. The Program also undertakes and promotes initiatives to reduce or prevent the negative health impacts associated with smoking.
The Workplace Health and Public Safety Program
Responsible for occupational health and safety for federal public servants. Based upon health complaints, a part of its mandate includes conducting indoor air quality investigations in federal buildings.
The Consumer Product Safety Bureau
Responsible for promoting the safe and responsible use of consumer products. This goal is achieved by conducting tests and research on consumer products, by developing and enforcing prohibitions and regulations, by supporting the development of safety standards and guidelines, and by issuing product advisories, warnings and recalls. Products for which advisories were issued by CPSB include some sources of indoor air pollution like ozone generators and candles containing lead core wicks.
The Radiation Protection Bureau
Conducts research into the biological effects of environmental and occupational radiation; develops better methods for internal radiation dosimetry and its measurement; and develops regulations, guidelines, standards and safety codes pertaining to radiation-emitting devices. It is also responsible for developing and updating guidelines on radon.
Management of Toxic Substances Division
Works to serve the people of Canada by controlling or eliminating the release of toxic substances, including substances potentially found in indoor environments like asbestos and lead, into the environment.
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