Environmental health

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) form a complex group of chemicals comprising thousands of fluorinated organic compounds.

In Québec and around the world, growing urbanization of territories and current demographic, socioeconomic, cultural, environmental and health issues are having a significant impact on the health and quality of life of populations. 

This literature review briefly examines methods to mitigate urban heat islands. Climate change is already increasing the number of high-heat days, a trend that will continue in the coming years. It is, therefore, important to bolster the resilience to heat of cities and buildings for the benefit of the health of the population.

This document presents the preventive measures to be applied by employers and workers in drinking water and wastewater treatment plants to protect the health of employees and those who frequent the workplace. These measures apply when sustained community transmission is confirmed by public health authorities.

This literature review, initiated at the request of the Table de concertation nationale en santé environnementale (TCNSE), aims to identify groups at risk during heat events and the adaptation measures proposed by other government agencies and in the scientific literature.

This document, written in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, is intended for public building managers, building owners, and all organizations and individuals wishing to learn more about the topics covered in this overview of the scientific and grey literature. This document discusses the current knowledge on carbon dioxide (CO2), its health effects, sources, and relation to building ventilation, as well as the different approaches used to measure this parameter and ways of interpreting……

Global warming could have particularly severe impacts on Canada. It is estimated that temperatures in Canada increased at roughly twice the global mean rate over the 1948–2016 period, with a mean annual increase of 1.7°C compared to a global increase of 0.8°C. Periods of extreme heat have become more frequent and more intense in most provinces. Without appropriate preventive actions, these changes could lead to an increase in mortality and morbidity rates, affecting, among others, urban…

Multiple chemical sensitivity syndrome (MCS) is a chronic disorder characterized by multiple recurrent non-specific symptoms triggered or exacerbated by exposure to odours present in the environment at low concentrations—concentrations tolerated by most people.

People who are the most severely affected suffer from a chronic impairment that prevents them from functioning normally in their social and professional lives.

Various epidemiological studies have found different…

This document presents the current knowledge on cleaning and disinfecting surfaces in indoor and outdoor environments, specifically in residential settings and public spaces and excluding healthcare facilities and other healthcare settings, as well as on health issues related to cleaners and disinfectants and the suggested “quarantining” of objects.

Air conditioners and electric fans remain appropriate cooling methods during a pandemic when used properly and when certain precautions are applied.