Environmental surface and air sampling in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

November 16, 2020

Primary inquiry Since the COVID-19 outbreak began, many businesses have started offering environmental sampling services to detect presence of SARS-CoV-2 on environmental surfaces and in the air in…

Testing for lead In school drinking water: A summary of sampling protocols

March 21, 2019

Low level lead exposure has been linked to neurobehavioral and cognitive effects in children.1 No “safe” level of lead exposure exists and efforts should be made to reduce exposures to as low as…

Health Canada’s new lead guideline and results of an Indigenous Services Canada, FNIHB drinking water sampling survey in children's facilities

March 24, 2022

Health Canada published the revised lead drinking water guideline in 2019. The document included recommendations for sampling protocols to assess lead exposure such as random daytime and fixed…

[ARCHIVED] Carbon dioxide in indoor air

June 1, 2010

[This content has been archived. We archive content that is dated 10 years or older or content with rapidly evolving evidence or guidance that is now out of date (e.g., COVID-19). If you have…

Uses and limitations of low-cost sensors in a changing climate

October 3, 2024

Background As a Senior Scientist with the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), Dr. Eric Coker has been working with low-cost sensors for public health research and practice for over…

Carbon Dioxide in Indoor Air

A Public Health Inspector calls about an issue flagged at an older elementary school.  As part of a teacher complaint process, the provincial health and safety agency has been conducting a…

Do-it-yourself (DIY) air cleaners: Evidence on effectiveness and considerations for safe operation

January 18, 2023

Key Messages A review of academic and technical literature showed that do-it-yourself (DIY) air cleaners performed similarly to commercial portable air cleaners in…

Public health and public libraries in partnership to promote healthy indoor air quality

September 14, 2022

A key issue during the COVID-19 pandemic was the critical importance of ventilation in preventing transmission. In Canada, building codes prioritize air tightness and energy efficiency over…

COVID-19 in indoor environments — Air and surface disinfection measures

July 29, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the closure of workplaces, public facilities, retail and commercial spaces, entertainment venues, and other indoor spaces where groups of people congregate. As cities…

Naturally occurring asbestos in an outdoor setting

February 19, 2018

Primary inquiry: Heavy rains caused a river to flood and overflow its banks. Soil containing naturally occurring asbestos (NOA) was deposited onto the surrounding land. This land is used for farming…