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Built Environment


Recognizing the health impacts of the natural and human-made surroundings in which we live, work, and play.

April 2018 Environmental Health Research Scan

Topics: Indigenous Environmental Health, Agriculture, Built Environment, Biological Agents, Cannabis, Chemical Agents, Climate Change, Infectious Diseases, Contaminants and Hazards, Drinking Water, Emergency Preparedness, Surveillance, Equity, Food, Wildfire, Health Impact Assessment, Indoor Air, Nuisance Control, Outdoor Air, Personal Service Establishments, Pest Control, Physical Agents, Practices and Procedures, Public Facilities, Radiation, Recreational Water, Risk Analysis, Seniors' Environmental Health, Tobacco Reduction, Waste, Water, Zoonoses
Full ScanThe attached PDF version of the Research Scan has over 100 references and is broken into over 30 categories.Editor’s PicksAfter searching through the dozens of articles referenced in the…
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Are Naturally Ventilated LEED Buildings Healthier?

Topics: Built Environment, Indoor Air, Public Facilities
Green building rating systems such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) employ a variety of design solutions to reduce energy and minimize environmental damage. These solutions,…
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Artificial Turf and Crumb Rubber

Topics: Artificial Turf, Built Environment, Chemical Agents, Contaminants and Hazards
Modern artificial turf is used indoors and outdoors in a wide variety of settings, including multipurpose recreational and professional sports fields, playgrounds, residential areas, and public…
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Beyond Zoonosis: The Mental Health Impacts of Rat Exposure of Inner-City Residents

Topics: Built Environment, Pest Control, Zoonoses
This work was one of the 2018 Ron de Burger Student Award winners. Author: Raymond Lam, University of British Columbia – Master of Science in Occupational and Environmental HygieneIntroductionRats…
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Building Shutdown and Re-opening during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Topics: Built Environment, Contaminants and Hazards, COVID-19, Indoor Air, Infectious Diseases, Legionella, Mould
[Last Updated: Feb 11, 2021] During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it may be necessary to periodically close public buildings and facilities, followed by re-opening when safe again. Periods of low…
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COVID-19 in indoor environments — Air and surface disinfection measures

Topics: Built Environment, COVID-19, Indoor Air
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…
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Fact sheet: Environmental Health Risks of Personal Cannabis Cultivation

Topics: Built Environment, Cannabis, Indoor Air, Mould
Personal cultivation as described by the Cannabis Act (2017) will permit adults to cultivate up to four cannabis plants per household as of October 17, 2018. The Canadian Federal government will be…
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February 2018 Environmental Health Research Scan

Topics: Indigenous Environmental Health, Agriculture, Built Environment, Biological Agents, Cannabis, Chemical Agents, Climate Change, Infectious Diseases, Contaminants and Hazards, Drinking Water, Emergency Preparedness, Surveillance, Equity, Food, Wildfire, Health Impact Assessment, Indoor Air, Nuisance Control, Outdoor Air, Personal Service Establishments, Pest Control, Physical Agents, Practices and Procedures, Public Facilities, Radiation, Recreational Water, Risk Analysis, Seniors' Environmental Health, Shale Gas, Tobacco Reduction, Waste, Water, Zoonoses
Full ScanThe attached PDF version of the Research Scan has over 100 references and is broken into over 30 categories.Editor’s PicksAfter searching through the dozens of articles referenced in the…
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Growing at Home: Health and Safety Concerns for Personal Cannabis Cultivation

Topics: Built Environment, Cannabis, Indoor Air
This presentation is based on an NCCEH Evidence Review titled Growing at Home: Health and Safety Concerns for Personal Cannabis Cultivation, which you can access here. A two page factsheet was also…
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Healthy Built Environment

Topics: Built Environment, Outdoor Air, Seniors' Environmental Health
BackgroundAspects of the built environment, including man-made and natural features, impact human health directly and indirectly through air quality, traffic injuries, and toxic substances. These…
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Indoor environmental quality of sustainable building designs and occupant health

Topics: Built Environment, Indoor Air
The NCCEH Environmental Health Seminar Series provides an opportunity for learning and knowledge exchange on a variety of environmental health topics. The seminars can be attended in-person or online…
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Intersection between the Built and Social Environments and Older Adults’ Mobility

Topics: Built Environment, Seniors' Environmental Health
Inevitably, an aging population will demand significant health and economic costs at personal and societal levels. Emerging evidence highlights that built and social environments both play a role in…
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January 2018 Environmental Health Research Scan

Topics: Indigenous Environmental Health, Agriculture, Built Environment, Biological Agents, Cannabis, Chemical Agents, Children's Environmental Health, Climate Change, Infectious Diseases, Contaminants and Hazards, Drinking Water, Emergency Preparedness, Surveillance, Equity, Food, Wildfire, Health Impact Assessment, Indoor Air, Nuisance Control, Outdoor Air, Personal Service Establishments, Pest Control, Physical Agents, Practices and Procedures, Public Facilities, Radiation, Recreational Water, Risk Analysis, Tobacco Reduction, Waste, Water, Zoonoses
Full ScanThe attached PDF version of the Research Scan has over 100 references and is broken into over 30 categories.Editor’s PicksAfter searching through the dozens of articles referenced in the…
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Legionella

Topics: Built Environment, Contaminants and Hazards, Drinking Water, Indoor Air, Infectious Diseases, Legionella, Recreational Water, Water
[Last Updated: Feb 24, 2021] Legionella bacteria are opportunistic premise plumbing pathogens (OPPP) that can cause illnesses collectively referred to as legionellosis. Legionellosis includes…
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March 2018 Environmental Health Research Scan

Topics: Indigenous Environmental Health, Agriculture, Built Environment, Cannabis, Chemical Agents, Children's Environmental Health, Climate Change, Drinking Water, Emergency Preparedness, Surveillance, Equity, Food, Wildfire, Health Impact Assessment, Indoor Air, Outdoor Air, Personal Service Establishments, Pest Control, Physical Agents, Radiation, Recreational Water, Risk Analysis, Waste, Water, Zoonoses
Full Scan The attached PDF version of the Research Scan has over 100 references and is broken into over 30 categories.Editor’s PicksAfter searching through the dozens of articles referenced in the…
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Radon: Public Health and Cancer Prevention

Topics: Built Environment, Indoor Air, Radiation, Radon
Video Transcript In Canada, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer but what is radon and what can public health do about it? Radon is a radioactive gas that occurs naturally when…
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Using a Hierarchy of Evidence to Assess Chemical Health Risks of Artificial Turf

Topics: Artificial Turf, Built Environment, Chemical Agents, Contaminants and Hazards, Practices and Procedures, Risk Analysis
Over the past 40 years, artificial turf has become common in public and private settings. Compared to natural turf, artificial turf is easier to maintain, requires less water and no fertilizer, and…
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