TO OUR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH COLLEAGUES –

Happy New Year!

What’s new at the NCCEH?

• Evidence Reviews:
  - Effectiveness of alternative antimicrobial agents for disinfection of hard surfaces
  - One health: A primer
• NCCEH Workshops:
  - Food safety interventions
  - Ethics in action
  - Bringing health back into planning
• Additional Resources: improved search capability!
  - Built Environment inventory
  - lead shot and drinking water by Struck
  - radon in well water by Barn et al.
  - rainwater harvesting and health risk by Struck
  - health promotion and public health inspectors by Campell et al.
  - pharmaceuticals in water supplies by Bloetscher et al.
  - pesticide sprays on fresh produce by Stine et al.
  - dust mites and asthma by Gotzsche et al.
  - air pollution monitoring and public health by Kelly et al.
• Recently updated: Continuing Education

Continuing Education/Events:

• NCCEH seminar/webinar: Creating healthy built environments: Experiences from the practitioners perspective, UBC School of Population and Public Health, January 20, www.spph.ubc.ca/page216.htm
• NCCEH Journal Club

Your feedback is important to us; please let us know your thoughts on our updates and don’t forget to check the rest of our website.

Thanks again to everyone who has helped with these and other projects.

Best regards,

Christina Chociolko, PhD
Network Coordinator
National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health
400 East Tower
555 W 12th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V5Z 3X7
T: 604-707-2465
F: 604-707-2444
christina.chociolko@bccdc.ca
www.ncceh.ca
Twitter: @NCCEH

Production of this email was made possible through a financial contribution from the Public Health Agency of Canada.

TO OUR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH COLLEAGUES –

What’s new at the NCCEH?

• Evidence Review Process: Evaluating epidemiological studies
• Recently updated: Health Agency Projects, Ethical Dilemmas
• Evidence Reviews: Air quality and community health impact of animal manure management
  
• Additional Resources:
  - climate change adaptation by Hess et al.
  - drugs in drinking water by Mitka
  - phthalates and infant development by Kim et al.
  - thirdhand smoke by Protano & Vitali

Continuing Education/Events:

• Webinars: Antimicrobial resistance and public health, Antibiotic Awareness Week, Nov 14, 15 & 17
• NCCEH webinar: Que fait-on au CCNSE? Alimentation biologique et pesticides, un exemple d’enjeu, Réseau d’échanges sur les enjeux en santé environnementale, Nov 15
• NCCEH session: Health & Planning: Exploring Options for Rural Communities, Newfoundland & Labrador Public Health Association et al., St. John’s, Nov 29-30, http://buildinghealthycommunities.ca

Your feedback is important to us; please let us know your thoughts on our updates and don’t forget to check the rest of our website.

Thanks again to everyone who has helped with these and other projects.

Best regards,

Christina Chociolko, PhD
Network Coordinator
National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health
400 East Tower
555 W 12th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V5Z 3X7
T: 604-707-2465
F: 604-707-2444
christina.chociolko@bccdc.ca
www.ncceh.ca
Twitter: @NCCEH

Production of this email was made possible through a financial contribution from the Public Health Agency of Canada.

A Click Away to a Healthier Future
In 2011, technology reigns. The latest information on everything from international headlines to last night’s game is at your fingertips. While smart phones and laptops keep us informed and media savvy, these new technologies can also help assess our mental health. Visit www.HelpYourSelfHelpOthers.org to find a local organization offering free, anonymous depression and anxiety screenings or take one online today.

Thank you http://www.mentalhealthscreening.org/

The following was originally posted on http://www.ncceh.ca/en/home/update

September 7, 2011

TO OUR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH COLLEAGUES –

What’s new at the NCCEH?

• Evidence Reviews: Disinfectants and Sanitizers for Use on Food Contact Surfaces – revised
• Additional Resources:
  - climate change and the elderly by Frappier et al.
  - housing and health inequalities by Gibson et al.
  - shale gas and human health by Lechtenbohmer et al.
  - black tattoo inks by Lehner et al.
  - food handler training by Pajot and Aubin

Continuing Education/Events:

• Workshop: The Science of Communicating Risk!, CIPHI Ontario, Kitchener, Sept 13-14, ciphi.on.ca/knowledge-center/events/220-events-a-conferences
• NCCEH workshop: Food safety interventions, CIPHI Ontario, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Oct 2-5, www.ciphi.on.ca/knowledge-centre/events/conference
• NCCEH presentation: Personal service establishments, CIPHI Alberta, Calgary, Oct 3-4, www.ciphi.ab.ca/upcoming_2010.htm
• NCCEH and NCC for Healthy Public Policy workshop: Ethics in Action, CIPHI BC, various locations, Oct 4-6, ciphi.bc.ca

Reminders:

• NCCEH presentation: Built environment, CIPHI Saskatchewan, Regina, Sept 14-15, www.ncceh.ca/en/events/ciphi_sk-2011
• NCCEH presentation: Personal service establishments, CIPHI Manitoba, Winnipeg, Sept 14-16, www.ciphi.mb.ca/events.htm

Your feedback is important to us; please let us know your thoughts on our updates and don’t forget to check the rest of our website.

Thanks again to everyone who has helped with these and other projects.

Best regards,

Christina Chociolko, PhD
Network Coordinator
National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health
400 East Tower
555 W 12th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V5Z 3X7
T: 604-707-2465
F: 604-707-2444
christina.chociolko@bccdc.ca
www.ncceh.ca
Twitter: @NCCEH

Production of this email was made possible through a financial contribution from the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Being informed about food safety is an important part preventing food poisoning. TrainCan, Inc. offers an interesting website with news releases and stories on food safety.

The following was posted on http://www.traincan.com/index-news.asp

CANADA: Reforming our food regulatory system: A conservative approach
http://www.traincan.com/aug23a-2011.asp

8 sick with E. coli O157 in Ontario, source unknown
http://www.traincan.com/aug23-2011.asp

Germany’s E. coli nightmare: Lessons for the U.S. from Europe
http://www.traincan.com/aug19c-2011.asp

Germany’s E. coli nightmare: The ECDC’s role and what we learned
http://www.traincan.com/aug19b-2011.asp

Germany’s E. coli nightmare: What can we learn from the deadly O104:H4 outbreak?
http://www.traincan.com/aug19a-2011.asp

CANADA: Expanded health hazard alert – Ready-to-eat meat products may contain Listeria monocytogenes
http://www.traincan.com/aug19-2011.asp

CANADA: Health hazard alert: Ready-to-eat Smoked Garlic Sausage may contain Listeria monocytogenes
http://www.traincan.com/aug17-2011.asp

CANADA: Health hazard alert – Various surimi-based products may contain dangerous bacteria
http://www.traincan.com/aug15-2011.asp

It is time to start getting the kids ready for school! Regardless of whether a child is in their first year of attending school or their last, parents always have homework to do before the kids start back to school. Here are a few links that we have found to be very informative to help keep children safe at school.  These links are being provided for informational purposes only for our readers.

Elements bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content.

Vaccinations

Is your child required to be vaccinated? CDC has provided information for parents to help them understand about vaccination. Near the bottom of the page, under More Information, is a list of frequently asked questions.  For more information about  vaccines, contact your doctor or local health department .
http://www.cdc.gov/features/catchupimmunizations/

Also, CDC has provided a pdf about understanding the risks if you do not vaccinate your child.

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/spec-grps/hcp/downloads/not-vacc-risks-bw-office.pdf

Found a great printable guide to help understand about vaccines and keep track of when vaccines were given. “What to Expect: Guide to Immunizations”  from Author Sharon Mazel
http://www.gachd.org/What%20to%20Expect%20Guide%20to%20Immunizations.pdf

Selecting School

Is your child starting a new school? Helpful list of questions to ask and things to look for when selecting a school.
http://www.greatschools.org/find-a-school/school-visit/24-the-school-visit-what-to-look-for-what-to-ask.gs?page=1

Backpack Safety

Those books can be heavy! Safety issues to consider before buying your child a backpack.
http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/learning/backpack.html

School Lunches

Did you know there are new rules for healthier school meals?
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2011/08/school-meal-programs-shaping-up-nationwide/

How to keep your child’s lunch out of the danger zone.
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2011/08/preschoolers-lunches-carried-into-the-danger-zone/

References and resource lists

NCEF has a large resource list in regards to healthy school environments for all year around.
http://www.ncef.org/rl/healthy_schools.cfm?date=4

The following was originally posted on http://www.ncceh.ca/en/home/update

“NCCEH – Update

August 9, 2011

TO OUR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH COLLEAGUES –

What’s new at the NCCEH?

• Practice Questions: Smoke infiltration; Lead in drinking water
• Additional Resources:
  - climate change and indoor air by Institute of Medicine
  - nanotechnologies in food by European Food Safety Authority
  - environmental health tracking program by Centers for Disease Control
  - First Nation water and wastewater systems by Neegan Burnside
  - public health and land use planning by Perrotta
  - respiratory health of Montreal children by Jacques et al.
  - asthma interventions for children by Crocker et al.

Continuing Education/Events:

• Webinar: From Assessment to Action: Protecting Canadians from Extreme Heat Events, Aug 23, Health Canada, www.ncceh.ca/en/events/HC-heat_webinar
• Online course: Public Health Communications: Becoming a Knowledge Broker, Sept 7-Nov 2, Concordia University College of Alberta, www.concordia.ab.ca/course-listing/?courseNumber=PHSC+621&term=1-SEP-2011
• NCCEH presentation: Built environment, CIPHI Saskatchewan, Regina, Sept 14-15, www.ncceh.ca/en/events/ciphi_sk-2011
• NCCEH presentation: Personal service establishments, CIPHI Manitoba, Winnipeg, Sept 14-16, www.ciphi.mb.ca/events.htm

Reminders:

• NCCEH et al. session: Built environment, Ecocity World Summit 2011, Montreal, Aug 23, www.ecocity2011.com/programme/programme-de-la-conference_e.asp

Your feedback is important to us; please let us know your thoughts on our updates and don’t forget to check the rest of our website.

Thanks again to everyone who has helped with these and other projects.

Best regards,

Christina Chociolko, PhD
Network Coordinator
National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health
400 East Tower
555 W 12th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V5Z 3X7
T: 604-707-2465
F: 604-707-2444
christina.chociolko@bccdc.ca
www.ncceh.ca
Twitter: @NCCEH

Production of this email was made possible through a financial contribution from the Public Health Agency of Canada.”

Summer time is time for fun in the sun! It is time to start reading up on summer time safety tips to keep you and your family safe!

Here are some helpful reminders from CDC about Summer Time Safety

http://www.cdc.gov/Features/SummertimeSafety/

Season’s greetings, happy holidays and happy 2011 !

In order to help you find topics that interest you, our news articles are categorized under:

• Environmental Health and Safety
• Public Health
• Occupational Health and Safety

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH and SAFETY

• Oklahoma, USA: Oklahoma oil, gas producers are worried new emissions rules will greatly increase costs (12 Nov 2010) NewsOK. By: Marks, J. F.Read at: http://newsok.com/producers-fear-costs-as-epa-sets-new-rules/article/3513714. Cited 2010 Nov 23.

• Saskatchewan, Canada: Sask. Ministry of Health developing strategy to stop bed bugs (12 Nov 2010) Leader-Post. By: Cowan, P. Read at: http://www.leaderpost.com/health/Sask+Ministry+Health+developing+strategy+stop+bugs/3820895/story.html. Cited 2010 Nov 23.

• India: Antimicrobial Soaps and Handwash Toxic for Human and Environmental Health (13 Nov 2010) Medidia on Mobile. By: Thomas, T. Read at: http://www.medindia.net/news/Antimicrobial-Soaps-and-Handwash-Toxic-for-Human-and-Environmental-Health-76624-1.htm. Cited 2010 Nov 23.

• Israel: Epidurals can be used for both mothers and infants (13 Nov 2010) The Jerusalem Post. By: Seigel-Itzkovich, J.Read at: http://www.jpost.com/HealthAndSci-Tech/Health/Article.aspx?id=195206. Cited 2010 Nov 23.

• Canada: Ionizing radiation boosts cardiovascular disease death risk (14 Nov 2010) Foodconsumer. By: Downs, J. Read at: http://www.foodconsumer.org/newsite/Non-food/Environment/ionizing_radiation_1411100937.html. Cited 2010 Nov 23.

• USA: Lead in reusable grocery bags prompts call for federal inquiry (15 Nov 2010) USA Today. By: Armour, S. Read at: http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/environment/2010-11-15-toxicbags15_st_N.htm. Cited 2010 Nov 23.

• Japan: Analyzing Surgeons’ Stress Caused by Night Shifts and Surgery (16 Nov 2010) Softpedia. By: Biliuti, S. Read at: http://news.softpedia.com/news/Analyzing-Surgeons-Stress-Caused-by-Night-Shifts-and-Surgery-166764.shtml. Cited 2010 Nov 24.

• Haiti: Cholera may have arrived on island ‘years ago’ from Asia (17 Nov 2010) The Independent. By: Laurance, J. Read at: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/cholera-may-have-arrived-on-island-years-ago-from-asia-2136076.html. Cited 2010 Nov 24.

• Scotland: Beware the dust on your computer (17 Nov 2010) Deccan Herald. Read at: http://www.deccanherald.com/content/113646/beware-dust-your-computer.html. Cited 2010 Nov 24.

• USA: Proposed Food Safety Laws A Boon For Clean Tech Companies (17 Nov 2010) TechCrunch. By Kolodney, L. Read at: http://techcrunch.com/2010/11/17/proposed-food-safety-laws-a-boon-for-clean-tech-companies/. Cited 2010 Nov 24.

• USA: Report Finds Toxic Toys Still Widely Sold at Toys R Us as 2010 Holiday Season Begins (18 nov 2010) PR Newswire. Read at: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/report-finds-toxic-toys-still-widely-sold-at-toys-r-us-as-2010-holiday-season-begins-108948364.html. Cited 2010 Nov 24.

• USA: Before you buy that train set, do your homework (22 Nov 2010) Los Angeles Times. By: Mascarelli, A. L. Read at: http://www.latimes.com/health/la-he-safe-toys-20101122,0,2027895.story. Cited 2010 Nov 24.

• USA: Degree by Degree, Heat Waves Claim Lives, New Study Warns (19 Nov 2010) Reuters. By: Obleck, J. Read at: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUS357644873120101119. Cited 2010 Nov 24.

• Indonesia: Indonesia almost free from maternal, neonatal tetanus (20 Nov 2010) The Jakarta Post. By: Asrianti, T. Read at: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2010/11/20/indonesia-almost-free-maternal-neonatal-tetanus.html. Cited 2010 Nov 24.

• Britain: Plagues of roaches, rats, and bedbugs sweep Britain (21 Nov 2010) The Independent. By Gugan, E. Read at: http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/plagues-of-roaches-rats-and-bedbugs-sweep-britain-2139732.html. Cited 2010 Nov 24.

PUBLIC HEALTH

• California, USA: Whooping cough cases continue to rise in L.A. County (12 Nov 2010) Los Angeles Times. By: Hennessy-Fiske, M. Read at: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/11/los-angeles-whooping-cough.html. Cited 2010 Nov 23.

• USA: CDC says fluoride a great public health achievement (14 Nov 2010) Seacoastonline.com. By: McMahon, C. Read at: http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20101114-NEWS-11140333. Cited 2010 Nov 23.

• Wales: ‘Education has an important part to play in public health issues’ (15 Nov 2010) WalesOnline.co.uk. By: Davies, A. Read at: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/health-news/2010/11/15/education-has-an-important-part-to-play-in-public-health-issues-91466-27657059/. Cited 2010 Nov 23.

• France: Heavy smoking in pregnancy linked to crime in offspring (15 Nov 2010) Google News. Read at: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gLiz3wClyTXw7usjQ2awxPagai9g?docId=CNG.c3a7214bcfe6083ee696ade4d9402691.da1. Cited 2010 Nov 23.

• USA: Excessive text-messaging by teens is tied to drug use and other risky behavior (16 Nov 2010) The Washington Post. By Larue Huget, J. Read at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/12/AR2010111205500.html. Cited 2010 Nov 23.

• USA: How Science Is Crucial To Improving Health Worldwide (17 Nov 2010) The Huffington Post. By: Blumenthal, S. M.D. Read at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/susan-blumenthal/public-health-how-science_b_784726.html. Cited 2010 Nov 24.

• India: Energy drink leads to alcohol dependence (17 Nov 2010) The Times of India. Read at: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health/Energy-drink-leads-to-alcohol-dependence/articleshow/6941115.cms. Cited 2010 Nov 24.

• Texas, USA and England: Care for prisoners will improve public health (18 Nov 2010) EurekAlert!. By: Balleza, M. Read at: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-11/uotm-cfp111710.php. Cited 2010 Nov 24.

• Denmark: High Protein, Low Glycemic Index To Avoid Weight Gain (25 Nov 2010) FuturePundit. Read at: http://www.futurepundit.com/archives/007688.html. Cited 2010 Nov 25.

• USA: Eating factory-farmed turkey for Thanksgiving? You may be eating arsenic (24 Nov 2010) Boingboing. By: Xeni Jardin. Read at:
  http://www.boingboing.net/2010/11/24/eating-factory-farme.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+boingboing%2FiBag+%28Boing+Boing%29. Cited 2010 Nov 25.

• USA: You say sin, I say disease (24 Nov 2010) Charlie’s Diary. By: Charlie Stross. Read at: http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2010/11/you-say-sin-i-say-disease.html. Cited 2010 Nov 25.

• USA: The Community Water Center (23 NOV 2010) cnewmark, craig from craigslist indulges himself. Read at: http://www.cnewmark.com/2010/11/the-community-water-center.html. Cited 2010 Nov 25.

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY

• USA: Black Lungs Kills 1,000 Coal Miners Annually. Anybody Care? (12 Nov 2010) The Huffington Post. By: Biggers, J. Read at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeff-biggers/does-anyone-like-a-republ_b_782773.html. Cited 2010 Nov 23.

• Malaysia: Still dark days in coal industry (13 nov 2010) The Star online. By: Bain, C. H. Read at: http://thestar.com.my/columnists/story.asp?col=madeinchina&file=/2010/11/13/columnists/madeinchina/7419507&sec=Made%20In%20China. Cited 2010 Nov 23.

• USA: Light and human health: LED risks highlighted (15 Nov 2010) LEDs Magazine. By: Whitaker, T. Read at: http://www.ledsmagazine.com/news/7/11/13. Cited 2010 Nov 23.

• USA: NAS committee reviews uranium regulations (15 Nov 2010) GoDanRiver.com. By: Bozick, T. Read at: http://www2.godanriver.com/news/2010/nov/15/nas-committee-reviews-uranium-regulations-ar-655439/. Cited 2010 Nov 23.

• USA: Employment Screening Information for Employers (16 Nov 2010) Employment Screening Resources (ESR)News. By: Ahearn, T. Read at: http://www.esrcheck.com/wordpress/2010/11/16/emergency-department-violence-surveillance-study-finds-over-half-of-emergency-nurses-surveyed-experienced-incidents-of-workplace-violence/. Cited 2010 Nov 24.

• Global: Caring for the carers (19 Nov 2010) PharmaPro Daily. By: Osseiran, N. Read at: http://www.pharmpro.com/News/Feeds/2010/11/agencies-and-organizations-world-health-organization-caring-for-the-carers/. Cited 2010 Nov 24.