Inventory of Federal, Provincial and Territorial Environmental and Occupational Health Data
Sources and Surveillance Activities

Health and Environment Initiatives and Activities

1) Air Quality

1.1 Environmental Monitoring

Canadian Air and Precipitation Monitoring Network (CAPMoN) (EC): Rural network of 23 air monitoring stations in Canada and 1 in the U.S., in operation for over 20 years. Purpose is to collect data to assess transboundary transport of pollutants. Locations are chosen to ensure measurements are regionally representative and not affected by local sources of air pollution. Initial focus was on acid rain but now includes some smog pollutants (nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, ozone) at some sites.

Canadian Atmospheric Mercury Measurement Network (CAMNet) (EC): Consists of 11 monitoring sites. Purpose is to improve the understanding of the atmospheric transport, transformation and removal processes of elemental mercury and its compounds released into the environment. One objective is to provide data for health-based studies and risk assessments involving atmospheric mercury. Ambient mercury vapour concentrations are determined on a continuous basis and are converted to 1-hour or 6-hour means for data analysis and interpretation.

Integrated Atmospheric Deposition Network (IADN) (EC, U.S. EPA): A system of monitoring stations created under the Canada-US Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. Purpose is to identify and track airborne toxic substances and their sources, and to define trends in atmospheric deposition to the Lakes. Data on: wet deposition, dry deposition, and gas exchange of pesticides, metals, combustion products and industrial chemicals.

National Air Pollutant Surveillance (NAPS) Network (EC): A joint federal, provincial, territorial and municipal network, primarily urban, to monitor and assess air quality across Canada. There are 239 air monitoring stations in 136 municipalities. It provides data on ozone, particulate matter, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and oxides of nitrogen and others to help pinpoint pollution sources, make links to health impacts, evaluate air pollution control strategies, identify urban air quality trends, and forewarn of emerging air pollution issues.

National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) (EC): A national, legislated, and publicly accessible inventory of pollutant release data for facilities across Canada. It provides information which is used to track progress in reducing releases, identify priorities for action, encourage industry to take voluntary measures to reduce releases, and support regulatory initiatives.

1.2 Environmental Health Surveillance

Chronic Respiratory Surveillance System (HC): (1995/97-present) Information (gathered on a one-time basis) facilitates the monitoring, analysis and interpretation of chronic respiratory mortality and hospitalization trends in Canada, the provinces, territories, and health regions. Data are linked to both patient information and physician treatment practice information on asthma prevention and control. Analyses enable strategies to reduce asthma morbidity and mortality, and for physician education on asthma management. Data include CIHI morbidity and mortality data; Statistics Canada's National Public Health Survey and other population-based prevalence data; and a physician asthma management survey conducted biennially.

1.3 Environment and Public Health Indicators

Air Quality Index (EC): Provides a common scale for integrating individual pollutant concentrations by relating each pollutant measured to its corresponding National Ambient Air Quality Objectives (NAAQO). A sub-index is generated for each pollutant measured, and the pollutant with the highest sub-index value determines the index for that time period. The methodology is currently under review.

Proposed Air Health Indicator (HC/EC): Proposal under the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Joint Health and Environment Deputy Ministers Meeting to make a direct link between air quality and health by measuring improvements in population health based on reductions in ambient fine particulate matter over time. Based on methodology used in a number of epidemiological studies.

NRTEE Air Quality Indicators: As part of their Environment and Sustainable Development Indicators (ESDI) initiative (see below), the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy (NRTEE) is developing a range of air quality indicators -- e.g., population exposure to air pollutants, emissions of oxides of sulphur and of nitrogen, and total greenhouse gas emissions.

National Environmental Indicator Series (EC): These environmental indicators are selected key statistics which summarize a significant aspect of the state of the environment, natural resource sustainability, and related human activities. They include indicators on urban air pollution (e.g., average levels of specific air pollutants in Canadian cities); acid rain (e.g., emissions of sulphur dioxide and wet sulphate deposition); and stratospheric ozone depletion.

Canada-Chile Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (CCAEC) (Canada-Chile Commission for Environmental Cooperation): Under the CCAEC, Canada and Chile have agreed to enhance environmental cooperation and to enforce environmental laws governing water, air, toxic substances, and wildlife. The goal of the CCAEC is to ensure that environmental laws and regulations in both countries provide for high levels of environmental protection. Officials from both countries met in November 2002 to discuss environmental issues of mutual interest, including air quality/health indicators and indices.

Ozone Annex to the Canada-US Clean Air Agreement (HC, EC): The Agreement and the Ozone Annex are core commitments by Canada, EC, and HC to reduce transboundary air pollution. The Annex includes a commitment to report on health effects tracking. HC and EC are proposing to hold a workshop to explore how and what health effects tracking could be done by Canadian and US investigators (e.g., by using hospital data). The health tracking could also include health indicators and use various forms of environmental health surveillance for reporting on the benefits of actions taken to reduce air pollution along the Canada-US border.