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

Inventory of Data Sources

Environmental Cancer Risk Surveillance System (Health Canada)

Contacts
Ken Johnson
Surveillance and Risk Assessment Division
Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control
Population and Public Health Branch
Health Canada
Tel: (613) 957-0339
Fax: (613) 941-2057
E-mail: Ken_LCDC_Johnson@hc-sc.gc.ca

Anne-MarieUgnat
[Affiliation same as above]
Tel: (613) 941-8498
Fax: (613) 941-2057
E-mail: Anne-Marie_Ugnat@hc-sc.gc.ca

Organization Maintaining the Database
Health Canada

Purpose of Database
Stores data used to assess the risk of cancer from environment-related factors, and monitors known environmental risk factors. The goal is to establish a nationwide, population-based cancer risk assessment surveillance system and to ensure effective use of the data by providing national, provincial, and community-level information on cancer determinants. This information supports the development of policies (e.g., standards) and the implementation of recommended preventive measures.

Content
Data on environmental risk factors for cancer (e.g., chlorination by-products); environmentally induced cancers; and cancer risk assessment. Data types: environmental; epidemiological; clinical; behavioural; risk factors.

Coverage Period
1995/1996 to 1996/1997

Data Updates
Quarterly

Data Providers
Provincial cancer registries provide case-control data; the Environmental Quality Database (Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control, Health Canada) generates information on individual environmental, lifestyle, and behavioural risk factors. Additional environmental data are derived from public sources (e.g., Environment Canada's National Pollutant Release Inventory; and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency).

Data Availability
Not applicable

Reports
Reports can be provided to local public health officials alerting them of potential "hot spots", or presenting them with data derived from residential information linked to environmental databases containing survey data on community air and water quality; and which indicate links to cancer risk. Information derived from this database may also be used in articles appearing in periodical literature, as well as such publications as atlases.