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

Health and Environment Initiatives and Activities

7) Integrated Monitoring or Surveillance Activities (General / Multiple Sources)

7.1 Environmental Monitoring

Canadian Information System for the Environment (CISE) (EC): Aimed at providing a platform for an integrated system for access to environmental data and information. Initial priorities are projects that provide data to support NRTEE's sustainable development indicators, and those relating to water quality. EC funds pilot projects under CISE (e.g., Safe Water Information System, Canada-wide Water Quality Data Referencing System). Plans are to establish priorities for the next phase of implementation. The CISE Secretariat is also working on water issues to meet needs identified by the provinces; and is leading a study to determine the "demand side" for water information.

Waterborne Disease and Climate Change (HC, EC, Guelph University): A 3-year study funded by HC and conducted by a multi-disciplinary team. The objective is to describe the complex inter-relationships between weather, water quantity, and water quality, and impacts on waterborne disease in Canada. A retrospective analysis will be conducted to identify areas which may be vulnerable to increased risk of waterborne illness due to climate change.

7.2 Environmental Health Surveillance

North American Regional Action Plan on Monitoring and Assessment (HC): Currently under development as part of the tri-lateral initiative under a NAFTA side-agreement (North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation) and is part of the Sound Management of Chemicals Initiative (SMOC). Purpose is to monitor and assess the long-range atmospheric transport and environmental levels of contaminants such as POPs and metals at core sites, building on existing data. The human component would include trend data on tissue levels of these contaminants.

Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) (Arctic Council: 8 Arctic countries including Canada): Monitors levels of anthropogenic pollutants (e.g., mercury, cadmium, lead; PCBs, organochlorine pesticides) in the circumpolar Arctic environment (air, water, wildlife, traditional foods, and human blood and breast milk); and assessing related health effects (e.g., reproductive, neurological, and immunological effects).

Northern Contaminants Program (DIAND in partnership with HC, EC, DFO, territorial governments, and northern Aboriginal organizations): The NCP determines temporal and spatial trends of contaminants in the Arctic ecosystem and its peoples. Purpose is to develop a sound scientific basis for international action to reduce the input of pollutants (e.g., POPs, heavy metals) from distant sources. The results of NCP research and monitoring activities are the main Canadian contribution to the Arctic Council's AMAP, and also support the North American Regional Action Plan on Monitoring and Assessment.

Quebec City Consensus Conference on Environmental Health Surveillance (International Joint Commission): Discussed challenges in environmental health monitoring and surveillance and the possibility for reaching consensus. Topics included: a strategy for developing environmental health indicators for rural Canada; sentinel human health indicators to evaluate the health status of vulnerable communities; and information technologies in environmental health surveillance. Selected papers published in the Canadian Journal of Public Health, v. 93 s. 1, Sept/Oct 2002.

7.3 Environment and Public Health Indicators

Environmental Indicators (EC): EC has been reporting on environmental indicators since 1990 in the National Environmental Indicator Series, State of the Environment Reports, issue-based publications, and on-line indicator bulletins. These indicators include those on urban air quality, urban water quality, acid rain, and climate change (e.g., carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel use, global atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases, global and Canadian temperature variations). Two reports were due to be released in Fall 2002 "Green Signals: The Environment Minister's Headline Indicators," and "Ten Years of Reporting: Canada's Environmental Indicator Series."

Environmental Public Health Indicators (EPHI) (HC, EC, CIHI): At an October 2001 workshop, discussions focused on a framework for developing EPHIs and recommendations for a practical set of EPHIs, e.g., for outdoor air quality. Goal is to develop a long-term strategy for identifying indicators for multiple sources and at various levels. Draft indicator sets since Oct 2001 include: air and the atmosphere (outdoor and indoor air quality, UV radiation, climate change): water and aquatic systems (drinking water, recreational water); land (contamination, waste disposal); and food (contamination of food sources).

Sustainable Development Indicators (NRTEE): The NRTEE has undertaken a 3-year project to develop a set of Canadian environment and sustainable development indicators (ESDI). These indicators will assist in integrating environmental and social considerations into economic decision-making by governments, business, and society, as well as track overall progress towards sustainability. A preliminary set has been developed with further refinement expected over the next year. Final report is anticipated in March 2003.