Index of Public Health Resources by Topic or Issue

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Abbreviations

Abbreviations used in Public Health, and a Glossary of Public Health Terms [PDF]

Advocacy

Access and Equity

See also Social Determinants of Health

Active Living

see also Nutrition
see also Chronic Disease Prevention

  • Healthy Eating & Physical Activity: Addressing Inequities in Urban Environments [PDF], May, 2007
    Urban communities present a set of distinct opportunities and challenges for those working to increase the availability of healthy eating and physical activity opportunities. This report captures a dynamic discussion among experts with extensive "on the ground experience" who joined together to discuss issues like communitywide impact, sustainability, and partnerships for improving food and activity opportunities in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods.

  • Living School: How School Communities Change Health-Promoting Attitudes and Increase Daily Physical Activity Levels [PDF], research article, Ronnalea Hamman, MSc., Ontario Physical and Health Education Association (Ophea), January, 2006

    Living School brings together entire communities –students, parents, teachers, administrators, boards of education, public health, sport and recreation organizations, community coalitions, local businesses, and municipal governments - to work to support and enhance active, healthy living for all children and youth.

Air Quality

  • No Breathing Room: National Illness Costs of Air Pollution [PDF] - The CMA's report entitled No Breathing Room: National Illness Costs of Air Pollution, shows the effects of poor air quality based on the concentrations of two highly predictive pollutants - ozone and particulate matter - on four distinct age groups of Canadians. Canadian Medical Association, 2008

  • An Experimental Investigation of Tobacco Smoke Pollution in Cars [PDF] - This report presents the findings of a study examining levels of Tobacco Smoke Pollution (TSP, also known as second-hand smoke or environmental tobacco smoke) in cars. TSP has been identified as a serious public health threat. Ontario Tobacco Research Unit, 2008

  • School Buses, Air Pollution and Children's Health: Improving Children's Health and Local Air Quality by Reducing School Bus Emissions (PDF, 4.9MB), November, 2005

    Author: Kim Perrotta, Air Quality Coordinator, OPHA Air Quality Program
    Date: November 2005
    Description: This report examines the air pollution associated with school buses, the exposure of children on-board school buses, and assesses the impacts of various fuels and technologies on tailpipe emissions and on air quality inside school buses.

  • Upwind Downwind: Cities, Air, and Health - Clean Air Hamilton is a multi-stakeholder group dedicated to improving air quality in Hamilton’s community. The group is committed to improving citizens’ health and quality of life through communication and promotion of realistic, science-based decision-making and sustainable practices. Their annual conference will be held February 27-28, 2006.

  • Beyond Coal: Power, Public Health and the Environment [PDF, 812kb]

    Author: Kim Perrotta, Air Quality Coordinator, OPHA Air Quality Program
    Date: November 2002
    Description: This report focuses on Ontario's electrical sector, its impact on air quality, human health and the environment. In May 2002, Ontario's electrical market was opened to competition, a change that presents both risks and opportunities.

    With a visionary regulatory framework, a competitive electrical sector could actually encourage the development of alternative energy sources, co-generation, and energy efficiency measures that would be beneficial to air quality, human health and the environment. However, without the proper regulatory framework, competition could lead to increased use of electricity and greater reliance on coal-fired power plants, which could result in further degradation of air quality and the environment, and greater harm to human health.

    The increased use of coal-fired power plants is a concern because they are significant contributors of the air emissions that lead to:

    • global climate change;
    • smog;
    • acid rain; and
    • mercury contamination of the aquatic food chain.

  • Fuelling Clean Air: Municipal Fuel Purchasing Policies that Reduce Emissions Contributing to Poor Air Quality & Climate Change [PDF, 496kb]

    Author: Kim Perrotta, Air Quality Coordinator, OPHA Air Quality Program
    Date: March 2003
    Description: This report represents a preliminary examination of fuel purchasing practices that can be adopted by local or regional governments to reduce air emissions that contribute to poor air quality and/or global climate change.

  • Air Pollution from Wood-burning Fireplaces and Stoves

    Author: Dr. Sheela Brarsur
    Date: December 2002
    Description:"Dr. Basrur's report, "Air Pollution from Wood-burning Fireplaces and Stoves", describes the emissions from burning wood in the home and their potential health impacts. These emissions can affect the air quality both indoor and outdoor. Dr. Basrur identifies ways for residents and governments to substantially reduce emissions from residential wood burning." (from the Toronto Public Health website)

  • The AQ Plan

    Author: Middlesex-London Health Unit
    Date: November 2001
    Description:"The AQ Plan proposes to focus on public education, energy efficiency, air monitoring, land use planning, transportation, hydrogen and alternative fuels, fuel cell technology, ozone catalysts, District Heating and Cooling, wind and solar power, plasma gasification and anaerobic digester gas systems, lake water cooling, etc., all designed and implemented with due consideration to the social, economic and political factors involved. This report presents the details associated with The AQ Plan and how it will be implemented both here and abroad." (from the report's Executive Summary)

  • C.A.N. DO, The Lung Association's environmental health program

    Author: The Lung Association
    Description:This website includes resources such as the "Clean the Air", "Air Quality Fact Sheet" and "Smog Backgrounder".

  • Countdown Coal [PDF]

    Author: Ontario Clean Air Alliance
    Date: February, 2003
    Description:"On September 18, 2002, the Government of Ontario promised to completely phase-out Ontario Power Generation's five coal-fired power plants by 2015. This is the most significant commitment ever made by a Government of Ontario to reduce air pollution. However, the people of Ontario cannot afford to endure another twelve summers of smog alerts before the coal plants are eliminated. This report will outline:

    • the public health and environmental benefits of phasing-out Ontario's dirty coal-fired power plants before 2015; and
    • b) a strategy to phase-out our coal-fired power plants by 2010 or sooner. (from the Report's introduction)

  • 2001 Clean Air Hamilton Progress Report [PDF]

    Author: City of Hamilton
    Date: 2001
    Description:This report describes annual progress in improving air quality in the City of Hamilton by summarizing community initiatives, analyzing trends in air quality and recommending strategies for improvements to air quality.

  • The Health Effects of Ground-Level Ozone

    Author: Ontario Medical Association
    Date: May 1998
    Description:The purpose of this paper is to outline the position of the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) with regard to the adverse health effects of these air pollutants. The negative effects are particularly significant for children because they are exposed as they play out-of-doors.

  • OMA Smog-Wise Information Program

    Author: Ontario Medical Association

  • The Smog Primer

    Author: Pollution Probe, www.pollutionprobe.org
    Date: June 2002
    Description: The Smog Primer has been developed to build public understanding of the sources of smog pollutants, their effects on human health, and the things we can do to reduce smog pollution and protect ourselves and our children from harm.

  • The State of the Environment (SOE): Atmosphere Report

    Author: Region of Peel
    Date: 2002
    Description: the 2002 Atmosphere Report explores air quality and atmospheric issues in Peel Region, and examines national and global environmental issues such as climate change from a Peel perspective.

  • Ten Key Carcinogens in Toronto Workplaces and Environment: Assessing the Potential for Exposure

    Author: Kim Perrotta and Ronald McFarlane, Toronto Public Health, Health Promotion & Environmental Protection Office
    Date: March, 2002
    Description: This report identifies gaps in information on exposure to carcinogens, and calls on the provincial and federal governments to take action to address urgent public health issues identified by the research.

  • Toronto's Air: Let's Make it Healthy [PDF]

    Author: Ronald Macfarlane, Monica Campbell, and Dr. Sheela V. Basrur, Toronto Public Health, Health Promotion & Environmental Protection Office
    Date: December, 2000
    Description: (from the City of Toronto website) "This report provides information on the serious impact of air pollution on the health of people living in Toronto. It is our hope that this report will serve as a catalyst for further action to improve the air quality not only in the city, but also in the whole region.

    The report summarizes results from the May 2000 Toronto Public Health study: Air Pollution Burden of Illness in Toronto. It includes an overview of air quality trends and pollution sources in the Toronto. It indicates some of the initiatives the City has already taken to help improve Toronto's air quality and points to additional actions that will be needed to reduce the adverse impact of air pollution in Toronto."

  • Region of Waterloo Clean Air Plan Discussion Paper [PDF]
    Click on the above link or go to the Regional Municipality of Waterloo website (www.region.waterloo.on.ca), choose "Health" under the "Living Here" menu, choose "Environmental Health" under the "Services" menu, click on Air Quality (Outdoor) and scroll down to the report link.

Alcohol Policy

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