To review the Fort Air Partnership's 16-page article that explores the relationship between air quality and human health in the region, click here.
Community Exposure and Health Effects Assessment Program
In 2001, a community exposure and health effects assessment program was conducted to address air quality concerns raised by various interest groups and members of the public. The Fort Air Partnership worked with the Capital Health Authority, the Lakeland Regional Health Authority, the Aspen Regional Health Authority, the Northeast Capital Industrial Association, Alberta's Industrial Heartland Association, Alberta Environment, and Alberta Health and Wellness on this project.
The objectives of the community exposure and health effects assessment are to:
- Describe the population distribution of exposure to airborne chemicals and particulates, and
- Quantify the relative contribution of various exposure sources and pathways to airborne chemicals, and
- Describe associations between exposure to airborne chemicals and human health effects.
All volunteers were asked to wear a set of air monitors for a 7-day period. The monitors were designed to measure individual exposure to various contaminants including sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and a set of volatile organic compounds including benzene, toluene, and xylene. A subset of volunteers also participated in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and particulate matter (PM 2.5) monitoring.
An identical set of monitors were set-up in each participant's home as well as outside their home to help examine relationships between the indoor air and outdoor air. Volunteers also participated in a two-hour appointment, scheduled at their convenience, at the study office to complete a variety of activities, questionnaires, and surveys.
Data collection for the study has been completed with 138 participants finishing the program. The number of participants from rural areas surrounding Fort Saskatchewan area, including Redwater and Bruderheim, makes a rural/urban comparison possible. The study office, which was located in the Fort Mall, Fort Saskatchewan, was shutdown during the middle of November 2001.
A specialized team of researchers has completed data analysis and report writing. The final report is now publicly available.
Click here to view the July 9, 2003 news release about the study results. (20kb PDF)
Click here to view the full 195-page report on the study results. (5.2mb PDF)
The project’s advisory group includes these representatives from industry, Regional Health Authorities, government agencies, and the community:
- Alberta Environment: Mr. Randy Angle
- Alberta Health and Wellness: Dr. Stephan Gabos, Mr. Alexander MacKenzie
- Aspen Regional Health Authority: Dr. Paul Schnee
- Capital Health Authority: Dr. Gerry Predy
- City of Fort Saskatchewan: Councilor Valerie Holowach
- Dow Chemical: Mr. Wil VandenBorn
- Fort Air Partnership: Mr. Warren Sarchuk, Mr. Keith Purves
- Lakeland Regional Health Authority: Dr. Nicholas Bayliss
- Northeast Capital Industrial Association: Mr. Dave Onuczko
- Shell Canada: Dr. Linton Kulak
Alberta Health and Wellness and the Northeast Capital Industrial Association provided major funds for the program, with in-kind contributions coming from the Regional Health Authorities, the Fort Air Partnership, and the other coalition partners.
For more information on the program, please contact:
Merry Turtiak
Alberta Health and Wellness
Telus Plaza North
24th Floor, 10025 Jasper Avenue
Edmonton, AB T5J 1S6
Ph: (780) 422-4783
Fax: (780) 427-1470
E-mail: Merry.Turtiak@gov.ab.ca