What is a Health Hazard?
Ontario’s Health Protection and Promotion Act defines a health hazard as something that has or is likely to have a negative impact on the health of any person. Health hazards can include:
Air and Water Quality
Lambton Public Health works closely with all levels of government as well as industrial and community stakeholders to ensure that municipal water is safe to drink and that we understand and address health impacts related to air quality in our community.
Our efforts including local beach monitoring during the summer months, working to ensure drinking water supplies are safe for consumption and recreational water is safe for swimming, and working with our partners to provide education to the public on air quality in our area.
Climate Change
As our climate changes and extreme weather events become more regular and severe, Lambton Public Health works with all levels of government to be prepared to help keep people safe and healthy.
This includes helping coordinate warming and cooling centres, extreme temperature notifications, and monitoring and testing for emerging diseases linked to our changing environment.
Housing
Every day, we are exposed to chemicals and pollutants in the air, water, soil, food and products we use in our home. Hazards may include carbon monoxide, household cleaning products mould, and more.
Learn more about health risks that may be present in your home and how to protect against them with the Government of Canada’s healthy home guide.
Radon
Radon is a colourless, odourless, and tasteless naturally occurring gas found in soil, water, and rock and is the second leading cause of lung cancer in Canada behind smoking.
All buldings contain some levels of radon, however high levels in homes can be a health hazard to its occupants.
A 2012 study by Health Canada found approximately 8% of Canadian homes have higher than the recommended levels of radon. In Lambton County, approximately 8.4% of homes meet have higher than the recommended levels of radon.
The only way to know if unsafe levels of radon are in your home is to test for radon, either by purchasing a do-it-yourself kit or by hiring a radon measurement professional.
Health Canada recommends that you test radon in your home every two years OR if you change the air exchange system in your home (i.e., basement renovations, installation of a new HVAC system or air conditioner).
Do-it-yourself testing kits can be purchased at most local hardware stores. If you find radon in your home, contact a certified radon expert who can provide you with the best radon reduction solution.
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Vector-Borne Disease
Vector-borne diseases are caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites typically transmitted from animals or insects.
Common vector-borne diseases include rabies, Lyme disease, West Nile virus, and Avian influenza.
Lambton Public Health conducts ongoing surveillance to manage the risk of emerging diseases and monitor animals that carry these diseases, while also monitoring and responding to positive or suspected human cases.
Public Health Inspectors at Lambton Public Health help prevent and reduce exposure to health hazards in the community and promote the development of healthy built and natural environments.