Science of Health blog posts - 2024

World AIDS Day, observed every year on December 1, is a time to honour the lives of those affected by HIV and AIDS, remember those lost, and reflect on the ongoing efforts to address HIV.

Generally speaking, we don’t think much about radiological emergencies because we don’t often experience them in Canada. Should one happen though, the potential effects could be quite serious.

Silicone bakeware has gained popularity as a replacement for traditional non-stick bakeware due to its versatility and ease of use. However, as with anything purchased for use in the kitchen, we want to be confident that harmful chemicals aren’t being released into food or the air through their use.

Chemicals are everywhere – in air, soil, water, products and food. And they can enter our bodies when we eat, breathe, and through our skin. Every day, we are exposed to a myriad of chemicals, whether they are human-made or occur naturally in the environment.

Generally, when thinking of stress, the causes are often school, work, finances, or other personal challenges. But what if the air we breathe contributes to the stress our body feels? Most of us are exposed to air pollutants everyday, both inside and outside our homes, and what is in the air we breathe has an impact on our health.

Firefighters put their lives on the line every day to protect us from wildfires, house fires and everything in between. Evidence shows that they are more likely to develop certain types of cancer, as well as chronic conditions such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Researchers are working to better protect these modern-day heroes while they do their job.

Have you ever wondered about the air you breathe? From city streets to countryside valleys, air quality can impact your health. Thanks to advancements in technology, monitoring air quality is becoming easier and more accessible than ever before.

Scientists at the Public Health Agency of Canada’s (PHAC) National Microbiology Laboratory encourage students to get involved in a new citizen science project monitoring the tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus), an invasive species first detected in the Windsor/Essex region of Ontario in 2016. These mosquitoes can spread infectious diseases that pose risks to people’s health.

Dr. Heather Coatsworth is passionate about bugs.

So much so, she has made it part of her life’s work. An entomologist by training, she has brought this passion to her role as Chief of the Field Studies program at the Public Health Agency of Canada’s (PHAC) National Microbiology Laboratory (NML), where part of her job is researching Lyme disease.

Best before dates get a lot of attention these days, including being subject to misinformation (spoiler alert: they are about freshness, not safety, and are not being eliminated). So what's the real tea on best before dates?

If you’ve fallen behind on nutrition labelling news, no worries, we’ve got you covered! In August 2021, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Health Canada published a food labelling coordination policy.

What do we all do when purchasing products like perfumes, candles, dish soaps, or herbal teas? Make sure we like the scent, of course!

Almost everything we do depends on electricity - cooking, cleaning, working, you name it! The way in which electricity is generated can impact our environment, our economy, and our health.