Environmental issues: Internet resources to keep

Here are a few Internet resources to keep on hand for more information on the following issues that may arise during a building inspection or following an expertise:

Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae)

Concerning the effect of cyanobacteria on health, you may check the Cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins sheet on the website of the Institut national de santé publique du Québec at http://www.inspq.qc.ca/pdf/publications/198-CartableEau.

For any other information on cyanobacteria, please visit the following websites:

• Ministère du Développement durable, de l’Environnement et des Parcs (Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks) at http://www.mddelcc.gouv.qc.ca/eau/flrivlac/algues-en.htm
• Ministère de la santé et des services sociaux (Ministry of Health and Social Services) at http://www.msss.gouv.qc.ca/sujets/santepub/environnement/index.php?aid=46 and http://www.msss.gouv.qc.ca/sujets/santepub/environnement/index.php?algues-bleu-vert_en
• Health Canada at http://www.ec.gc.ca/inre-nwri/default.asp?lang=En&n=99B93178-1

Magnetic fields

For a definition of electric and magnetic waves and detailed information on this topic, visit:

• Health Canada at: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/radiation/cons/electri-magnet/index-eng.php
• Hydro Québec at: http://www.hydroquebec.com/fields/index.html

For a detailed picture on the issue in Québec, check out the report of the Institut national de santé publique du Québec, entitled “Exposition aux champs électromagnétiques: mise à jour des risques pour la santé et pertinence de la mise en oeuvre du principe de precaution” at http://www.inspq.qc.ca/pdf/publications/655-ChampsElectromagnetiques.pdf.

To find out about the point of view of the Bioinitiative Work Group, visit www.bioinitiative.org.

Other useful resources:

• World Health Organization at http://www.who.int/peh-emf/about/WhatisEMF/en/
• Federal-Provincial-Territorial Radiation Protection Committee at http://www.bccdc.ca/healthenv/ElectromagFields/default.htm
• National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (USA) at http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/emf/

Moulds

For general information on this issue, visit the website of the Ministère de la santé et des services sociaux (Ministry of Health and Social Services) at:

• http://www.msss.gouv.qc.ca/sujets/santepub/environnement/index.php?moisissures_en#point7

To learn more on the identification and treatment of mould in homes, visit CMHC’s website at www.cmhc.ca and perform a search using the key word “moulds” or call 1-800-668-2642.

Vermiculite

For general information on this issue, visit Health Canada’s website at http://www.sc-hc.gc.ca/index-eng.php, and more specifically the following link:

• Vermiculite Insulation Containing Amphibole Asbestos