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September 2026

Private wells—building resilience to wildfires

After a wildfire, private well owners may require additional support to assess damages and contamination, restore drinking water safety, and test their water quality. This article provides an overview of the evidence-based guidance that can support preparedness, response, and recovery.

Beyond particles: How well do portable air cleaners target VOCs?

To improve indoor air quality during wildfire smoke episodes, portable air cleaners (PACs) are widely recommended for trapping fine particles (PM2.5) from smoke. However, wildfire smoke also generates other harmful gaseous pollutants like volatile organic compounds. This blog examines current standards and technologies to determine how effectively PACs can also remove these pollutants.

From the health effects of wildfire smoke to cold weather exposure: New additions to our journal articles collection

Featured this month in our journal articles collection are two recent publications co-authored by NCCEH Scientific Director Sarah Henderson. A review in The Lancet examines emerging evidence on wildfire smoke and health, while a BMC Public Health study investigates cold weather-related mortality among people with and without experiences of homelessness in British Columbia. The latter study is also the focus of this month’s NCCEH EH webinar, featuring lead author Jiayun Yao (BCCDC) and Silvina Mema (Interior Health).

Upcoming webinar

Public health impacts of cold weather:
Epidemiologic evidence and policy considerations

September 24, 2026 | 12:00 – 1:00 PM Pacific Time

Dr. Silvina Mema
Deputy Chief Medical Health Officer, Interior Health
Jiayun Angela Yao, PhD
Senior Scientist, Environmental Health Services, BCCDC

Register free

Research scan

September 2026 environmental health research scan

This monthly research scan highlights recent environmental health publications by topic and provides easy access to article abstracts and report summaries to support public health professionals, researchers, planners, students, and others working in public health.

Announcements

Climate Resiliency, Emergency and Disaster Management Standard

Health Standards Organization (HSO) is developing a new national standard, CAN/HSO 9002:2026 Climate Resiliency, Emergency and Disaster Management. They invite you to share your feedback from September 15 to November 16, 2026.

One Health Forum
Operationalizing One Health: From Science to Practice
November 18, 2026 | 10:30am - 5:00pm PT

Hosted by the UBC Centre for Disease Control, in partnership with the BC Centre for Disease Control and Pacific Public Health Foundation

The One Health Forum will facilitate information exchange and relationship-building around One Health priorities by bringing together human, animal, and environmental health practitioners. Through engaging in discussions, sharing innovative research, and showcasing collaborative initiatives, this free and hybrid event seeks to strengthen cross-sector and cross-jurisdictional partnerships, highlight emerging challenges and opportunities, and inspire actionable strategies that advance a holistic, systems-level approach to health.

Register here

CES Call for papers | Community-driven nutrient management in agroecosystems

Contaminants, Environment, and Society is building a collection of papers to highlight the research, innovations, and policies addressing nutrient dynamics that are developed or led by communities living in and alongside agroecosystems. Topics include:

  • Human dimensions of exposure: Contributions that examine the health and socio-economic implications of nitrogen and phosphorus exposure, specifically within marginalized or frontline communities.
  • Governance and policy frameworks: Analyses of the regulatory frameworks that govern nitrogen and phosphorus, especially regarding how communities are included or excluded from decision-making.

Submission deadline: December 31, 2026.
For more information and to submit, please visit the website.

Webinar recording

Cracking the case: A multi-strain Salmonella outbreak in Canada linked to pistachios and pistachio-containing products
A multi-strain Salmonella outbreak in Canada linked to pistachios and pistachio-containing products

External events

September 25
First Nation wildfire evacuations: Insights from research with First Nations in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario

October 1
Relational Research: An Indigenous Health Research Symposium

October 1
Building foundations: A beginners guide to program evaluation in public health 
(Hosted by CCNMO)

October 2
Independent Environmental Monitoring Program (IEMP)

October 4-8
The exposome in action: Collaborative science for healthier people and stronger communities

October 9
Hidden in plain sight: Heat and the deaths that aren’t called heat deaths

October 16
Where do we spend our time? Changes in indoor and outdoor environmental exposure in Canada before, during, and after the pandemic

See more external events

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