BCIT Environmental Public Health Journal
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A survey evaluation of disinfection knowledge comparison between licensed and unlicensed childcare facilities
Get PDFThe concepts of children’s environmental health are crucial for children's health and development. Between the ages of 2 to 5, children are developing their sensory and motor, cognitive, physical, immunological, emotional, social, and language skills. Many children spend long hours in day care facilities, and it is important to ensure a safe and healthy place for them. Environments with insufficient sanitation and hygiene could put children at risk and can also result in the spread of infectious diseases or even further impact their overall development. The purpose of this study was to investigate the disinfection knowledge and behaviour of childcare providers working in both License Required (LR) and License Not Required (LNR) daycare facilities in British Columbia
Practice and attitude of pet owners feeding raw based pet diets compared to non-raw based diets
Get PDFNew trends in raw based diets are putting people at a higher risk for becoming ill from pathogens. An outbreak investigation of pig ears containing Salmonella found over 50% of the tested pig ears were positive for the bacteria and 38% of pet treats contained Salmonella. At the time of the outbreak, pet owners became ill with Salmonella which was believed to be from handling the pig ears or from their ill pets that were carrying the bacteria. An outbreak in Italy involving kibble demonstrates there is a risk when feeding raw and non-raw diets
A statistical comparison of restaurant infractions between Toronto and Vancouver
Get PDFAcross Canada, restaurant inspections are conducted to ensure that the food served to the public in almost all public eating facilities, is safe to consume and sell. The ratings and infractions correspond with the standards a restaurant is operating in compliance with legislation. There have been indications in the past of restaurants in different regions or serving specific types of food, receiving lower ratings than others. Currently, there is a lack of knowledge and research on the difference between major cities in Canada, regarding restaurant infractions. By focussing on Vancouver and Toronto restaurants, this research may provide insight into the different legislation of the two regions, highlight different Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) practices and ultimately provide information for knowledge translation into policies that these regions follow
Assessing infection prevention and control (IPAC) knowledge of tattoo artists of British Columbia
Get PDFTattooing has become very popular in the past 30 years. The prevalence of tattoos has increased such that approximately twenty percent of Canadians have at least one tattoo. The Personal Services Establishments (PSEs) industry in BC lacks stringent regulations. Tattoo studios are a significant part of the PSEs industry. Tattooing includes invasive procedures and as such, has the potential for spreading many types of infections. Proper Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) procedures are required to minimize the risk of infections. The British Columbia Ministry of Health (MoH) guidelines for PSEs provide direction for IPAC, however, these guidelines are not enforceable by Environmental Health Officers. Therefore, the IPAC knowledge of tattoo artists in the absence of stringent regulations and its relationship with various other factors should be assessed to gauge any deficits in knowledge and identify opportunities for education
Assessing the potential health hazards of purchasing prepared foods from unregulated private online sellers
Get PDFSocial media and home-based businesses have taken the internet by storm as large online platforms such as Facebook Marketplace and Instagram have provided an outlet for private online sellers to sell food prepared in their home kitchens to the general public. Home-based sellers are currently unregulated, due to the sheer number of sellers and lack of manpower and resources at health authorities. With the increasing number of unregulated online food sales and the increasing popularity of purchasing foods from online platforms, the hazards associated with food prepared in home kitchens ought to be investigated. Because Potentially Hazardous Foods particularly increase the risk of foodborne illness, the number of listings containing them ought to be quantified
Assessing perceived food security among British Columbian rural and urban residents
Get PDFIn Canada, food security is a key determinant of public health. Food insecurity is an issue faced by 1 in 8 Canadians, both rural and urban. All communities in Canada face various barriers to achieving food security, however these barriers differ depending on rural or urban residence. High cost of food due to transportation costs are a significant barrier in rural communities, whereas cost of living is the predominant barrier for urban communities. Throughout rural and urban communities in Canada the establishment of local food initiatives and agricultural programs have aided to alleviate the impact of food insecurity. This project aims to gauge the perception of food security among rural and urban communities in British Columbia. Understanding how individuals perceive their own food security will help guide policy and decision making to ameliorate food security in British Columbia
Face coverings in post-COVID society to help prevent the transmission of respiratory illnesses on public transit
Get PDFDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, cases of influenza drastically decreased in numerous countries around the world. Several non-pharmaceutical health measures were put in place to help mitigate the spread of the virus, including a mask mandate for public spaces. On public transit, there is potential for respiratory virus spread through droplet transmission and common contact fomites between riders. This study investigated how current residents of Metro Vancouver who use transit at least once per week would support optional guidelines for mask-use during annual flu seasons to help continue to mitigate the transmission of respiratory illnesses after COVID-19 mandates have ended
Sensitivity of infrared sensor faucet on different skin colours and how it can potentially effect equity in public health
Get PDFHand hygiene is essential to human health and day-to-day activities. Maintaining proper hand hygiene can help reduce pathogen growth and transmission of diseases. The automated sensor used for bathroom faucets and soap dispensers can be dated back to the 1950s. These types of fixtures are usually equipped with sensors using a near-infrared beam to detect hands. Its introduction has improved hand hygiene and facilitated good handwashing behaviour. At the same time, disadvantages that come along with advanced technologies should not be neglected, and these disadvantages may lead to inequity in the society
Is Metro Vancouver ready to reduce their waste? An evaluation of returnable/reusable container programs
Get PDFAs the interest in delivery and take-out meals increases, so too does the amount of food packaging that ends up in the landfill. Programs and incentives are already in place and continue to be adjusted to encourage the reduced reliance on these materials. This study focuses on returnable and recyclable container programs (RRCP) and British Columbian’s interest in these programs for Metro Vancouver
Effect of social isolation on COVID-19 risk taking behavior
Get PDFThe Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 has changed the daily lives for everyone. Many governments around the world instituted social distancing measures in order to slow the spread of the Covid-19 virus in the general population. Although social distancing has proven to be effective in slowing down the spread of the Covid-19 virus, it has brought an unintended effect of social isolation and decreases in mental health for many people. Loneliness and the lack of social support for individuals likely played a large part in individuals risk assessment when partaking in social interactions at the expense of Covid-19 exposure. However, social isolation does not affect every individual equally. The effect varies depending on living situation, employment, age, and cultural background. This study examined the relationship between age and ethnicity of individuals and their willingness to participate in social interactions at the expense of exposure to Covid-19