Health Canada sought expert support in advancing its efforts to develop screening values for semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) commonly found in residential indoor environments. Previous work on indoor air contaminants had focused on volatile organic compounds (VOCs), where screening values were developed based on existing inhalation quantitative hazard assessments (QHAs). However, many SVOCs were identified as having insufficient data to establish such values, leaving critical gaps in risk evaluation.

Environment and Climate Change Canada, with Health Canada, wanted to understand perceptions of the health risks from smoke from wildfires and from residential burning (winter heating using wood stoves, and fireplaces), and public health communication approaches and messages used in these contexts. This information would support revisions of the health messages used in the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI). The AQHI expresses the health risk associated with three common urban air pollutants, and is calculated at monitoring stations in communities across Canada to inform the public of the risk level of current local air quality conditions.

To support decision-making around modifications to opioid agonist treatment delivery, a detailed risk assessment was requested to evaluate the integration of secure dispensing devices for direct patient access to hydromorphone. Building on a previously conducted preliminary assessment, the work required a structured framework that would articulate hazards, assess likelihoods and risks, and identify mitigation strategies associated with introducing these devices into service delivery models.

Authorities in Vietnam sought targeted expertise to strengthen the country’s ability to detect, assess, and respond to food safety threats. This initiative had two linked objectives: building a comprehensive, transparent, and reliable national food safety information system, and enhancing risk assessment (RA) capacity at national and sub-national levels. For the information system component, the work…

In response to increasing public concern about the historical use of McIntyre Powder—an aluminum-based substance once administered to miners in Ontario to prevent silicosis—the client sought expert guidance on managing risk communication related to potential health implications. Widespread media coverage and advocacy had raised public awareness and intensified scrutiny, particularly about possible links between aluminum exposure and long-term respiratory and neurological conditions.

The College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) commissioned a systematic review and meta-analysis to support evidence-informed decision-making around age-related cognitive decline among practicing physicians. The initiative was led by CPSA’s Physician Health Monitoring Program (PHMP), which sought to ensure continued competence and public safety in the context of an aging medical workforce.

An international airport authority sought a comprehensive assessment of passenger and vehicle traffic flow after receiving complaints of confusion and safety concerns. Reports indicated that passengers were struggling to interpret signage, often stopping too long to process graphics, which caused line-ups and delays. Lighting problems compounded the issue, with signs placed in poorly illuminated areas.…

The original mandate aimed to find a new direction for the world renowned International Herald Tribune just as both the World Wide Web was in its infancy, and the newspaper faced increased competition from international and regional editions of established newspapers and magazines such as The Economist, The Wall Street Journal, and The Financial Times.