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.

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.

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…

To enhance the effectiveness of health product risk communications, a systematic evaluation was requested to assess the performance of key instruments used to disseminate safety and efficacy information. The aim was to support efforts under the Evaluating the Effectiveness of Risk Communications (EERC) initiative by identifying methodologies and metrics that could measure how well these tools reach their intended audience, how clearly messages are conveyed, and what impact they have on knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours.

A federal agency required scientific support to enhance the effectiveness of its environmental enforcement activities. This involved identifying and analyzing the risk factors—both environmental and human health-related—that contribute to the likelihood and impact of regulatory offences. The objective was to develop a structured approach to prioritize enforcement actions under key legislative frameworks including the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, the Fisheries Act, the Species at Risk Act, and others.

Facing renewed challenges in securing a reliable domestic plasma supply, Canadian Blood Services sought support to apply a Risk-Based Decision-Making (RBDM) framework. The objective was to assess the value and implications of expanding domestic plasma collection and processing capacity in response to the emergence of commercial plasma operations that export plasma to international markets.

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.

To advance the Government of Canada’s Chemicals Management Plan (CMP), a virtual expert workshop was planned and hosted to refine and evaluate a Canadian framework for the Environmental Public Health Approach (EPHA) to chemicals. The initiative focused on developing case study models that could serve as a foundation for more comprehensive assessments linking chemical exposures…

To support its Standards to Support Resilient Infrastructure Program, the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) launched a national consultation campaign to identify and prioritize climate-related standardization needs. SCC required a flexible risk prioritization framework to evaluate the relative urgency and impact of various standardization topics related to climate change adaptation and mitigation, especially in the infrastructure sector.