Health and environment

Environmental quality has direct impact on public health.

Read the following pages to learn more about the connection between health and the environment, and how to prevent health problems associated with the environment.

• Health tips for the summer
• Health tips for the winter

Climate change influences the temperature and frequency of certain weather events, impacting health in many ways. To learn more, read the following pages:

• The health effects of climate change
• Preventing health problems associated with climate change
• The effects of oppressive and extreme heat
• Preventing the effects of oppressive and extreme heat
• The effects of cold temperatures on health
• Preventing the harmful effects of cold temperatures
• Frostbites
• Hypothermia
• Precautions in the event of a winter storm or freezing rain

The sun is essential to life. However, excessive exposure to the UV rays it emits can be harmful to your health. For more information on protective measures against the sun, read the following pages:

• Tanning
• Protection from the sun and UV rays

Indoor and outdoor pollutants, and ragweed can affect your health. Read the following pages to learn more about the possible impact of air pollutants on your health and how to protect yourself:

• Health problems caused by mould
• Finding and eliminating mould from your home
• The effects of asbestos on health
• Preventing health problems associated with asbestos
• Carbon monoxide poisoning
• Preventing carbon monoxide poisoning
• Residential radon
• The health effects of air pollution
• Preventing the health effects of air pollution
• Identifying and limiting the presence of ragweed
• Seasonal rhinitis (hay fever)

Water is essential to your health. To learn more about health problems associated with drinking and bathing water contamination, and how to prevent them, read the following pages:

• Contaminants in drinking water
• Contaminants in drinking water wells
• Health problems associated with bathing waters
• Preventing health problems associated with bathing waters
• Safe use of chlorine to disinfect water in swimming pools and spas
• Preventing health problems associated with blue-green algae

Some insects in Québec can be a health risk. To learn more, read the following pages:

• Lyme disease
• Removing a tick after a bite
• West Nile virus (WNV)
• California serogroup (CSG) viruses
• Protecting yourself from mosquito and tick bites
• Reducing the number of mosquitoes in your surroundings
• Bed bugs bites
• Recognising bed bugs and preventing infestation
• Exterminating bed bugs

• Burns caused by giant hogweed
• Identifying and getting rid of giant hogweed
• Identifying and getting rid of poison ivy
• Allergic reactions caused by poison ivy

• Preventing health problems caused by bats
• Cleaning of an environment contaminated with bat droppings

Noise pollution is an increasing problem. For more information on environmental noise and its physical and psychosocial effects, read the following pages:

• The effects of environmental noise on health
• Preventing the effects of environmental noise on health

Several scientific studies have assessed the perceived risks of radiofrequencies on health. To learn more about radiofrequencies and the results of these studies, read the following pages:

• Demystifying radiofrequencies

• Potential risks of eating fish
• Pesticides and health risks