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Smoking + Radon = Dangerous combination
Statistically, 1 in 20 people who have a high concentration of radon gas in their homes will develop lung cancer. However, if you smoke on top of this, your chances of developing lung cancer are 1 in 3. Don’t let the two leading causes of lung cancer stand…
Emergency Preparedness
expand_moreMake A Plan
Take time to consider what you will do if you or a family/household member becomes sick and needs care.
If you are responsible for dependents, including young children or elderly relatives, consider putting in place alternative care plans should you…
Regular testing of your private well is important to make sure your water is safe for you and your family to drink. Bacteria such as E. coli can contaminate your well making it unsafe to drink. The risk is higher if you have animals in the area – especially on farms with livestock and other animals…
Like public beaches, pools and other artificial recreational waters are great places to have fun and cool off in the summer. However, they can also be a breeding ground for recreational waterborne illnesses (RWIs), including a wide variety of infections such as gastrointestinal, skin, ear,…
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Background
Public health inspectors from the Thunder Bay District Health Unit visit personal service settings to make sure operators are meeting the minimum requirements under Ontario law; Ontario Regulation 136/18: Personal…
We all deserve safe drinking water. One of the Thunder Bay District Health Unit’s role is to prevent and reduce water-borne illness related to drinking water. The TBDHU does this in a number of ways, including:
Surveillance and inspection of drinking water systems;
Timely response to drinking…
Mould in the corner of a room.
Mould is a health hazard. It is a type of fungus – or more accurately, a group of different kinds of fungi – that can grow in damp areas in public places and in your home. The Thunder Bay District Health Unit’s role is to:
Inspect public areas as necessary and…
Home. It’s where we should feel most safe – and part of the Thunder Bay District Health Unit’s role is to help you keep it that way. Possible health hazards in your home such as those listed below are either preventable or can be planned for. Whether you are a homeowner or a tenant, all it takes is…
The environment affects our children more than it does adults for various reasons (read on below). The Thunder Bay District Health Unit’s role is to inform the public about these risks and provide information on how to reduce them. We want to help you ensure your children – and all children living…
Ammonia is a colourless gas with a very distinct odour. People may readily recognize this smell because it is used in many household cleaners and window cleaning products. High levels of airborne ammonia gas can dissolve in water to cause corrosive ammonium hydroxide. Most people smell ammonia…
Radon is an invisible, odourless radioactive gas that can be found in homes across Canada. It is produced naturally in the ground as uranium breaks down. The resulting gas can seep through cracks in the foundation, pipe openings, sump pits, and other openings into your home. Although it is present…
We all love sunny days, but the sun can be damaging to our health without the proper precautions. Holes in the Earth’s natural defence against ultraviolet (UV) rays – the ozone layer – have left us at an even higher risk for skin cancer.
The role of the Thunder Bay District Health Unit is to raise…
The tools used in body art services (including tattoos, body piercing and micro-pigmentation – also known as “permanent makeup”) and salon services (including manicures and pedicures) often come into contact with blood and other bodily fluids. This increases the risk for transmitting serious…
Air quality has a direct impact on our health. Certain medical conditions including asthma, COPD and bronchitis can be triggered or worsened by poor air quality, resulting in lost activity days, hospitalization and in extreme cases death. There is also a growing awareness of radon, a naturally…
In Thunder Bay District, the most common threat to air quality is wildfire smoke. The role of Thunder Bay District Health Unit (TBDHU) is to raise awareness and provide information about this health concern. This page has information on steps you can take to protect your health during wildfire…