IICPH Newsletter  /  Spring/Summer 2003

Urban Pesticides

Bruce worked on the Toronto pesticide by-law issue, in part, as a member of the group, Partnership for a Pesticide By-Law. In May 2003, Toronto City Council passed a by-law that will restrict outdoor use of pesticides in the City of Toronto which will go into effect in April 2004. It allows some limited use of pesticides for infestations and for public health reasons. It also permits use of some pesticide products that pose little or no health or environmental risks. For those who don’t comply with the by-law, warnings along with educational materials will begin to be issued in the spring of 2005. Full enforcement of the by-law begins in September 2005, with the issuing of up to $250.00 fines for non-compliance.

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

In June of this year, Bruce organized a panel on MCS (multiple chemical sensitivities) for the annual conference of the Environmental Studies Association of Canada (Dalhousie University, Halifax NS). Additionally he co-authored a brochure on MCS in conjunction with the Environmental Health Clinic, Sunnybrook & Women’s College Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, and the Environmental Hypersensitivity Association of Ontario, Toronto. MCS is the name most commonly used to describe a condition that differs from traditional allergy, but that involves loss of tolerance for various chemicals, foods and drugs. Symptoms are triggered by exposure to these substances. Based on population studies, it has been estimated that approximately 4,000,000 adult Canadians suffer from some form of chemical sensitivity, while half a million have the more severe MCS.

Palestinian Children’s Health

In August, Bruce completed a preliminary draft proposal on the crisis in Palestinian Children’s Environmental Health. The proposal has been given the green light by the sponsoring organization, Palestine House, a Palestinian community centre in Mississauga. Subsequently, work is nearing completion on a more comprehensive literature review. Bruce Lofquist: IICPH 2003 Activities

Environment and Health Conference

Prevention, Promotion and Patient Care were the focus at Ryerson University October 3 to 5. Bruce helped facilitate and took part in this conference. Family physicians and other health workers, representatives from Health Canada, Public Health, Ministries of Health, other NGOs attended or took part. Organizers included the Environmental Health Committee of the Ontario College of Family Physicians, and the Environmental Health Clinic, Sunnybrook & Women’s College Health Sciences Centre, Toronto.