Latest news with #UniversityofAlberta
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
20 blue-green algae advisories issued for Alberta lakes this summer
Albertans are being reminded to watch out for blue-green algae as they visit lakes this summer, even though the province has yet to experience a prolonged heatwave which people often associate with the potentially toxic blooms. Alberta Health Services has issued 20 advisories for lakes since the end of May. Blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, occurs naturally and can look like grass clippings, powder, scum or fuzz floating in the water. While it can be blue-green in colour it can also appear brown or pinkish-red. Some cyanobacteria blooms can produce toxins which can make animals and people sick. The blooms thrive under certain conditions. Often people think of hot weather as driving growth, and while that is true, precipitation can also play a key role in their development, according to Rolf Vinebrooke, who studies cyanobacteria at the University of Alberta. Runoff can carry key nutrients, including phosphorous, into the lakes, he noted. "If you don't have very warm lakes but you do have a lot of precipitation, the phosphorus coming in off the land could actually promote growth by these guys," said Vinebrooke, a professor of biological sciences at the university. "I think that that might actually be what's causing this one because … the temperatures haven't been exceptionally high. So this might actually just be that we've had enough runoff from the land, from rainfall, that they've got enough of that essential nutrient to start growing." With temperatures rising this week, he expects more lakes will be impacted because the heat creates prime conditions for the blue-green algae to grow. And Vinebrooke said the blooms could be even more intense in September given this year's weather patterns. "So this is not going to be over in August possibly." Stay out, experts warn Alberta Health Services warns against swimming or wading in bodies of water where blue-green algae is present. That goes for both people and pets, who should also avoid ingesting the water. Symptoms of contact with the toxins include skin irritation, rash, sore throat, swollen lips, and red eyes. Ingesting contaminated water can lead to fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle or joint pain and in rare cases liver damage. "I want to emphasize that [liver damage] is rare but it's most important to avoid that situation if at all possible," said Dr. Kathryn Koliaska, a medical officer of health with Alberta Health Services. Children are at higher risk if exposed to blue-green algae, according to Koliaska. "Kids are smaller so it's easier for them to become sick from the same amount of exposure," she said. "Plus when kids are out and about and playing in the water and swimming it may be easier for them to swallow some of that water. So pay special attention to kids." People should never drink or cook with untreated water from any recreational body of water and boiling water will not remove cyanobacteria toxins, according to AHS. Koliaska suggests people check the AHS website for advisories before heading to a lake, watch for posted signs, and inspect the water for any signs of the algae. If contact occurs, rinse off right away, watch for symptoms and get medical help if needed, she advised. When it comes to consuming fish caught in contaminated lakes, Koliaska said cooked fillets are generally considered safe to consume, but she advises against eating any of the trimmings or feeding them to pets. Death among people due to exposure is rare, worldwide. But according to the government of Canada, many more animal deaths have been reported after they drink contaminated water or lick algae either off their fur or paws or when it has been washed up on shore. "They'll drink the water unknowingly. And there are toxins produced by blue-green algae that target the liver and or the nervous system. And there are recorded pet deaths caused by blue-green algae around the world probably every year," said Vinebrooke. Toxins can still be present after the obvious signs of blue-green algae disappear from the surface of a lake, according to Vinebrooke.
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
20 blue-green algae advisories issued for Alberta lakes this summer
Albertans are being reminded to watch out for blue-green algae as they visit lakes this summer, even though the province has yet to experience a prolonged heatwave which people often associate with the potentially toxic blooms. Alberta Health Services has issued 20 advisories for lakes since the end of May. Blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, occurs naturally and can look like grass clippings, powder, scum or fuzz floating in the water. While it can be blue-green in colour it can also appear brown or pinkish-red. Some cyanobacteria blooms can produce toxins which can make animals and people sick. The blooms thrive under certain conditions. Often people think of hot weather as driving growth, and while that is true, precipitation can also play a key role in their development, according to Rolf Vinebrooke, who studies cyanobacteria at the University of Alberta. Runoff can carry key nutrients, including phosphorous, into the lakes, he noted. "If you don't have very warm lakes but you do have a lot of precipitation, the phosphorus coming in off the land could actually promote growth by these guys," said Vinebrooke, a professor of biological sciences at the university. "I think that that might actually be what's causing this one because … the temperatures haven't been exceptionally high. So this might actually just be that we've had enough runoff from the land, from rainfall, that they've got enough of that essential nutrient to start growing." With temperatures rising this week, he expects more lakes will be impacted because the heat creates prime conditions for the blue-green algae to grow. And Vinebrooke said the blooms could be even more intense in September given this year's weather patterns. "So this is not going to be over in August possibly." Stay out, experts warn Alberta Health Services warns against swimming or wading in bodies of water where blue-green algae is present. That goes for both people and pets, who should also avoid ingesting the water. Symptoms of contact with the toxins include skin irritation, rash, sore throat, swollen lips, and red eyes. Ingesting contaminated water can lead to fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle or joint pain and in rare cases liver damage. "I want to emphasize that [liver damage] is rare but it's most important to avoid that situation if at all possible," said Dr. Kathryn Koliaska, a medical officer of health with Alberta Health Services. Children are at higher risk if exposed to blue-green algae, according to Koliaska. "Kids are smaller so it's easier for them to become sick from the same amount of exposure," she said. "Plus when kids are out and about and playing in the water and swimming it may be easier for them to swallow some of that water. So pay special attention to kids." People should never drink or cook with untreated water from any recreational body of water and boiling water will not remove cyanobacteria toxins, according to AHS. Koliaska suggests people check the AHS website for advisories before heading to a lake, watch for posted signs, and inspect the water for any signs of the algae. If contact occurs, rinse off right away, watch for symptoms and get medical help if needed, she advised. When it comes to consuming fish caught in contaminated lakes, Koliaska said cooked fillets are generally considered safe to consume, but she advises against eating any of the trimmings or feeding them to pets. Death among people due to exposure is rare, worldwide. But according to the government of Canada, many more animal deaths have been reported after they drink contaminated water or lick algae either off their fur or paws or when it has been washed up on shore. "They'll drink the water unknowingly. And there are toxins produced by blue-green algae that target the liver and or the nervous system. And there are recorded pet deaths caused by blue-green algae around the world probably every year," said Vinebrooke. Toxins can still be present after the obvious signs of blue-green algae disappear from the surface of a lake, according to Vinebrooke.
Global News
a day ago
- Climate
- Global News
From tree cover to green roofs, how are cities fighting extreme heat?
As a heat wave grips parts of Ontario amid a scorching summer, some Canadian cities have been trying new techniques to try to tackle extreme heat, which can quickly turn deadly. A Statistics Canada study last year showed there were roughly 670 deaths between 2000 and 2020 attributable to extreme heat events in 12 Canadian cities. In 2021, a heat dome in British Columbia killed an estimated 619 people in one week. And this week, temperatures in parts of Ontario are set to feel like the mid-40s C — and cities can feel the heat keenly due to how they're built, experts say. 'The surfaces in the cities are such that they absorb more heat and that causes the entire environment to become hotter and the temperature rises as well,' said Sandeep Agrawal, a professor at the University of Alberta's School of Urban and Regional Planning. Story continues below advertisement It's due to the 'urban heat island effect,' which can make a city one to three degrees hotter than the surrounding area during the day and warmer at night, according to decades of urban studies. Among the reasons are glassy or concrete skyscrapers that absorb a lot of heat during the day and take longer to cool down at night. James Voogt, a Western University professor of geography and environment, said heat is a top 'weather hazard.' 'Our ability to physiologically respond to those is relatively slow,' he said. From increasing tree cover to installing 'green' roofs, here's how some Canadian cities have been trying new techniques to try to tackle extreme heat. What's been done to cool cities down so far? A study by the European Commission in 2023 found that increasing tree coverage to 30 per cent in European cities could lower temperatures by an average 0.4 C, with a maximum effect of 5.9 C in some areas, avoiding 2,644 premature deaths. Story continues below advertisement Planting more trees is one approach some Canadian cities are using. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Toronto plans to increase the number of trees covering streets to 40 per cent canopy cover by 2050 by planting about 120,000 trees a year. 'So you want to make use of strategic planting of trees to try to take advantage of the fact that a tree cools by shading a surface and a tree cools by evapo-transpiring water,' Voogt said. 'So if you strategically locate your tree well, you can get maximum benefit.' In May, Vancouver approved an update to its urban forest strategy with a goal of covering 30 per cent of the city with tree canopy by 2050. 1:55 'Wet-bulb' temperatures: What are they and why can they be so deadly? Trees take time to grow, but they can still benefit cities in the long term, said Sara Barron, program director for the Master of Urban Forestry Leadership Program at the University of British Columbia. Story continues below advertisement 'That immediate impact, it's not going to help maybe with next year's heat wave, but we know climate change is a shift that's going to be happening for years,' she said. Voogt cautioned that it may be difficult to just dig up areas of downtown Toronto to plant trees, but green roofs are an alternative. The Urban Land Institute said green roofs replace dark surfaces with soil and vegetation, noting that the 'greening' of five per cent of Toronto's area lowered citywide temperatures by an estimated 1.5 to two degrees. Toronto implemented a green roof bylaw in 2009, requiring new commercial and industrial developments of more than 2,000 square metres to incorporate them. Other cities have also taken steps, including Saskatoon, which offers a stormwater credit for commercial buildings with green roofs, and Port Coquitlam, B.C., which fast-tracks development applications that incorporate green roofs. There are also other techniques cities are using outside of Canada. The Spanish city of Murcia implemented 61 measures to adapt to extreme heat, including resurfacing dark asphalt roads with lighter-coloured materials to reflect sunlight, with Dallas doing something similar by installing reflective pavement. The Texas city has also required new buildings to use materials that reflect solar heat on at least 75 per cent of the surface or have 50 per cent of the roof covered by vegetation. Story continues below advertisement Still more to do, experts say While some cities have taken steps, Agrawal said 'better design' is needed. 'So incorporating more vegetation, vegetation cover and tree canopies, (and) permeable material within the built environment I think would lead to a more sort of sustainable and cooler environment than the current way of doing it, where it's sort of a patchwork of things being done,' Agrawal said. Barron noted changes like using lighter material for roads to lower heat absorption and adding water where you can, such as water fountains, can make a difference. 1:59 'Extremes you never want to be at': As temperatures spike, so do health hazards Using misting systems can also help with cooling, which she said has been used in places like Australia. The systems are set up to spray a mist of water around an area, or to let people walk through them to cool down. Story continues below advertisement Voogt said city planning can also improve how it handles heat, though he said that is a longer-term solution. 'So changing the form of the city, the way it's laid out, how the buildings are spaced, that's longer term, right, because you don't change the buildings that often,' he said. 'What we have to do is start thinking about cities that are a little bit more optimized in terms of the climate they're embedded in.'
Global News
a day ago
- Business
- Global News
Why Canada's supply management is a sticking point for Trump in trade talks
The target date for a new trade deal between Canada and the United States is a little over a week away, but one issue continues to be a sticking point between both nations: Canada's supply management. Supply management, which Canada uses in the dairy, poultry and egg sectors, has been a frequent target of criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump throughout his threats of tariffs and claims that Canada is 'ripping us off.' Last month, while demanding Canada repeal its digital services tax, Trump said Canada was 'a very difficult Country to TRADE with,' claiming on his social media platform Truth Social that the country charges 'tariffs' of up to 400 per cent on dairy products. Canada uses a quota system that allows a set amount of some foreign dairy products into the country, and high tariffs only apply if countries try to exceed that allowed quota coming into Canada. Story continues below advertisement Canada's supply management system, which dates back to the 1970s, has restricted foreign access to the Canadian dairy market in order to protect domestic producers and set quality standards for products. Prime Minister Mark Carney vowed in the Liberal election platform that he will 'keep Canada's supply management off the table in any negotiations with the U.S.' So how does it work? What is supply management? The Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) — which Trump re-negotiated to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) during his first term — narrowly expanded U.S. access to Canada's dairy market, which is protected under supply management rules. The rules, established in the 1970s, set production quotas for Canadian farmers, guarantee minimum prices, and maintain import and quality controls. Story continues below advertisement 'Producers have a licence to produce that's determined by their quota. Producers will only produce as much as the quota says they are allowed to produce or in fact to sell,' said Sven Anders, a resource economist at the University of Alberta. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Under CUSMA, the U.S. gets access to less than five per cent of the market. But the U.S. has launched multiple disputes claiming Canada is intentionally bottlenecking those U.S. imports through tariff rate quotas, which put limits on how many exporters qualify for the cheaper duties. The issue of supply management for farmers might end up being an issue both sides are unwilling to move on. For one, most Canadian politicians are staunchly in support of the policy. 'We saw during the leaders' debate that all of the leaders, specifically in French, said that supply management was a red line in any negotiations with the Trump administration over tariffs,' said Moshe Lander, an economist at Concordia University. 'It seems that they were willing to even accept tariffs and damage to the Canadian economy rather than put dairy and supply management on the table.' The policy is aimed at protecting Canadian dairy farmers from the much larger American dairy industry and keeping prices and supplies stable by controlling the amount of product available. Story continues below advertisement Anders said Canadian politicians are reluctant to alienate dairy farmers. 'They have a lot of political clout. So, if I was a politician in Ontario or Quebec, among my constituents would be many dairy farmers. I certainly would want to fight for them,' he said. That political influence is particularly strong in Quebec, one expert said. 'In 17 ridings provincially in Quebec, people under supply management are strong enough to change the outcome of the election,' said Vincent Geloso, senior economist at the Montreal Economic Institute. 'Having influence over 17 ridings makes you a very powerful interest group.' As Canada's premiers were meeting for a three-day summit in Ontario, Quebec Premier François Legault said supply management was a hard line in the U.S. trade negotiations for him. 'There's no question about negotiating the supply management for dairy and other products,' Legault told reporters. Lander said supporters of Canada's dairy industry see the policy as necessary to protect them from the much larger American dairy industry. 'Wisconsin alone produces more milk than Canada consumes in a year,' he said. He said small Canadian dairy farms would be unable to withstand the pressure of open competition from the U.S. Story continues below advertisement 'These farms would have to merge their way up into these mega farms like you see in Wisconsin or in Minnesota to try and remain competitive. That would push a lot of farmers off their traditional land,' he said. Dairy Farmers of Canada declined Global's request for comment. 1:51 U.S. may be looking to remove non-tariff barriers, report shows However, Trump and the Republicans have their own political calculus in pushing Canada on supply management, he said. 'In the midterm elections, which are next year, maintaining Wisconsin is going to be very important for the Republicans if they want to maintain control of the House (of Representatives). If you vocally support farmers, this is one way to maybe keep that base solidified,' he said. One prominent Canadian voice who is opposed to the present system of supply management is Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, who said recently that she was considering 'creating our own Alberta version of supply and management, maybe as a pathway to a market system.' Story continues below advertisement 'We do not get our share of quota, I think we have 12 per cent of the population and we only get seven per cent of the quota,' she told reporters last week. One consequence of supply management is that Canadians end up paying more for dairy products, Anders said. 'There's plenty of research that says or that has documented that an average Canadian household pays several hundred dollars more in food in dairy product cost on an annual basis just because of supply management,' he said. However, the same system has also been credited with helping Canadian consumers avoid the price shocks seen by U.S. consumers over the past year, as egg prices south of the border soared. Trump's criticisms aren't historically abnormal for U.S. presidents, either. 'Biden and Obama both had objections to it and voiced it,' Lander said. 'The more I say I dislike it, and the more you insist you're not going to remove it, then the more that I can say I want my way on these other things. It could be that he (Trump) just sees it as a tactic, where the Democratic presidents who had opposed it in the past merely just saw it as an annoyance.' — with files from Global's Sean Boynton and Touria Izri
Edmonton Journal
3 days ago
- Health
- Edmonton Journal
'Measles capital of North America': Alberta doctors sound alarm on immunization
Article content The Canadian government urges measles vaccination for all eligible individuals, including two doses at 12 and 18 months of age. Article content Smith said the provincial government is now allowing everyone to get their two doses by the age of two. Article content 'Before we waited until kindergarten, but now so many kids are going into daycare, so we've moved that back, but we also make a microdose available to those parents who want that extra protection and so they can get a smaller dose,' she said. Article content For now, Alberta is reaping the benefits of days when vaccine rates were higher. Article content Smith said she's 'pleased to see that we still have about a 90 per cent overall vaccination rate by the time young people get to be 17 years old — 95 per cent is what they recommend. But we're glad to see that the message is getting out,' she said. Article content Child, adult, pregnant woman alike, if you're in the room with an infected person and you're non-immune, your chances of getting the airborne illness is very, very high, said Ladha. Article content Article content 'That represents a perfect storm where our children, grandchildren, nephews and nieces and family members will be at risk, increased risk in getting measles because they've gone to school in September or because they've brought it home from school to infect the children who are still at home,' Talbot said. Article content There have been recent ICU admissions with measles victims requiring care, said Dr. Lynora Saxinger, an infectious diseases specialist with the University of Alberta. Article content 'I have just recently been called about pregnant women who have measles in pregnancy. I've also been called about transplant patients with measles. Article content 'The likelihood that there will be severe outcomes with really significant critical illness or death is just going up, because the longer we have circulation of disease and more cases that happen, that's basically just a matter of numbers and risk, and it's just a matter of time, unfortunately,' Saxinger said. Article content Article content Within the past few months, the province's health zones have stopped posting the areas of exposure to measles, where individuals travelled from their doctor's office to a lab to a radiology site to a store. Article content 'We don't see that from those sites anymore, because the volume is simply too high for them to be able to catch up. And so we just know that there's more transmission and more cases than are even being detected, and we're probably seeing, to some extent, the tip of the iceberg on the hospital side,' she said. Article content Practical considerations Article content As a doctor, Talbot said, he's an optimist in that he believes public health threats can be addressed — noting that more than 90 per cent of Albertans got at least one COVID vaccination during the pandemic. Article content All American states have laws requiring certain vaccines for students to attend school, although a number of states allow for exemption on the basis of religion or philosophy, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Article content In Canada, Ontario and New Brunswick have made immunizations mandatory for school attendance. Article content It may be time for a public debate on requiring measles immunizations for school attendance in Alberta, Talbot said. Article content 'The second (way to address school spread of measles) is to make sure that people are aware that if measles does strike a school and starts to spread, that it may be necessary to send unimmunized students and unimmunized staff home so that they are protected for the time until all of those people who have been exposed are safe to return,' he said. Article content Saxinger said for those who aren't immune, the current guidance for quarantine after measles exposure is 21 days. Article content 'That's to try to contain the infection and reduce the successive rings of spread — and that's very disruptive, if you think about that occurring in a school or in a workplace. It is a really strong practical argument to make sure that your immunization is up to date, and the immunization of your children is up to date,' Saxinger said. Article content Article content The experts agreed there's a unique window in the next month. Article content 'It takes time to book an appointment, and then the child's body needs 10 to 15 days to get the maximum protection. So book your appointment now for anyone going back to school and anyone under the age of five who's not immune in your household. That's the most important back-to-school preparation you can do even more than buying a backpack or a lunch box,' Talbot said. Article content 'It will ensure that they do not get measles, they do not get hospitalized, they do not go deaf or worse. It will give you the peace of mind that no matter what other people have done or failed to do, your child is safe. It will make your family and your community safer. And finally, it means that you will be able to say that you know the science and you've been smart in protecting your child, maybe not smart enough to get you on Jeopardy, but smart enough to show that you know what's important to the health of your children,' he said. Article content Article content Article content
