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Healthy Environments

Public Health Inspectors investigate health hazards in the community.

Some examples of health hazards are indoor air quality (like mould), outdoor air quality, human or animal waste disposal, bugs and animals that carry disease, garbage, and contact with dangerous chemicals.

For more information call 613-732-3629 extension 505.

Health Canada – Mould

Health Canada – Guide to addressing moisture and mould indoors

Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety – Indoor Air Quality – Moulds and Fungi

Ministry of the Environment Conservation and Parks – Air Quality Health Index

Health Canada – Take Action on Radon

Health Canada – Radon

The septic system is a cheap and efficient way of sewage disposal. But when it is abused or neglected, the septic system can stop working when you need it the most, like during the winter months. A septic system may stop working properly because of a poor location, bad construction, lack of attention, and overloading.

Inspect the tank once a year to see how much sludge and scum is in the tank. When inspecting inside the tank, do not use matches or open flame, as explosive gases may cause injury. Do not place your head into the tank either.

Tanks under normal working conditions should be pumped about once every 3 to 5 years by a licensed sewage disposal company. The build-up of scum on the surface and sludge on the bottom will plug the tank and eventually will plug the leaching bed too.

Government of Ontario: Septic Systems

Lyme disease is spread to humans from the bite of an infected black-legged tick (deer tick).

You get sick usually 3 to 30 days after a bite. In about 70 percent of cases a “bulls-eye” rash will develop at the location of the bite. Other symptoms may include fever, headache, joint and muscle pain, spasms, facial paralysis, fatigue, and numbness or tingling.

You can prevent tick bites when outdoors by:

  • Wearing light-coloured clothing
  • Wearing closed footwear and socks, with long sleeve shirts tucked into your pants, and your pants tucked into your socks
  • Using an insect repellant with DEET or icaridin according to label directions
  • Doing tick checks on yourself and your children after being outside

If you find a tick on your body, bring it to Renfrew County and District Health Unit for identification. We do not accept ticks from animals.

Resources:

Tick Submission

You can submit a tick to RCDHU if the tick has bitten a human, to have the tick identified at Public Health Ontario Laboratories, or you can use one of these other services for tick identification:

 

West Nile virus is spread to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected after biting infected birds.

Most people who are bitten by an infected mosquito have no symptoms and do not get sick. Some people such as the elderly and those with a weakened immune system may have flu-like symptoms. Very rarely, they have serious complications such as meningitis, encephalitis, acute flaccid paralysis and even death.

Since 2005, the Health Unit has been trapping and testing mosquitoes during the summer months. This helps us to know if mosquitoes that carry the West Nile virus are living in Renfrew County and District. West Nile virus was found in mosquitoes in Renfrew County for the first time in the summer of 2017.

 

Government of Ontario – West Nile virus

Government of Ontario: Giant Hogweed

Government of Ontario: Wild Parsnip

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Pembroke Office

141 Lake Street, Pembroke, Ontario K8A 5L8

Phone: 613-732-3629
Toll Free: 1-800-267-1097
Fax: 613-735-3067

Hours of Operation
Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Renfrew Service Hub (By Appointment Only)

120 Plaunt Street South, Renfrew, Ontario, K7V 1M5

Services offered by appointment only.

If you require an alternative accessible format or assistance accessing information on this page, please contact us at contact@rcdhu.com or 613-732-3629.