Human biomonitoring is used to estimate exposure to environmental chemicals by measuring the chemical, its metabolites, or reaction products in biological specimens. Since 2007, the biomonitoring component of the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) has measured hundreds of chemicals in blood, urine, hair, or pooled serum. The CHMS is an ongoing national survey with data collected in two-year cycles. Biomonitoring data are available through an interactive online tool called the Canadian Biomonitoring Dashboard (https://health-infobase.canada.ca/biomonitoring/). New data will be added to the dashboard as they become available. Information specific to the biomonitoring component of the CHMS, including general information on the survey design, fieldwork, laboratory and statistical analyses, and considerations for data interpretation can be found in Health Canada’s biomonitoring reports. These archived reports as well as biomonitoring resources such as a biomonitoring content summary and fact sheets are available on the Resources (https://health-infobase.canada.ca/biomonitoring/resources.html) tab of the Canadian Biomonitoring Dashboard. More information on the full survey can be found on the Statistics Canada website (https://www.statcan.gc.ca/en/survey/household/5071).

Presentation aimed to discuss exploring the emerging public health issues and new measurement technologies, establish national baseline data on major health concerns, determine relationships among risk factors, protection practices and health status, assess the validity of self and proxy reported information, and to assemble a nationally representative sample for storage in a biobank.

Characteristics of the Canadian Health Measures Survey variables.

The Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) aims to collect important health information through a household interview and direct physical measures at a mobile examination centre (MEC), sometimes referred to as a mobile clinic. During the webinar, analysts presented a general overview of the CHMS, followed by information related to the CHMS biobank. Please note: The WebEx ARF player is required to playback the recording. Download ARF player

These chemicals have been measured or are planned for measurement in blood, urine and/or pooled serum samples collected from 2007 to 2019 as part of the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS). The chemicals were selected based on known or suspected health effects resulting from exposure, level of public concern, evidence of exposure in the Canadian population, and technical feasibility and cost of measurement.

Characteristics of Canadians and the Canadian Health Measures Survey cycle 1 to 4.

These data tables present national data on concentrations of environmental chemicals in Canadians. These data were collected as part of the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS), an ongoing national direct health measures survey. Statistics Canada, in partnership with Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada, launched the CHMS in 2007 to collect health and wellness data and biological specimens on a nationally representative sample of Canadians. Biological specimens were analyzed for indicators of health status, chronic and infectious diseases, nutritional status, and environmental chemicals.

Background: Biomonitoring can be conducted by assessing the levels of chemicals in human bodies and their surroundings, for example, as was done in the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS). This study aims to report the leading increasing or decreasing biomarker trends and determine their significance.Methods: We implemented a trend analysis for all variables from CHMS biomonitoring data cycles 1–5 conducted between 2007 and 2017. The associations between time and obesity were determined with linear regressions using the CHMS cycles and body mass index (BMI) as predictors.Results: There were 997 unique biomarkers identified and 86 biomarkers with significant trends across cycles. Nine of the 10 leading biomarkers with the largest decreases were environmental chemicals. The levels of 1,2,3-trimethyl benzene, dodecane, palmitoleic acid, and o-xylene decreased by more than 60%. All of the 10 chemicals with the largest increases were environmental chemicals, and the levels of 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene, nonanal, and 4-methyl-2-pentanone increased by more than 200%. None of the 20 biomarkers with the largest increases or decreases between cycles were associated with BMI.Conclusions: The CHMS provides the opportunity for researchers to determine associations between biomarkers and time or BMI. However, the unknown causes of trends with large magnitudes of increase or decrease and their unclear impact on Canadians' health present challenges. We recommend that the CHMS plan future cycles on leading trends and measure chemicals with both human and environmental samples.

The characteristics of the non-institutionalized canadians in the Canadian Health Measures Survey, cycles 1 to 4.

Illustration of the list of variables colored according to sources of data files.

Nutrition biomarkers contribute important information to the assessment of a population’s nutritional status.

BackgroundThere is a global trend of increasing use in prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. This hasn’t been verified in Canada. In addition, there are changes made to the collection method of medication information after the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) cycle 2. This study aims to review the potential impact of the changes in medication data collection and the trends in medication use if data quality remains similar throughout the CHMS cycles 1 to 4. This is fundamental for the analysis of this biomonitoring database.MethodsThe CHMS cycle 1 to 4 medication and household data were used to study the trends of medication use between 2007 and 2015. The use of prescription or OTC drugs was grouped based on the first levels of the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) Classification system. The total numbers of medications were asked in all cycles. However, only a maximum of 15 and 5 drugs could be respectively reported for existing and new prescription or OTC drugs in cycles 1 and 2. There were no restrictions on drug reporting after cycle 2. The trends of medication use were described as ratios, compared to cycle 1.ResultsThe total numbers of the types of medication ever identified decreased from 739 to 603 between cycles 1 and 4. The proportions of using any drugs were from 0.90 to 0.88 between cycles 1 and 4 (ratio = 1.08 in cycle 4, 95% CI = 0.89 to 1.26). The numbers of drugs in use were from 3.9 to 3.8 (ratio = 1.05 in cycle 4, 95% CI = 0.86 to 1.24). The proportions of prescription drug use were from 0.53 to 0.55 (ratio = 1.13 in cycle 4, 95% CI = 0.89 to 1.37), while the numbers of prescription were from 1.51 to 1.68 (ratio = 1.20 in cycle 4, 95% CI = 0.92 to 1.48). The use of diabetes and thyroid medication had trends similar to the respective disease prevalence. The use and the numbers of drugs for blood and blood forming organs significantly increased between cycles 1 and 4 (ratio = 1.56 in cycle 4, 95% CI = 1.03 to 2.10).ConclusionsThere is an increasing trend in the use of blood and blood forming agents through cycles 2 to 4 and cardiovascular drugs in cycle 3. For diabetes and thyroid medication, the proportions of medication use increase proportionally with disease prevalence. The changes in the medication information collection method may not have important impact on the reporting of the use of prescription or OTC drugs.

Number and percentage of Canadians aged 5 to 79 with a measured body mass index categorized as overweight or obese, by age group and sex.

These data tables present national data on concentrations of environmental chemicals in Canadians. These data were collected as part of an ongoing national direct health measures survey called the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS). Statistics Canada, in partnership with Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada, launched the CHMS in 2007 to collect health and wellness data and biological specimens on a nationally representative sample of Canadians. Biological specimens were analyzed for indicators of health status, chronic and infectious diseases, nutritional status, and environmental chemicals.

Trends of the proportions of the use of prescription or all drugs by the Canadian Health Measures Survey cycles.

Information on human biomonitoring of cadmium in Canada with results from the Canadian Health Measures Survey.

Health characteristics, two-year period estimates, census metropolitan areas and population centres (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)Frequency: OccasionalTable: 13-10-0805-01 (formerly CANSIM 105-0593)Release date: 2022-04-19Geography: Canada, Province or territory, , Census metropolitan area, Census metropolitan area partFootnotes: 1 Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS).2 All estimates in this table are calculated excluding non-response categories (refusal"3 Data for the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) are collected yearly from a sample of approximately 65,000 respondents. The table 13-10-0805-01 presents estimates from two-year combined data and features breakdown by all census metropolitan areas (CMA), population centre (POPCTR) and rural areas.4 A census metropolitan area (CMA) is an area consisting of one or more adjacent municipalities situated around a major urban core. A CMA must have a total population of at least 100,000 of which 50,000 or more must live in the core. Beginning in 2013/2014, the CMAs are defined by the 2011 Census.5 A population centre (POPCTR) has a population of at least 1,000 and a population density of 400 persons or more per square kilometre, based on population counts from the 2011 Census of Population. Population centres are classified into three groups, depending on the size of their population: small population centres, with a population between 1,000 and 29,999; medium population centres, with a population between 30,000 and 99,999; large urban population centres, with a population of 100,000 or more. The rural area of Canada is the area that remains after the delineation of population centres using 2011 census population data. Included in rural areas are: small towns, villages and other populated places with less than 1,000 population; rural areas of census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations that may contain estate lots, as well as agricultural, undevelopped an non-developable lands; agricultural lands; remote and wilderness areas.6 In the north, the frame for the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) covers 92% of the targeted population in the Yukon, 96% in the Northwest Territories and 92% in Nunavut. In Nunavut, starting in 2013, the coverage was expanded to represent 92% of the targeted population. Before 2013, the coverage was 71% since the survey covered only the 10 largest communities.7 Due to changes in content and methodology, this table now replaces table 13-10-0464-01, which will now only be made available for historical revisions. As a result of the changes, users should use caution when comparing data in this table with the data in 13-10-0464-01.8 As a result of the 2015 redesign, Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) has a new collection strategy, a new sample design, and has undergone major content revisions. With all these factors taken together, caution should be taken when comparing data from previous cycles to data released for the 2015 cycle onwards.9 The COVID-19 pandemic had major impacts on the data collection operations for Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) 2020. The collection was stopped mid-March, towards the end of the first collection period, and did not resume until September. The second, third and fourth quarterly samples were collected during very short collection periods, each of about five weeks, from September to December. The impossibility of conducting in-person interviews, the shorter collection periods and collection capacity issues resulted in a significant decrease in the response rates. As for previous CCHS cycles, survey weights were adjusted to minimise any potential bias that could arise from survey non-response; non-response adjustments and calibration using available auxiliary information were applied and are reflected in the survey weights provided with the data file. Extensive validations of survey estimates were also performed and examined from a bias analysis perspective. Despite these rigorous adjustments and validations, the high non-response increases the risk of a remaining bias and the magnitude with which such a bias could impact estimates produced using the survey data. Therefore, users are advised to use the CCHS 2020 data with caution, especially when creating estimates for small sub-populations or when comparing to other CCHS years.10 The content on material experiences was collected in New Brunswick, British Columbia and Nunavut for 2019/2020. This indicator is not available for the provinces or territories or Canada level for the 2019/2020 period.11 The confidence interval illustrates the degree of variability associated with a rate. Wide confidence intervals indicate high variability, thus, these rates should be interpreted with due caution. When comparing estimates, it is important to use confidence intervals to determine if differences between values are statistically significant.12 Bootstrapping techniques were used to produce the 95% confidence intervals (CIs).13 Data with a coefficient of variation (CV) from 15.1% to 35.0% are identified as follows: (E) use with caution.14 Data with a coefficient of variation (CV) greater than 35.0% or that did not meet the minimum sample size requirement were suppressed and are identified as follows: (F) too unreliable to be published.15 The following standard symbols are used in this Statistics Canada table: (..) for figures not available for a specific reference period and (...) for figures not applicable.16 Percentages are rounded to the nearest tenth. Numbers are rounded to the nearest hundred.17 Census population counts have been used to produce the population projection counts. These counts are used to ensure that the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) weights and resulting estimates included in this table are consistent with known population totals.18 Population aged 12 and over who reported perceiving their own health status as being either excellent or very good or fair or poor, depending on the indicator. Perceived health refers to the perception of a person's health in general, either by the person himself or herself, or, in the case of proxy response, by the person responding. Health means not only the absence of disease or injury but also physical, mental and social well-being.19 Population aged 12 and over who reported perceiving their own mental health status as being excellent or very good or fair or poor, depending on the indicator. Perceived mental health refers to the perception of a person's mental health in general. Perceived mental health provides a general indication of the population suffering from some form of mental disorder, mental or emotional problems, or distress, not necessarily reflected in perceived health.20 Population aged 12 and over who reported perceiving that most days in their life were quite a bit or extremely stressful. Perceived life stress refers to the amount of stress in the person's life, on most days, as perceived by the person or, in the case of proxy response, by the person responding.21 Body mass index (BMI) is a method of classifying body weight according to health risk. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and Health Canada guidelines, health risk levels are associated with each of the following BMI categories: normal weight = least health risk; underweight and overweight = increased health risk; obese, class I = high health risk; obese, class II = very high health risk; obese, class III = extremely high health risk.22 Body mass index (BMI) is calculated by dividing the respondent's body weight (in kilograms) by their height (in metres) squared.23 Body mass index (BMI) is calculated for the population aged 12 and over, excluding pregnant females and persons less than 3 feet (0.914 metres) tall or greater than 6 feet 11 inches (2.108 metres).24 According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and Health Canada guidelines, the index for body weight classification for the population aged 18 and older is: less than 18.50 (underweight); 18.50 to 24.99 (normal weight); 25.00 to 29.99 (overweight); 30.00 to 34.99 (obese, class I); 35.00 to 39.99 (obese, class II); 40.00 or greater (obese, class III). The population aged 12 to 17 is classified as severely obese"25 A systematic review of the literature concluded that the use of self-reported data among adults underestimates weight and overestimates height, resulting in lower estimates of obesity than those obtained from measured data. Using data from the 2005 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) subsample, where both measured and self-reported height and weight were collected, BMI correction equations have been developed. This table presents obesity estimates adjusted using these equations.26 The Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) - Annual, the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) and the 2015 CCHS - Nutrition, all collect height and weight data and derive obesity rates based on Body Mass Index (BMI). Users should take note of the data collection method, the target population and the classification system used by each survey in order to select the appropriate data set.27 Population aged 15 and over who reported that they have been diagnosed by a health professional as having arthritis. Arthritis includes osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, but excludes fibromyalgia.28 Population aged 12 and over who reported that they have been diagnosed by a health professional as having Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, including females 15 and over who reported that they have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes.29 Population aged 12 and over who reported that they have been diagnosed by a health professional as having asthma.30 Population aged 35 and over who reported being diagnosed by a health professional with chronic bronchitis, emphysema or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).31 The Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) and the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) - Annual both collect data

Information on human biomonitoring of lead in Canada with results from the Canadian Health Measures Survey.

This presentation outlines the design and content of the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) Cycle 2.2 on nutrition. The objective of this survey is to provide timely, consistent, cross-sectional estimates of health determinants, health status and health system utilization across Canada.

Vitamin B12 (also known as cobalamin) plays an important role in some enzyme reactions in the body and is essential for normal red blood cell formation and neurological function. Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause anemia and may lead to potentially irreversible neurological damage.