title: Canadian health databases relevant to Great Lakes Basin research.
abstract: Several population-based health databases exist in Canada which provide valuable systematic information for facilitating epidemiological evaluation of human health in the Great Lakes Basin. They include the long-established Canadian Mortality Database, a national birth defects registry, a provincial hospitalization database, and provincial and national cancer registry systems. The most recent addition is the National Enhanced Cancer Surveillance System which currently is being implemented to allow for detailed evaluation of air and water quality concerns in relation to a range of cancer types. The system includes statistical evaluation of geographical cancer incidence patterns; development of a national environmental quality database; and systematic collection of individual risk factor information for a large number of newly diagnosed cancer cases and a population control group. A brief description of each database and examples of relevant research using each of these databases is presented.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Risk Assessment and Case Surveillance Division, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006114:Great Lakes Region; D006801:Humans; D007256:Information Systems; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D009864:Ontario; D011634:Public Health / Q000592:standards*; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants