Exposure to ambient air pollutants and the onset of dementia in Québec, Canada.

Background: Effects of air pollutants are related to oxidative stress which is also linked to the pathogenesis of dementia including Alzheimer's and related diseases.

Objective: We assessed associations between exposure to air pollutants and the onset of dementia; the association with the distance between residence and major roads was also assessed for the island of Montreal.

Methods: We created an open cohort of adults aged 65 years and older starting in 2000 and ending in 2012 in the province of Québec, Canada using linked medico-administrative databases.

Lagged cumulative spruce budworm defoliation affects the risk of fire ignition in Ontario, Canada.

Detailed understanding of forest disturbance interactions is needed for effective forecasting, modelling, and management. Insect outbreaks are a significant forest disturbance that alters forest structure as well as the distribution and connectivity of combustible fuels at broad spatial scales. The effect of insect outbreaks on fire activity is an important but contentious issue with significant policy consequences.