Where people live and how they’re connecting to the world can affect their health.
The environmental health fieldwith its professionals, policies, and programsis focused on these factors.
Environmental stressors and advantages help to shape your options.
Clover No.7 Photography / Getty Images
This article explains what environmental health is and how it can affect you and your community.
What Is Environmental Health?
There are a number of initiatives focused on environmental health in the United States.
Air Quality
Air is non-negotiable for humans.
It’s needed to survive and air quality can have a significant impact on health.
Air pollution is also linked to low birth weight.
The act was laterexpanded in 1990to address acid rain and ozone depletion.
Historically, clean water is responsible for the bulk of the decline in childhood mortality in the country.
The environmental health impact of safe water can’t be overstated.
Economically disadvantaged kids are often most affected.
Homes and Communities
Home and neighborhoods are at the core of environmental health.
When roads aren’t properly maintained, it can result in more car crashes.
When sidewalks are in poor condition, people may avoid walking for fear of accidents.
An emerging field of environmental health is that of food access.
This includes investigating and responding to diseasesa field calledepidemiologyas well as screening for hazards and establishing surveillance programs.
An example of this in action is mosquito surveillance and abatement activities.
They develop laws, policies, and programs at all levels of government.
Consider protecting environmental health and safety by:
Keep in mind that visibility helps to drive environmental health policy.
Neta G, Martin L, Collman G.Advancing environmental health sciences through implementation science.Environ Health.
2022 Dec 23;21(1):136. doi:10.1186/s12940-022-00933-0.
United States Environmental Protection Agency.Protect your family from sources of lead.
2023 Jul 1;9(7):909-916. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2023.0634.
Hiatt RA, Beyeler N.Cancer and climate change.Lancet Oncol.
2020 Nov;21(11):e519-e527.
doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(20)30448-4.
2023 Aug;78(8):2109-2120. doi:10.1111/all.15702.
Department of Health and Social Services.Healthy People 2030.
2019;19(1):3. doi:10.1186/s12889-018-6307-7
Environmental Protection Agency.Progress Cleaning the Air and Improving People’s Health.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Global water, sanitation and hygiene.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.The water people drink.
2019;127(2):586-638. doi:10.1086/700766
Center for Disease Philanthropy.Water, sanitation and hygiene.
World Health Organization.Lead poisoning.
2023 Apr;11(4):e606-e614.
doi: 10.1016/S2214-109X(23)00006-2.
Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.Access to affordable, nutritious food Is limited in Food Deserts.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Zika virus.
World Mosquito Program.Explainer: How climate change is amplifying mosquito-borne diseases.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What Is Health Equity?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Environmental Health Services.
Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.Environmental Health Topics.
