Description:
Environmental health is the branch of public health concerned with monitoring and mitigating factors in the environment that affect human health and disease. Environmental staff investigate and resolve human health hazard complaints, provide lead risk assessments and investigations of homes with at-risk children, follow-up on animal bite cases for the rabies control program, and provide information and education regarding indoor radon gas, drinking water quality and vector-related diseases like Lyme.
Human Health Hazards
Human health hazards are substances, activities, or conditions that have the potential to cause illness, endanger life, or spread infectious disease. Examples of human health hazards include improper disposal of garbage, animal waste and animal carcasses; unfit dwellings that are infested or have no potable water, heat or functioning sanitary system; pollution of surface water, groundwater or air; and open and unguarded hazards such as pits, tunnels, and basement foundations.