Title: Reading: What is Environmental Health?
Course: BLD 159 Intro to Brownfield Remediation, Land Re-use, and Public Health > Section: BLD 159 Intro to Brownfield Remediation, Land Re-use, and Public Health

Reading: What is Environmental Health?

What is Environmental Health?

What is Environmental Health?

April 22 marks the 43nd anniversary of Earth Day, which reminds us of our personal and collective responsibility to preserve and protect our environment. At CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), we begin our celebration of Earth Day by observing National Environmental Education Week during the week leading up to it.

For many the word “environment” means the natural world—mountains, forests, rivers, oceans, animals, and the air around us. To others, the environment brings to mind “tree huggers,” the green movement, and “reduce—reuse—recycle.” These are logical connections and are all, indeed, part of what we mean when we use the term.

But the environment is really everything in the world surrounding us—from conditions affecting our basic physical needs (like healthy air, water and food) to conditions affecting our needs for safe communities and for personal satisfaction (such as needs for relationships, resources, and fulfillment).

Recent research has shown that many people continue to believe that “public health” refers to government health programs for financially vulnerable people. In fact, public health is about protecting populations—families, communities, cities, states, nations and tribes—from threats to their health, safety, and well-being.

Click here to download and access the CDC “What is Environmental Health?” blog.

Your Health - Your Environment Blog

A Blog to increase public knowledge about environmental health by sharing our concerns and our work as well as information you can use in your daily life.

Click here to download and access the CDC “What is Environmental Health?” blog.

Environmental Health

Environmental health addresses all the physical, chemical, and biological factors external to a person, and all the related factors impacting behaviors. It encompasses the assessment and control of those environmental factors that can potentially affect health. It is targeted towards preventing disease and creating health-supportive environments. This definition excludes behavior not related to environment, as well as behavior related to the social and cultural environment, and genetics.

Click here to access and read the fact file on health impact of environment.