Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety Sciences

Environmental health (EH) is a branch of public health protection that is concerned with all aspects of the natural and built environment that may affect human health. Other terms that refer to the discipline of environmental health include environmental public health and environmental health and protection. EH is a field of science that studies how the environment influences human health and disease. “Environment” in this context means identifying and addressing how the environment impacts human health. EH is a very diverse field where professionals perform a variety of tasks such as research, investigations, outreach and education, environmental cleanups and more. EH professionals are best known for their efforts to ensure the safety of what we eat, breathe, touch and drink. The traditional EH professionals are those individuals who monitor air quality, water and noise pollution, toxic substances and pesticides, conduct restaurant inspections, carry out vector control and promote healthy land use and housing.