The world we are living in has changed tremendously from what it used to be about 10 years ago. There are more industries, more cars, more people and greater advancements in all fields of science and technology. But what about the environment we live in? Is it better than it used to be? The world has undergone great climatic changes and environmental conditions have altered drastically and this has a great impact on the health and well being of man.

In today’s world people must take positive steps to ensure that their surroundings are safe and healthy. Several countries face the grave dangers of not having clean drinking water, being infested with diseases carrying pests or improper waste management.

Environmental health is therefore crucial to the sustenance of any community. The Department of Environmental Health plays a major role in improving the quality of life by protecting public health and safeguarding environmental quality. Environmental health is that branch of public health that is concerned with the health, well-being and safety of people and the environment in which they live, work or visit.

Environmental health focuses on the prevention of ill health through education and promotion across a variety of areas, for example health and safety, pollution control, consumer protection, housing and food safety. Environmental public health and environmental health and protection are two other terms that remain associated to the discipline of environmental health.

Every state/county in the United States has a Department of Environmental Health or a Department of Environmental Public Health. Although the environmental laws may differ from state to state the main aim of these departments is to help and protect people and the environment they live in. The DEP educates the public and increases environmental awareness and implementing and enforcing local, state, and federal environmental laws. The Department of Environmental Health works towards identifying, preventing, and controlling harmful environmental factors.

The Department of Environmental Health has groups of skilled and highly experienced Environmental Health Specialists who examine health issues, identify the causes and plan possible future approaches to control of the major environmental health problems in industrialized and developing communities.

The Department of Environmental Health conducts various programs to ensure the well being of all citizens in the community. For instance, the Oregon Office of Environmental Public Health has a Drinking Water Program which administers and enforces drinking water quality standards for public water systems in the State of Oregon. They also have a Food borne Illness Prevention Program. This program works closely with local health departments, the food service industry, and the public, to reduce or eliminate the known causes of food borne illness. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has Radiation Protection Programs which protect the citizens of the Commonwealth from unnecessary exposure to radiation.

Our environment is burdened with air pollution, water pollution and the dire effects of overcrowding industrial development. A well organized and dedicated Department of environmental health acts as the primary authority that can ensure effective and efficient environmental management.