By Ada Mendez
Miami-Dade Health
Did you know that environmental health is one of the most important fields of public health?
As a science, environmental health studies how the environment influences human health and disease. In other words, the things in the natural environment like air, water, and soil, and also all the physical, chemical, biological and social features of our surroundings that have an impact on your body, and why not, your mind.
According to the National Environmental Health Association, environmental health and protection refer to protection against environmental factors that may adversely impact human health or the ecological balances essential to long-term human health and quality of life.
Generally, agencies in charge of public health employ specialists that work to protect the public at large from environmental hazards, such as the presence of bacteria in public beaches and public swimming pools or unsanitary conditions at schools and restaurants, among others.
Environmental health offices also issue permits related to the installation of septic tanks and regulate the functioning of tattoo parlors.
So, the next time you read about the temporary closing of your favorite public beach it means a licensed and certified specialist took a sample of the water that was later tested and it was determined the concentration of bacteria was too high for public safety.
