Environmental Health
 

Environmental health is the branch of public health that:


Focuses on the relationships between people and their environment


Promotes human health and well-being


Fosters healthy and safe communities


Environmental health is a key part of any comprehensive public health system. The field works to advance policies and programs to reduce chemical and other environmental exposures in air, water, soil and food to protect people and provide communities with healthier environments.

 

Klamath County Public Health’s Environmental Health division is involved in a variety of work that affects local residents’ daily lives. These include:

Inspections of restaurants, food trucks, motels and other licensed facilities (Click to see inspection results)

Providing daily woodstove advisories from October 15 to March 15 for the Air Quality Zone

Helping people know how to protect themselves from wildfire smoke

Keeping the community updated on harmful algae blooms

Instructing community members about safe drinking water

These are just a handful of items related to environmental health. Locally, drought and wildfire are just two elements related to climate resiliency, which is becoming a larger area of focus throughout the community and beyond.

 

The U.S. Drought Monitor is a good resource to follow the drought trends in Oregon and throughout the nation. Oregon Senate Bill 762 called for a wildfire risk map to be created, among other activities to enhance the health and safety of all Oregonians.

 

There are many resources available regarding environmental health and some of the best are from the American Public Health Association. We particularly like those on Children’s Environmental Health, Climate Change, Climate Changes Mental Health, Healthy Community Design and Lead Contamination.