The air we breathe, the water we bathe in, the noise we tolerate, the land we build on… all of these things affect human health. That’s why environmental health is now so high on the political agenda. Environmental health practitioners (EHPs) play a central role in putting UK and European laws into action and raising public awareness.
Air pollution control and air quality management are essential parts of an EHP’s work, involving audits and action plans to identify and remedy problems. Noise is another pollutant, and local councils may have to intervene in neighbourhood noise disputes, such as hi-fi disturbance, DIY equipment or garden machine use. Communication and arbitration skills count for a great deal.
Bringing contaminated land back into safe use is another important area. Earlier industrial use has left thousands of sites contaminated by refuse, toxic or dangerous waste. EHPs investigate and risk-assess these sites. They also work closely with developers, architects and engineers to find decontamination and reclamation solutions.