Minnesota Department of Health

The Story of Environmental Health:

Overview for Elected Officials

Objectives

After this presentation, participants should be able to…

• Describe the nature of Environmental Health (EH) within public health

• Describe environmental health and safety issues of concern to local officials

• Describe how EH services are delivered in Minnesota

Core Functions of Public Health

• Assessing the public’s health

• Promoting sound policies

• Assuring effectiveness

MissionTo protect, maintain and improve the

health of Minnesotans

The Difference BetweenHealth Care and Public Health

• Health Care = Individual Health

• Public Health = Population Health

Public Health = Longer Lives

• Lifespan almost doubles

• Leading causes of death: no longer due to lack of EH controls

25 of the 30 years of life gained in the 20th century resulted from public health accomplishments --

CDC

Unique State/Local Partnership

• Minnesota’s public health system = one of the best in the nation

• Built on strong partnerships between local public health and MDH

Six Principles Drive What Environmental Health Provides

1. Aggregate the Community/Population

2. Promote Healthy Behaviors

3. Epidemiology

Six Principles Drive What Environmental Health Provides (cont.)

4. Community Organization

5. Policy Development for the Greater Good

6. Leadership

What is Environmental Health (EH)?

“Public health programs designed to protect the public health from hazards which exist or could exist in the physical environment.”

--Minnesota SCHSAC Environmental Health

Leadership Team, December, 2002Diagram courtesy of Australia’s EnHealth.

Environmental Links to Health Concerns

• Drinking Water

• Food

• Land

• Built Environment

• Indoor Air

• Emergencies

… distress, short and long-term health effects (CDC)

Emergencies: chemical and radiological releases

… gastrointestinal disease (e.g., cholera) parasitic infections, eye and skin diseases

Drinking Water/Food: Inadequate and unsafe water supply and unsanitary excreta disposal

Potential Acute Health Effects (Source: WHO)

Environmental Conditions

… gastrointestinal and parasitic diseases (due to increased vector breading and feeding--rats, mosquitoes)

Land: Inadequate solid waste disposal, Poor drainage

…increased risk of respiratory disease transmission (e.g., tuberculosis), stress and accidents

Built Environment: Toxic materials (mold, asbestos, lead), crowded and structurally inadequate housing

…respiratory distress or infections

Air: Polluted air, Feedlot odors

When to Ask EH Professionals for Help

• If the concern involves human health exposure and risks from…– Drinking Water– Food– Land– Built Environment– Indoor Air– Chemical or Radiological

Emergencies

What to Discuss With EH Professionals

• Need general answers or a specialist?• Who and what is threatened?• Possible acute or chronic health effects?• What actions to take to protect the public?• Further information - when, who, where to

get assistance

Examples of EH Activities

• Prevent the Spread of Communicable Diseases

Sanitarians check temperatures to assure that restaurants store and

serve food safely.

Licensed well-drillers prevent pollution in drinking water.

Examples of EH Activities

• Assure Normal Human Development

X-rays in medical settings are the right strength.

Safe Eating Guidelines are explained in the Minnesota Fish Advisory.

Staff assess the risk of childhoodlead exposure in older homes.

Examples of EH Activities

• Protect Against Environmental Hazards and Prepare to Respond to Disasters

Ammonia spill spreads across Blair, Nebraska, 1970 (Source: Lawrence Livermore Lab)

Volunteers serve safe food to affected people, inspected by sanitarians.

EH Services in Minnesota

91 Recipes ** Each of 87 Counties and

4 Cities decides how to Structure 10 Essential Services

Essential Services are provided through …

• Assessment • Policy Development• Assurance

http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/chs/schsac/TenEssentialServices.htm

Summary of Services

Every county is served with state and/or local city and

county environmental health resources

• May or may not be in the local health department

• May be shared across boundaries

Environmental Health

• In summary, EH staff serve Minnesotans where we all live, work, and play.

For More Information, Contact Your Local Health Department or …

Minnesota Department of Health, Environmental Health Division

Metro Square, 121 East 7th Place

P.O. Box 64975

St. Paul, MN 55164-0975

Phone: 651-215-0700 TTD: 651-215-0707

http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh