Environmental health was defined in a 1989 document by the World Health Organization (WHO) as: Those aspects of human health and disease that are determined by factors in the environment It is also referred to as the theory and practice of accessing and controlling factors in the environment that can potentially affect health.
Environmental health is a public health subject that focuses on both the natural and man-made environments that affect human health. This can include the natural environment, like soil, air, and water, as well as the physical, chemical, social, and biological aspects of the environment.
Environmental health is the branch of public health concerned with all aspects of the natural and built environment affecting human health. In order to effectively control factors that may affect health, the requirements that must be met in order to create a healthy environment must be determined. Environmental health focuses on the natural and built environments for the benefit of human health. The major sub-disciplines of environmental health are environmental science, toxicology, environmental epidemiology, and environmental and occupational medicine.
Environmental health specialists investigate and analyze environmental qualities that may influence human health. They develop, promote, and enforce environmentally-related guidelines, policies, laws, and regulations in order to create and sustain healthy living environments for people. Environmental health specialists can focus on one aspect of public health like air pollution, sustainable development, social determinants, chemical safety and effects, climate change, and more.