Environmental Health Unit:
Lesson 1 - Introduction
Objective:
TSWBAT identify issues of how the environment
affects our personal health on a daily basis.
TSWBAT investigate environmental issues,
government agencies, and eight laws that deal
with our environment.
Big Ideas – Discuss with your seat
partner:
1. How do your surroundings affect
your personal health?
2. How can your actions affect your
environment?
Environmental Health
• The study of humans & their interactions with the
environment.
• It examines:
▫ chemical, physical & biological agents that move
through the environment affecting human health &
investigates ways to control or minimize them.
• Human health is dependant on a high quality
environment
• The professional in environmental health works to
protect the overall quality health of air, water, soil &
food.
Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA)
• Department of the US government
• Protects the country’s land, air, and
water
• Enforces environmental laws
• Researches issues related to the health
of the environment
• Educates the public about environmental
issues
Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA)
• Part of US Department of Labor
• Works to prevent injuries and other health
problems in the workplace.
• Sets safety standards for workplaces
• Helps train and educate workers.
Laws & Acts – Regulate the Environment
1. Clean Air Act:
▫ Law that allows the EPA to set standards for major
air pollutants.
Laws & Acts – Regulate the Environment
2. Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, & Liability Act:
▫ Law provides funding to clean up uncontrolled or
hazardous waste sites & oil & chemical spills
Laws & Acts – Regulate the Environment
3. Clean Water Act:
▫ Law that sets regulations on wastes going into
water and on the operation of waste treatment
plants & makes it illegal to release pollutants into
the water
Laws & Acts – Regulate the Environment
4. Safe Drinking Water Act:
▫ Law that protects the quality of drinking water. It
also sets standards for owners and operators of
public water systems
Laws & Acts – Regulate the Environment
5. Endangered Species Act:
▫ Law that protects animal & plant species
threatened by extinction.
Laws & Acts – Regulate the Environment
6. National Environmental Policy Act:
▫ Law that requires all governmental agencies to
consider and assess the impact on the
environment before taking any action that might
affect the environment.
Laws & Acts – Regulate the Environment
7. Toxic Substances Control Act:
▫ Law the authorizes the EPA to set standards for
the manufacturing, use, transportation, and
disposal of toxic substances
Laws & Acts – Regulate the Environment
8. Occupational Safety and Health Act:
▫ Law that sets a series of minimal safety and health
standards that all employers must meet.