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.
DHQ:
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.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNCzSfv4hX8
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.
DHQ
Lesson
2: Describe an
environmental health law/act
that we went over last class
Endangered Species Video!!
On
a piece of paper write down 10
facts about endangered species
Be
specific (use complete
sentences)
If
you fall asleep, I will take points off
this assignment 