ordered heavy metal testing. Art had mercury poisoning. Jessica was tested and found to have mercury poisoning also. The doctor called our health department, and we immediately launched an investiga- tion into the potential source of mercury poi- soning. Since the cat, Art, and Jessica were not sick until they moved into the house, it seemed like the most obvious place to start. Our hazmat response team was deployed to the house. We immediately detected mer- cury on arrival and throughout the house. The highest mercury levels were found in the entryway and carpet. Further research and investigation sug- gested that a previous renter might have applied mercury around the door frame, per- haps to ward off evil spirits. The cat likely had the highest dose due to direct paw con- tact with carpet, a low breathing zone, and licking fur. As my toxicologist friend Sue Dempsey says, “The dose makes the poison.” Remediation of the house cost thousands of dollars. Both Art and Jessica had chelation therapy and recovered fully. Unfortunately, their vehicle and most of their belongings could not be salvaged, and they had to with- draw from college. How Can You Be Prepared for the Unexpected? Build, sustain, and empower yourself! Build on your education foundation! The foundation of environmental health is science. If you are short on science credits, add a few bricks (college science classes) to your foundation. If your foundation is strong, build on it by pursuing a certificate or creden- tial in environmental health or public health. Or go all-in and commit to finally earning your master’s degree in environmental health, public health, or another related field.
every area in environmental health. Enhance your incident response training and partici- pate in tabletop and full-scale field exercises. Take hazmat awareness-level training; it could save your life and teach you when to call the bomb squad. Sign up for the highly rated, in-person Environmental Health Train- ing in Emergency Response from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. • Sign up for NEHA’s Grand Rounds and dozens of other online training opportu- nities available through NEHA and other federal agencies. • If you already hold NEHA’s Registered Environmental Health Specialist/Regis- tered Sanitarian (REHS/RS) credential, congratulations! If not, commit to obtain- ing your REHS/RS. Empower Yourself Through Professional Development • Read the Journal of Environmental Health and EH In Focus emails, and subscribe to podcasts and listservs that broaden your mind and keep your curiosity active. • Submit your application for the next NEHA Environmental Health Leadership Academy cohort. • Join the conversation on NEHA’s online Community. • Become more active in NEHA or your state affiliate—opportunities abound. • Decide today to attend NEHA’s 2027 Annual Educational Conference & Exhibi- tion in Portland, Oregon.
dren. We reinterviewed the health aide, and she knew she was allergic to pyrethrin. Envi- ronmental health unexpected mystery event #24.7.365 solved! The Cat Was the Canary Jessica and Art moved to our community to attend college. They felt lucky to find a small, pet-friendly house to rent near the college. Everything seemed great at first, but soon their cat had vomiting, diarrhea, and trouble breathing. They took the cat to a veterinarian, who treated the symptoms, but 2 days later their beloved cat died. Over the next 2 weeks, first Art and then Jessica developed similar symptoms. One night, Art could not catch his breath, and Jessica rushed him to the hospital. She told the doctor she was very scared—their cat had similar symptoms and then died. Art was admitted, and a very astute hospitalist Photo 1. Michael Gude, REHS, a senior environmental health specialist with the Lincoln–Lancaster County Health Department, displays a snake pulled from a local water well. Photo courtesy of the Lincoln–Lancaster County Health Department.
You Can Prepare for the Unexpected
You can prepare for the unexpected through education, training, and professional devel- opment. NEHA is here to help build, sustain, and empower you. Together, we are the envi- ronmental health workforce.
Sustain Yourself Through Training!
Pursue training in areas such as toxicology and risk communication, which apply to
sholmes@neha.org
Did You Know?
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October 2026 • Journal of Environmental Health
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