• Supports sustainable development: By advocating for practices and policies that protect the environment and human health, environmental public health is integral to sustainable development. This includes promoting the sustainable use of natural resources, reducing pollution and waste, and ensuring that development activities do not harm human health. • Informs policy and regulation: Research and activities within environmental public health inform the development of policies and regulations designed to protect public health and the environment. This includes legislation related to air and water quality, chemical safety, and the management of hazardous substances. • Equity and justice: Environmental public health eorts often focus on addressing disparities in health outcomes related to environmental factors. This includes work-
ing to ensure that all communities, includ- ing those that are historically marginal- ized or economically disadvantaged, have access to a healthy environment. Overall, environmental public health is crucial for maintaining and improving the health and well-being of populations by addressing the complex interplay between environmental factors and human health.” Now the opportunity is to ensure that our community leaders, funders, and neighbors understand what we do, too. I will close with a quote from Edward Abbey, not an environmental health legend but an author and essayist. You might, however, find some useful advice as we all must balance work and personal lives as we face sometimes frus- trating and dicult situations. Abbey wrote: “One final paragraph of advice: Do not burn yourself out. Be as I am—a reluc-
tant enthusiast…a part-time crusader, a half-hearted fanatic. Save the other half of yourselves and your lives for pleasure and adventure. It is not enough to fight for the land; it is even more important to enjoy it. While you can. While it’s still there. So get out there and hunt and fish and mess around with your friends, ram- ble out yonder and explore the forests, climb the mountains, bag the peaks, run the rivers, breathe deep of that yet sweet and lucid air, sit quietly for a while and contemplate the precious stillness, the lovely, mysterious, and awesome space. Enjoy yourselves, keep your brain in your head and your head firmly attached to the body, the body active and alive…”
tbutts@neha.org
You can use our new toolkit to adopt the updated Body Art Model Code (BAMC) in your jurisdiction. The toolkit includes everything you need to help convince decision-makers and industry to adopt the updated code. Find the updated BAMC and adoption toolkit at www.neha.org/body-art-model-code.
Did You Know?
www.cdpehs.com (800) 888-6035
CUSTOMIZE. REDUCE COSTS. IMPROVE ACCURACY.
Inspections | Permits | Reporting | Scheduling | Online Bill Pay | On/Offline Mobility
Environmental health solutions since 1983
7
June 2024 • Journal of Environmental Health
Powered by FlippingBook