Environmental Health

Environmental health is concerned with all aspects of the natural and built environment that may affect human health. Other phrases that concern or refer to the discipline of environmental health include public health, environmental public health, and environmental protection.

The field of environmental health is closely related to environmental science and public health as environmental health is concerned with environmental factors affecting human health.

Environmental health addresses all the physical, chemical, and biological factors external to a person, and all the related factors impacting behaviours. It encompasses the assessment and control of those environmental factors that can potentially affect health.

It is targeted towards preventing disease and creating health-supportive environments. This definition excludes behaviour not related to environment, as well as behaviour related to the social and cultural environment, as well as genetics.

Environmental health is defined by the World Health Organization.