Environmental health is the field of science that studies how the natural and built environment influences human health and disease. Environmental health provides the basis of public health and work in this field has lead to improvements in sanitation, drinking water, food safety and disease control. Environmental health examines factors that may negatively impact on people’s health and wellbeing, and the factors that impact on the environment in which people live.
Environmental Health in Queensland
In Queensland, environmental health services are provided by three groups:
- Queensland Health regulates public schools, hospitals, and shares responsibility with local governments for providing a wider array of environmental health services to the community.
- Safe Food Queensland regulates primary production and processing of meats, eggs, dairy, seafood and horticulture.
- Local governments regulate cafés, restaurants, food stalls, asbestos removal, and tattoo and body piercing shops, and provide environmental investigation services for incidents such as water, air, and soil pollution. Environmental health at local government level is also ingrained in disaster management activities and regulates the disposal and management of dangerous substances such as asbestos.
TRC & Environmental Health
We provide these environmental health services:
- environmental protection
- public health
- food safety and starting food businesses
- pollution control
- environmental nuisances — noise, odour, light, air, and water complaints
- health promotion
- illegal dumping of rubbish and debris
- vector (mosquito) control
- accommodation at caravan parks and camping grounds
- disaster management.