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Lawrence Gostin, JD, LLD (Hon), Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law Center; Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene, Georgetown University Law Center, Georgetown University Law Center, 600 New Jersey Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20001, (202) 662-9406, gostin@law.georgetown.edu
Environmental factors significantly affect the public's health. This was most obvious when infectious disease was the primary public health threat during the industrial revolution; unsanitary conditions and overcrowded urban areas facilitated the spread of infection. However, even today in the age of chronic diseases, there remains an important connection between population health and the environment. Environmental health services (e.g., food sanitation, pest controls, wastewater provisions, water supply protections) have led to tremendous improvements in the public's health in the past several decades.
Protecting environmental health (defined broadly as the effects of the environment on human health) is a core function of public health authorities that is tied to legal authorization. Yet, there exists considerable confusion on the role of law in providing environmental health services. Like communicable disease provisions, environmental health laws are multi-jurisdictional, fragmented, and inconsistent. These laws are often found at the intersection of public health and environmental protections, and may require enforcement by public health and/or environmental agencies at the federal, tribal, state, or local levels. The Turning Point Model State Public Health Act recognizes the importance of environmental health services while building a public health infrastructure for their performance, but does not include core model provisions concerning these services. What is needed is key analysis of existing models for examining environmental health for the purpose of considering legal or structural reforms to further improve the legal bases for environmental health services. Public health advocates can help shape these reforms.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will able to
Keywords: Pakistan,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.