Environmental health

This site includes material maintained by the Department of Human Services as well as selected links to environmental health material produced by others across Australia and internationally.

What is Environmental Health?
Environmental health has been defined in the National Environmental Health Strategy as those aspects of human health determined by physical, chemical, biological and social factors in the environment.

In the community
For information about chemical drift, land and environmental health practice.

In the home
For information about air, asbestos in the home, lead, CCA (Copper chrome arsenate), pest control, safe cleanup of broken mercury thermometers and water recycling.

Water
For information about drinking water, rainwater tanks, recycling, legionella, swimming pools and spas and recreational waterways.

Fluoridation
Facts about fluoride, fluoridation of water supplies and your health, and information for health professionals.

Heatwaves
Heatwaves can affect anybody and cause illnesses such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke which may be fatal.

Climate change
For information relating to climate change and human health.

Legionella
For information about Legionnaires' diseases, the Legionella Risk Management Project, code of practice, dairy farms, hospitals and aged care, legislation, registration, risk management plans and audits.

Emergency management
Provides general information on emergency management as well as specific information on bushfires (cleaning up after a bushfire; water tanks and bushfires; bushfire smoke and health; and fire retardants and health) and floods (flood hazards - protecting your health and safety; power blackouts - using alternative fuel and electricity generation safely; protecting yourself from animal and insect-related hazards; and moulds and your health).

Radiation
For information about radiation safety visit the Radiation website.

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