May 1, 2024
Updated May 9, 2025
19 minute read
Environmental health is a vital, multifaceted field dedicated to understanding how the natural and built environments impact human health and well-being. It explores the intricate connections between people and their surroundings, aiming to identify and mitigate environmental factors that can lead to illness or injury, while also promoting conditions that support a healthy existence. This discipline operates at the intersection of science, policy, and community action, striving to create healthier and safer environments for everyone.
Working in environmental health can be deeply engaging. Professionals in this field tackle some of the most pressing global challenges, from ensuring clean air and water to addressing the health impacts of climate change and promoting sustainable communities. The work often involves a blend of scientific investigation, problem-solving, and public advocacy, offering a dynamic and impactful career. Imagine being part of a team that identifies the source of a waterborne disease outbreak, develops strategies to reduce air pollution in a bustling city, or works to ensure food safety from farm to table – these are just a few examples of the exciting and crucial work environmental health professionals undertake.
Introduction to Environmental Health
Environmental health is a branch of public health that specifically focuses on how various factors in our environment – both natural and those created by humans – affect our physical and mental health. It's a broad field that encompasses the assessment and control of these environmental influences to prevent disease and foster health-supportive communities. This means looking at everything from the quality of the air we breathe and the water we drink, to the safety of our homes and workplaces, and even the design of our cities.
Defining Environmental Health and Its Reach
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Reading list
We've selected 26 books
that we think will supplement your
learning. Use these to
develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a
deeper understanding of the topics covered in
Environmental Health.
This comprehensive textbook provides a global perspective on environmental health, covering topics such as air and water pollution, climate change, and the impact of chemicals on human health. It is an excellent resource for students, researchers, and professionals in the field.
Focuses on the effects of climate change on human health. It provides a detailed overview of the current state of knowledge on this topic. It is an excellent resource for students, researchers, and policymakers in the field.
This groundbreaking book is widely credited with launching the modern environmental movement. It meticulously documents the detrimental effects of pesticides on the environment and human health, sparking public outcry and leading to policy changes. While older, it foundational classic that provides essential historical context for environmental health.
Provides a comprehensive review of the health consequences of climate change, covering heat-related disorders, infectious diseases, malnutrition, mental health impacts, and more. It also discusses mitigation and adaptation strategies and policies. With contributions from numerous experts and a recent publication date, it's an essential resource for understanding a critical contemporary environmental health issue.
Written from a physician's perspective, this book clarifies the science and potential health threats of climate change in an accessible way. It covers a range of health impacts, making the concept of climate change relatable through its effects on human well-being. This valuable book for gaining a contemporary understanding of a major environmental health challenge.
This textbook focuses on the intersection of public health and the environment, providing a detailed overview of the environmental factors that can impact human health. It valuable resource for students and professionals in public health, environmental health, and related fields.
Examines environmental racism and the disproportionate impact of industrial pollution on marginalized communities in the United States. It uses case studies to illustrate how race and class influence environmental exposures and residential patterns. This crucial book for understanding the social determinants of environmental health and contemporary environmental justice issues.
Provides a comprehensive introduction to environmental health, covering a wide range of topics from traditional areas like air and water quality to broader issues such as climate change and the built environment. It is commonly used as a textbook in academic institutions and is suitable for gaining a broad understanding of the field. The book offers a multi-faceted view with global and local perspectives.
Examines environmental injustices in the current political and environmental climate, highlighting mobilizations and movements for environmental justice. It explores dispossession, deregulation, privatization, and inequality in relation to environmental health. This highly relevant book for understanding contemporary environmental justice struggles and their roots.
A collection of speeches by the renowned physician and medical anthropologist Paul Farmer, this book addresses global health equity and social justice, often in the context of environmental factors and their disproportionate impact on the poor. While broader than just environmental health, it provides crucial insights into the social and ethical dimensions of health disparities related to environmental conditions, making it a must-read for understanding the human element.
This textbook provides a comprehensive and accessible overview of environmental justice, a dynamic field in environmental politics. It explores the foundations, concepts, debates, and historical milestones, including issues like climate justice and energy justice. It's an ideal introductory text for understanding the social and equity dimensions of environmental health.
This text offers a clear and comprehensive study of the major topics in environmental health, including environmental epidemiology, toxicology, policy, and specific environmental diseases and applications. It's designed as an introductory textbook, making it excellent for students and professionals seeking foundational knowledge to solidify their understanding of the field's core concepts and tools.
This textbook comprehensive resource on the unique susceptibilities of children to environmental hazards and the profound impacts of chemical, biological, physical, and societal factors on child health. It covers new discoveries and guides effective interventions. This crucial book for anyone focusing on the specific environmental health concerns of children.
This textbook provides a comprehensive view of environmental risk assessment with a toxicological approach, covering problem formulation, exposure, toxicity, and risk characterization for both human health and ecological risk. The second edition includes updated information and new software/platforms. It's a core text for those needing to develop, conduct, and interpret risk assessments, crucial for deepening understanding in this applied area.
Offers a visionary and practical approach to addressing the climate crisis by weaving together solutions that consider justice, climate, biodiversity, equity, and human dignity. It describes the burgeoning regeneration movement and provides actions for individuals and communities. It's a compelling read for understanding contemporary solutions and movements in environmental health and sustainability.
Drawing on multiple disciplines, this comprehensive text introduces the principles and methods for assessing and managing environmental health risks. It provides an overview of the scientific basis of environmental health hazards, risk assessment, and risk management, and discusses the link between environmental health and sustainable development. is valuable for gaining a broad, interdisciplinary understanding.
Explores the fundamentals of environmental health with a global perspective, incorporating real-life readings and data sets from both developed and developing countries. It is geared towards undergraduate and graduate students, providing a solid grounding in current issues and controversies. The case studies help illustrate concepts in different contexts, adding breadth to understanding.
A classic of environmental literature, this book combines lyrical nature writing with the articulation of a 'land ethic,' advocating for a respectful relationship between humans and the natural world. While not a textbook, its philosophical reflections are foundational to understanding environmental values and conservation, which underpin environmental health efforts.
This comprehensive introductory textbook covers environmental toxicology from the molecular to the ecosystem level. It discusses basic to advanced concepts, methods, and approaches, as well as the toxicology of specific substances and complex issues. It includes case studies and exercises, making it a useful reference and learning tool for deepening understanding of how chemicals affect living organisms and the environment.
This volume, part of a two-book set, addresses key physical hazards impacting public health, such as air, water, food quality, and climate change. Written by experts, it explains how environmental health issues are translated into public health policies. It's designed for upper-level undergraduate and graduate students, providing essential knowledge on the policy aspects of environmental health and how hazards are mitigated.
Focusing on human disorders and ecotoxicology, this handbook provides authoritative reviews and case studies on major toxins from biological sources, pollutants, and radiation. It explores cutting-edge research and future developments, offering extensive coverage of toxicants of current and future concern. is valuable for advanced students and researchers looking to deepen their understanding of specific toxic agents and their impacts.
Through striking photography and graphics, this atlas surveys the issue of plastic pollution in the oceans and its impacts on wildlife and human health. It also highlights initiatives to tackle the problem. is valuable for understanding a significant contemporary environmental health issue and potential solutions.
Provides a detailed overview of the principles and methods used in environmental epidemiology. It good resource for students and professionals in environmental health, epidemiology, and other related fields.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
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