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What is Environmental Health? |
Environmental Health in Action |
Alumni Profiles
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What is Environmental Health?
Environmental health is the study of how environmental factors can harm human health and how to identify, prevent, and control such effects. Environmental health professionals work to:
- maintain a safe supply of food and drinking water
- discover mechanisms of diseases caused by environmental exposures
- treat and dispose of solid and toxic wastes
- reduce air, water, food, and noise pollution
- control workplace hazards
Environmental Health in Action
Diesel Bus Study
Dr. Sally Liu's research team has pinpointed crankcase emissions as the source of most pollution on school buses. See stories from KING 5 News, and KOMO TV News.
Penetrating Tough Microbes
A public health milestone was the addition of chlorine to drinking water. However, some emerging waterborne pathogens are highly resistant to chlorine. UW researcher Gwy-Am Shinis investigating the effectiveness of an ultraviolet treatment method that can break down the defenses of these toughest of microbes.
Lead in the Water
Scott Meschke was quoted in a Seattle Post-Intelligencer story, "Plan calls for new pipes at schools."
Alumni Profiles
- Kai Elgethun, state health toxicologist for the Idaho Department of Health & Welfare
- Jeff Shirai, Research Scientist, UW Dept. of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Welfare
- Kathy Himes, Puget Sound Clean Air
- Ann Wawrukiewicz, EPA Region 10
- Joe Johnson, Microsoft
- Yolanda Sanchez
- Kissel lab graduates