Physical Environment
The environment plays a key role in public health. From air and water quality to radon and lead, there are
many environmental factors that can influence the health of our residents. While many environmental factors are naturally
occurring, our behavior can influence and increase some of the negative affects that influence climate change factors, such
as automobile emissions and air quality.
Many adverse health outcomes have links to the environment, such as air pollution and an increased risk of heart attacks. Having
reliable data about these health concerns provides a clearer picture of how the environment impacts health. This information can
then be used to direct interventions to prevent and control these adverse health outcomes.