Environmental Health Science and Practice
The environment—the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat—plays a vital role in our health and wellbeing.
CDC’s Division of Environmental Health Science and Practice (DEHSP) works to protect the health and quality of life of all people in the United States. We look at how the environment affects our health through environmental epidemiology, collect and share environmental health data, and provide support to state and local environmental health practitioners. We also plan for and respond to natural, chemical, and radiation disasters. We are especially committed to protecting the health of those most vulnerable to certain environmental hazards—children, the elderly, and people with chronic health conditions.
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DEHSP’s mission is supported by surveillance, epidemiology, technical assistance, training, and emergency response activities conducted by our branches:
- Water, Food, and Environmental Health Services Branch
- Asthma and Community Health Branch
- Lead Poisoning Prevention and Environmental Health Tracking Branch
- Emergency Management, Radiation, and Chemical Branch
These branches and their programs provide critical environmental health support and funding for state, tribal, local, and territorial health departments and other partners with similar missions.
Water, Food, and Environmental Health Services Branch
The Water, Food, Environmental Health Services Branch provides free tools and guidance, training, and research for environmental health practitioners and programs for the following areas:
Emergency Management, Radiation, and Chemical Branch
The Emergency Management, Radiation, and Chemical Branch leads activities and provides guidance in the following areas:
- Radiation Studies
- Chemical Emergency and Weapons Elimination
- Health Studies
- Preparedness and Emergency Management
Asthma and Community Health Branch
The Asthma and Community Health Branch provides tools, guidance, training, resources, and data to assist our partners in the following areas:
Lead Poisoning Prevention and Environmental Health Tracking Branch
The Lead Poisoning Prevention and Environmental Health Tracking Branch establishes data standards and leads programmatic efforts for the following areas: