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Strengthening the Role of Public Health in Environmental Policy
Author(s) -
Burke Thomas A.,
Shalauta Nadia M.,
Tran Nga L.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
policy studies journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.773
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1541-0072
pISSN - 0190-292X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1541-0072.1995.tb00507.x
Subject(s) - public health , environmental health , environmental policy , public health policy , business , political science , risk assessment , environmental planning , health policy , public economics , public administration , economics , geography , medicine , nursing , management
Over the past 25 years there has been a steady decline in the role of public health agencies in environmental protection. This paper examines the major factors that have contributed to that decline, including the impact of federal environmental laws, the disparity in funding between regulatory and public health activities in environmental protection, and the emergence of risk assessment as a basis for environmental decisions. The methods of risk assessment and traditional public health approaches are contrasted, and the advantages of the involvement of public health agencies are discussed. Recommendations are presented for strengthening the role of public health in environmental decisionmaking to address more effectively public concerns about environmental risks.