The food we eat, the air we breathe, the water we drink—these are all fundamental building blocks of health. ASTHO works with our members and other public health professionals to maintain these essential components of wellbeing. Along with these core issues, environmental public health considers other pieces of our environments that impact our health: vectors of disease like ticks and mosquitoes, the built environments in which we live, and climate change. 

Addressing climate change is a key part of our agenda now and in the foreseeable future. Caring for the health of the environment around us is an important means of caring for our own health—a connection that is seen repeatedly in the resources below. 

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COVID-19 molecule

APPLETREE ASTHOConnects and Factsheets

ASTHO, with support from CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), announced awards to five state health agencies (or their partners) to support their responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Recording: One Health Webinars

ASTHO hosted informational webinars for states on the One Health framework—a collaborative approach to improve health outcomes that recognizes the connection between people, animals, and the environment.

Explore One Health

Environmental Health Programs and Services Portal

ASTHO fielded the Environmental Health Programs and Services Survey to state and territorial environmental health directors in 2019. The dashboard presents information on environmental health programs and services provided by state and territorial health agencies. 

Go to the Portal
Empty room that is in the drying stages after a flood

Responding to Environmental Health Threats Following Hurricanes

Insight from officials in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas on their experiences of post-hurricane environmental health issues, as well as advice and best practices for responding to these challenges.

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Connecting Climate Change and Health Equity in Public Health Agencies

In this episode, experts from the Washington State Department of Health discuss understanding and addressing climate and equity concerns.

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Cyanobacterial Blooms and Associated Illnesses Presentation slide deck

Cyanobacterial Blooms and Associated Illnesses: A Clinician Training Module for Physicians and Healthcare Providers

ASTHO has created a clinician toolbox for physicians and healthcare providers to help them better understand cyanobacterial blooms and associated illnesses.

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Latest Environmental Health Resources

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One Health: The Shared Future of People, Animals, and the Planet

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Diverse coworkers put their hands in the center of a circle to symbolize successful teambuilding
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Using Health in All Policies to Advance State Strategic Priorities: A Set of Key Approaches Commonly Used by State Health Agencies to Address Health Inequities

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Considering the Role of Social Stressors in Chemical Risk Assessment

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Wetlands water with algae growth
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Harnessing the One Health Approach to Tackle Recreational Lead and Harmful Algal Blooms

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Small scales of justice in a court room. ASTHO Health Policy Update banner in upper right
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Oyez! Oyez! Oyez! Public Health in the Courts

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Health Policy Update: Firefighter walking away in muddy field with standing water
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Preparedness Policy Highlights for Trending Public Health Threats

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A house in a tropical location has been leveled by a natural disaster
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National Preparedness Month: Recognizing Public Health Preparedness

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State and Federal Actions to Reduce Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances’ Impact on Public Health

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Collaborations

ASTHO manages several environmental health groups, including the State and Territorial Environmental Health Directors peer group, the State Tribal Liaisons peer group, the National Association of Vector-Borne Disease Control Officials, the State Health in All Policies Group, and the Climate Change Collaborative.  

With input from these groups, we develop documents, interactive platforms, and webinars to showcase the work that the members do on key environmental health areas.  

We also convene more specific, ad hoc workgroups if there is an environmental health issue that requires more focus. These groups have helped in the development of some of our products as well, like Public Health Confronts the Mosquito 2nd Edition. 

ASTHO also convenes the Environmental Health Policy Committee and has worked with the committee to develop policy statements for climate and extreme weather, health in all policies, and a general environmental health policy statement.