Environmental Health, is defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as being:
'the control of all those factors in man's physical environment which can exercise, a deleterious effect on his physical development, health or survival.'
'Health' in this context is said to mean 'a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being'.
Environmental Health has its origins back in the last century, when bad housing, poor water supplies, inadequate drainage and contaminated food caused disease and death.
In New Zealand professionals involved in environmental health functions are employed by local councils, in addition to regional councils, public health service units, the occupational safety and health service and a few private companies.
Local Council Environmental health functions are wide and varied but the principal categories may be summarised as follows:
food safety – the inspection and licensing of all food premises to ensure satisfactory hygiene and sanitation are maintained
noise control - the control and abatement of excessive and unreasonable noise
Nuisances - control of smoky fires, overgrown sections, keeping of animals, etc.
