Public Health Significance. This section includes a succinct statement on the public health context for the chapter’s remaining content.
Public Health Significance. Air pollution is increasingly recognized as a major contributor to acute and chronic disease, including asthma and cardiovascular disease, and global climate change.
Public Health Significance. Provision of safe and adequate drinking water is a fundamental public health protection for individuals and the community.
Public Health Significance. Sanitary disposal of wastewater directly relates to water supplies for drinking and recreational use and is a fundamental public health protection that is essential to individuals and communities.
Public Health Significance. Water, because it is essential for life, is also a common vehicle for many different exposures that can affect health. These include chemical, physical, and infectious agents.
Public Health Significance. Commercial and recreational shellfish harvesting in Maryland waters are important activities in the Chesapeake Bay, its tributaries, and Maryland’s coastal bays. MDE, DHMH, DNR, and local authorities collectively monitor and regulate these activities to ensure the safety of the source waters and the harvested foods. Commercial shellfish harvesting is also controlled under guidelines of the National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP). Maryland is a member of the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference; compliance with the NSSP assures interstate commerce for Maryland’s shellfish and shellfish industry.
Public Health Significance. The public health impacts from exposure to various forms of noise may extend beyond annoyance, use and enjoyment of property and include cardiovascular effects and other potential risks.
Public Health Significance. One of the primary functions of health and environmental agencies is surveillance and active evaluation of exposure, disease, illness, and other health outcomes as they relate to environmental factors, in order to protect public health.
Public Health Significance. Homeland Security Presidential Directive – 5 directed the development of a new National Response Plan that incorporates an “all hazards” approach. In order to be compatible with that plan, this MOU supports all hazards planning as outlined in the State of Maryland’s Emergency Operations Plan and all appropriate annexes.
Public Health Significance. Laboratory services are essential to a range of environmental health activities in Maryland, including routine functions and non-routine evaluations.
