Environmental Health Officer

Imagine you work in a small mining town in the middle of one of the world’s richest deposits of silver, lead, and zinc. For several years, many residents have exhibited symptoms of lead poisoning. Environmental testing has confirmed elevated levels of lead in soil and water samples from the area. As the local environmental health officer, your work is to minimize health risks and protect the public while these contaminants are cleaned up.

You and your colleagues have developed a lead management program for the town that will educate residents on the health risks associated with lead and strategies for avoiding lead poisoning. One of your primary responsibilities is to implement the new lead management program.

As part of the program, community screening centres have been set up where residents can be screened for high lead levels in their blood. While they are there, you answer their questions and offer advice on safe practices that will minimize exposure to lead, particularly for families with small children.

On other days, you visit residents at home to help them identify potential sources and pathways whereby lead can enter the body. You also take soil and drinking water samples from homes, which will be analyzed for lead content as part of the ongoing monitoring process.

Part of the program also has you using local media sources to educate residents about the symptoms and treatment for lead poisoning, as well as strategies for decreasing their exposure to and intake of lead.

To learn more about Environmental Health Officers, check out our Day in the Life video below!