Environmental Health is the branch of public health concerned with monitoring or mitigating those factors in the environment that affect human health and disease.This field of study is often community-focused, as the policies and programs it creates aim to improve the living conditions of every citizen by targeting the region-specific health hazards they face. Organizations like the National Environmental Health Association push for sustainable solutions to some of the most complex exposure risks, which often require protective intervention to mitigate. Government agencies play a critical role in this process, as many issues are too large to solve through nonprofit efforts alone. Environmental health initiatives are grounded in rigorous research and evidence-based communication models, highlighting the need for public health professionals who have a passion for science. 

Occupational health is the area of work in public health to promote and maintain highest degree of physical, mental, and social well-being of all workers in all.The primary goal of this subfield is to promote health and safety practices that protect modern workers from workplace hazards, which requires a good deal of research and regulatory action. For example, the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) regularly updates its guidelines for the handling of volatile chemical agents and solvents when new information is available. The agency also sets standards for industries that process heavy metals, work at high elevations, employ dangerous machinery, and a whole lot more. Environmental Health examines the role of various factors in our environment in the health of individuals and populations. Occupational Health identifies the risks arising from physical, chemical, and other workplace hazards to establish and maintain a safe and healthy working environment. Individuals pursuing careers in environmental and occupational health sciences may work as inspectors and detectives who assess and ensure safe and sanitary conditions, identify and implement solutions for preventing and controlling hazards, and develop environmental policies for sustainable societies.

Occupational and environmental health experts are uniformly committed to protecting human societies from natural and anthropogenic hazards. Both subfields are focused on improving the lives of citizens around the world through scientific research, public outreach, and regulatory action, even if it means standing up to entrenched institutions and economic systems. Some of the pressing health hazards we face today can be traced to the unsustainable practices of the past. Public health experts from every subfield work to mitigate these hazards through careful observation, study, and communication, though the support of government policies and regulations certainly help.