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Objectives: To evaluate health impacts of drought during the most severe drought in California's recorded history with a rapid assessment method., Methods: We conducted Community Assessments for Public Health Emergency Response during October through November 2015 in Tulare County and Mariposa County to evaluate household water access, acute stressors, exacerbations of chronic diseases and behavioral health issues, and financial impacts. We evaluated pairwise associations by logistic regression with pooled data., Results: By assessment area, households reported not having running water (3%-12%); impacts on finances (25%-39%), property (39%-54%), health (10%-20%), and peace of mind (33%-61%); worsening of a chronic disease (16%-46%); acute stress (8%-26%); and considering moving (14%-34%). Impacts on finances or property were each associated with impacts on health and peace of mind, and acute stress., Conclusions: Drought-impacted households might perceive physical and mental health effects and might experience financial or property impacts related to the drought. Public Health Implications. Local jurisdictions should consider implementing drought assistance programs, including behavioral health, and consider rapid assessments to inform public health action.

Optimal mobility, defined as relative ease and freedom of movement in all of its forms, is central to healthy aging. Mobility is a significant consideration for research, practice, and policy in aging and public health. We examined the public health burdens of mobility disability, with a particular focus on leading public health interventions to enhance walking and driving, and the challenges and opportunities for public health action. We propose an integrated mobility agenda, which draws on the lived experience of older adults. New strategies for research, practice, and policy are needed to move beyond categorical promotion programs in walking and driving to establish a comprehensive program to enhance safe mobility in all its forms.

Despite growing evidence of the direct and indirect effects of the built environment on public health, planners, who shape the built environment, and public health professionals, who protect the public's health, rarely interact. Most public health professionals have little experience with urban planners, zoning boards, city councils, and others who make decisions about the built environment. Likewise, few planners understand the health implications of design, land use, or transportation decisions. One strategy for bridging this divide is the development of interdisciplinary courses in planning and public health that address the health implications of the built environment. Professional networking and Internet-based searches in 2007 led to the identification of six primarily graduate-level courses in the U.S. that address the links between the built environment and public health. Common content areas in most of the identified courses included planning and public health histories, health disparities, interdisciplinary approaches, air and water quality, physical activity, social capital, and mental health. Instructors of these courses collaborated on course content, assignments, and evaluations to develop a model curriculum that follows an active learning-centered approach to course design. The proposed model curriculum is adaptable by both planning and public health departments to promote interdisciplinary learning. Results show that students gain planning and public health perspectives through this instruction, benefiting from active-learning opportunities. Faculty implementation of the proposed interdisciplinary model curriculum will help bridge the divide between the built environment and public health and enable both planners and public health professionals to value, create, and promote healthy environments.

The design of a community's built environment influences the physical and mental health of its residents. Because few studies have investigated this relationship, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hosted a workshop in May 2002 to help develop a scientific research agenda on these issues. Workshop participants' areas of expertise included physical activity, injury prevention, air pollution, water quality, urban planning, transportation, architecture, epidemiology, land use, mental health, social capital, housing, and social marketing. This report describes the 37 questions in the resulting research agenda. The next steps are to define priorities and obtain resources. The proposed research will help identify the best practices for designing new communities and revitalizing old ones in ways that promote physical and mental health.

Biomonitoring is the assessment of human exposure to environmental chemicals by measuring the chemicals or their metabolites in human specimens such as blood, urine, saliva, or tissue. It has become a powerful public health tool. This article discusses the practical application of biomonitoring to address a public health problem in a state, to explain how biomonitoring differs from predicting exposure through environmental monitoring, to describe the influence biomonitoring has had on promulgating regulations aimed at protecting public health, and to discuss the position biomonitoring holds in the legal landscape as well as its promise in forging laws that will regulate toxic chemicals more effectively.

The way that land is used has a direct impact on public health. Legislators and other with responsibility for land use planning need to be aware of the public health connection and need to promote effective land use planning as a means of improving the public's health. This article discusses the public health/land use connection and the role that local, state, and national legislators can play in promoting land use planning that supports the public's health. It also provides an example of a collaborative local land use initiative aimed at addressing a public health problem in a city and at providing a model that other locations can use in making land use conform to sound public health policy. Finally, it provides an overview of initiatives to promote healthy land use in the New York metropolitan area by Regional Plan Association, a private non-profit planning organization.

Objectives. To evaluate Indiana pediatricians' current practices related to oral health, knowledge of oral health prevention, and opinions on anticipatory guidance integration into their practices. Background. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) May 2003 policy statement on oral health risk assessment timing and establishment of a dental home has provided pediatricians with guidelines to assess patients' oral health and caries risk status. Methods. A survey of 31 questions was distributed via mail to all active Indiana pediatricians (300) registered in the Indiana State Medical Association to evaluate current practices relating to oral health prevention and guidance. Results. Of the 300 distributed surveys, 138 were returned (46%). The authors found that 15% of pediatricians recognize the AAP-recommended age for a dental home as 12 months and practice this recommendation. Among the respondents, 7% believe application of fluoride should be part of a well-child visit. The majority (89%) of respondents reported interest in obtaining further knowledge on oral health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In society's effort to address any prepare for climate change. the health community itself just ensure that it is prepared. health personnel will require flexible and iterative action plans to address climate change at the individual, hospital, local health department, state, and national levels. This requires that health workers analyze the impact of climate change with a view to human health, and then fortunate robust policy and demonstrate authentic leadership. In this review, we summarize the status of the health community preparation for climate change and provide specific recommendations for action at each level. Although preparation status any recommendations vary, our observation is that it is not enough for public health and medical care agencies and departments to develop policies and advocate change. They have direct responsibility t o demonstrate substantive leadership. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors discuss current changes in U.S. environmental policy and their impact on environmental health. The mention the history of environmental policy and programs over the past fifty years as well as the public health results, the current replacement of environmental scientists by industry consultants, and the diminution of environmental leadership by the U.S.

Objectives. This study investigated the scale of the public health risk from stormwater runoff caused by urbanization. Methods. We compiled turbidity data for municipal treated drinking water as an indication of potential risk in selected US cities and compared estimated costs of waterborne disease and preventive measures. Results. Turbidity levels in other US cities were similar to those linked to illnesses in Milwaukee, Wis, and Philadelphia, Pa. The estimated annual cost of waterborne illness is comparable to the long-term capital investment needed for improved drinking water treatment and stormwater management. Conclusions. Although additional data on cost and effectiveness are needed, stormwater management to minimize runoff and associated pollution appears to make sense for protecting public health at the least cost. (Am J Public Health. 2003;93:1527-1533) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public anxiety of near panic proportions was created by the announcement of a plan to commence aerial application of malathion bait over a large urban area in California for the eradication of the Mediterranean fruit fly within four days. A risk assessment had reported, the project entailed no significant risk to health but environmentalist groups and the media ignored the report. We describe the successful measures taken by State health workers to counteract the anxiety which itself constituted a serious public problem. The most important measure was the rapid convening of a Health Advisory Committee composed of recognized experts and local professional and leaders to provide an authoritative, respected and sympathetic voice to deal with the community's concerns. These experiences may be of value of other communities facing unwarranted anxiety over perceived environmental hazards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on the challenges to prevent health conditions among women that result from environmental factors in the U.S. Political and legislative funding efforts are commonly geared to medical care. In contrast, spending on public health accounts for only 1% of total expenditures on health in the United States. Yet because of the public health community's focus on prevention, a public health approach could significantly reduce the economic and social burden of disease over time. Public health organizations must strive for increased integration with the medical community and a more balanced allocation of health resources. The public health and medical communities together must collaborate to assess the incidence and prevalence of disease, understand the causes and risk factors for disease, and develop preventive and curative interactions. Such efforts could improve the health of all Americans and, in certain significant instances, improve the health of women in particular. Only about 10%-15% of the decline in premature death during this century is attributable to medical care, whereas 85%-90% of the reduction has resulted from population-based efforts to prevent disease, disability, and death.

The article discusses the three pillars that inform and guide the integration of law, science and policy in environmental public health (EPH). It says that fulfilling the interest of the society in assuring the conditions in which people can be healthy is the main purpose of public health. Furthermore, environmentalism or showing concern to the environment is the second tributary flowing into EPH. It also states that lawmakers must act within the constraints of the legal system and a society.