4 Environmental Health Careers That Can Change Our Future

Many different factors affect our health, including genetics and pure luck. But one of the biggest factors in human health is the environment around us. Air quality, the food we eat, the water we drink, and the substances absorbed through our skin all have an impact on our short and long-term health.

If you’re interested in helping people to live healthier lives but you don’t want to work in the healthcare field, then a degree in environmental health science could be a great option. There are many fulfilling career paths you can take after earning this degree (although some require advanced degrees), from teaching to fieldwork. Here are 4 interesting environmental health careers to consider.

The Benefits of Optimizing Environmental Health

We all want to live in healthy communities that allow people to reach their true potential and enjoy personal wellness. While some communities are set up for success, many vulnerable communities are not. Air pollution, lack of access to healthy food, and other environmental health hazards affect people all over the world.

By addressing the environmental factors contributing to health, we can enhance the quality of life for people and help prevent unnecessary suffering, or even, death. Almost one-quarter of all deaths are completely preventable and associated with health problems caused by the environment. As we continue to battle climate change, addressing environmental health will only become more important.

Food Safety Inspector

The old saying “you are what you eat” may be a cliché, but it’s also accurate. We get nutrients from food, but we also ingest harmful substances like heavy metals, pathogens, and hormones. Regulatory government organizations set standards for food safety and sanitation, which means that trained inspectors are needed to ensure that those standards are being met.

As a food safety inspector (also known as a “consumer safety inspector”) you might work for a privately owned food processing plant. Or, you might be able to find work with the U.S. government, ensuring that both domestic and imported food meets all the safety standards needed to protect the health of Americans.

Food safety inspectors can help to prevent illness and death among the general population. It can be a fulfilling career with built-in stability: people need to eat! If you choose this career, you can expect to make between $48,000-$62,000 per year.

Air Pollution or Water Pollution Specialist

We all know how dangerous air pollution and water toxins can be to public health. Poor air quality can cause chronic respiratory problems and exacerbate asthma. Water that carries heavy metals and other toxins can lead to a wide variety of health problems.

These jobs involve a number of duties, ranging from monitoring and testing air or water quality to analyzing data to educating the public and working with politicians. Pollution specialists must bridge the gap between the scientific community and the general public.

Typically, you’ll need an advanced degree to become an air or water pollution specialist. You’ll need skills and knowledge in several scientific disciplines, including chemistry, physics, and meteorology. You will also need data analysis skills and the ability to communicate and work well with people.

Environmental Toxicologist

Many health problems are caused by toxins in the environment. But because we are exposed to so many potentially harmful substances on any given day, it’s important for public health to know how these substances actually affect us. That’s where environmental toxicologists come in.

Environmental toxicologists look at how toxins affect humans and their health. They study how toxins end up in our environment and determine just how much we should worry about them.

For instance, climate change has a significant impact on human health. Generally, a lot of this research takes place in the lab and out in the field. However, environmental toxicologists also use computer modeling in their research.

If you want to become an environmental toxicologist, you’ll need to earn an advanced degree and look for opportunities in a variety of work environments. Demand is growing rapidly for biochemists, meaning that it’s a great time to get into this important and exciting field.

Environmental Health Educator

Research is important, but it has to go hand in hand with education for public health initiatives. If people aren’t aware that their environment could be making them sick, then they won’t be able to make beneficial changes. Environmental health educators help to translate scientific research and make it easy for people to understand.

Obviously, environmental health educators need to enjoy working with people and be able to understand complex scientific information. If you want to pursue this career path, you’ll need a strong background in science and excellent communication skills. Educators work in all kinds of settings, especially if they’re educating the general public.

Making the World a Better Place

Getting into a career in environmental health involves hard work and dedication. You might need an advanced degree, experience as a volunteer, or other qualifications to get a job in this field. But if you want to make the world a healthier place for your neighbors locally and globally, it might be the perfect option for you!