An unfortunate but real concern of the environmental health professional is preparing for and responding to terrorism. Responsibilities governing terrorism mirror in many ways response to threats from natural disasters. Environmental health is on the forefront in assuring that the water and food supply is safe, monitoring for contamination, and participating as a key member of interdisciplinary teams.

The Environmental Health curriculum provides graduates the skills to be effective in working with all levels of government and industry providing services in response to this threat. For example, Environmental Epidemiology (ENVH 449) provides tools needed to evaluate if disease outbreak comes from natural causes or from a particular environmental threat. Special classes provide particular focus, demonstrated by our course Environmental and Public Health Responses to Terrorism (ENVH 470), taught to meet the need of our current students looking for specialized knowledge and skills.

Numerous web sites are available providing very useful information. Below are listed a few of them.

The Centers for Disease Control maintain an excellent web site on terrorism.

The Food and Drug Administration with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers a lot of information about terrorism.

The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) offers information about Bioterrorism and Emergency Response Program. This information focuses on the role of responders at the local level, often led by environmental health professionals.

The American Medical Association offers information to the medical community about disaster preparedness and emergency response.