EPA as a public health agency

Much of EPA's actions are driven by concerns for public health. The public's perception of the potential adverse consequences to their health of chemical and physical agents in the general environment is a common motivating force in setting EPA's agenda and in making regulatory decisions. Despite its responsibilities in public health, and the major role that public health plays in its decision making, EPA is not part of the Department of Health and Human Services, the federal cabinent-level department with primary responsibility for human health. Rather, EPA is an independent agency with its own Administrator who is the decision maker for over a dozen legislative acts, many of which are based on public health concerns. For very few of these laws is there more than a minimal tie to the activities of classic public health agencies in the Department of Health and Human Services. Unfortunately, this organizational approach has led to a relative lack of individuals trained in the discipline of public health which hinders EPA's ability to approach public health problems. While there are many good reasons to keep EPA a separate entity from the Department of Health and Human Services, it is imperative there be close cooperation between EPA and the appropriate units of the U.S. Public Health Service. Most importantly, the number of people within EPA who are trained in public health disciplines must be increased. As a corollary there must be a concerted effort to educate students in a manner responsive to the need for public health manpower at EPA and at State and local agencies active directly or indirectly in environmental health issues.