Environmental Health

Environmental health is the heart and soul of local public health in Massachusetts. Environmental health inspectors oversee many issues confronting people in their daily lives. The range of issues that health inspectors must be proficient in is far-reaching and very diverse. They are charged with ensuring restaurants and deli counters serve safe food; they monitor the quality of the air we breathe; they oversee the safe protocols and operations of body art/works establishments, public and semi-public swimming pools, summer camps, bathing beaches, and the storage and disposal of various waste materials. They also work to reduce excessive noise, insects, and tobacco use.

Environmental health has become a core function of most local public health departments in Massachusetts. Many local public health departments function without a full-time dedicated public health nurse, but none are without at least one employee whose main function is managing environmental health issues.

This chapter includes resources that cover the diverse field of environmental health-related issues that local public health officials may encounter.

EH Topic Area	State Program and Contact	Additional Resources
Air Quality (Indoor)	DPH Indoor Air Quality Program (617) 624-5757	Radon Molds
Air Pollution (Outdoor)	DEP Air Pollution (Link includes contact info)	State Regulation DEP Guidance on Local Response to Odor and Dust Complaints DEP Guidance for Adopting Municipal Air Pollution Control Regulations DEP Guidance on Outdoor Hydronic Heaters
Animals (Keeping of)	MDAR Division of Animal Health (617) 626-1794	Municipal Animal Inspector Program (MDAR) Keeping of Animals Model Local Regulation (MAHB) Examples of Local Regulations: Framingham
Asbestos	DEP Asbestos Program (Link includes contact info) DLS Asbestos Safety Program (617) 626-6960	Asbestos Safety Program (DLS)
Beavers	Division of Fisheries & Wildlife (508) 389-6300	State Law Guidance for Local Health on the Implementing the State Beaver Law (DPH) Beaver Permit Application Water Flow Device Guidance
Body Art	DPH Community Sanitation Program (617) 624-5757	Body Art Advisory - Board of Cosmetology Examples of Local Regulations: Boston Framingham Norwood Wellesley
Bodyworks	-	Examples of Local Regulations: Framingham Needham Newton Weymouth
Burial	DPH Registry of Vital Records (617) 740-2600	DPH Community Sanitation Program Contact your city/town clerk
Cemeteries	-	State Law on Approval of New/Expansion of Cemeteries
Christian’s Law (Personal Floatation Device for Children)	DPH Community Sanitation Program (617) 624-5757	State Regulation
Composting (Agricultural and Commercial)	MDAR Agricultural Composting Program (617) 626-1724 DEP (617) 292-5632	State Regulation
Composting (Household)	DEP Household Composting Information (617) 292-5834
Cyanobacteria Bloom (Blue Green Algae)	DPH Environmental Toxicology Program (617) 624-5757	CDC Harmful Algae Bloom
Drinking Water (Private)	DEP Private Well Guidance	DEP Well Driller Program Examples of Local Regulations: Framingham
Drinking Water (Public)	DEP Drinking Water Program	PFAS Fluoridation Boil Orders
Family-type Campgrounds	DPH Community Sanitation Program (617) 624-5757	State Regulation
Farm Labor Camps	DPH Community Sanitation Program (617) 624-5757	State Regulation
Farmers’ Markets	MDAR Farmers’ Market Program (617) 626-1754	Regulatory Resources MA Food Code
Food Protection	DPH Food Protection Program (617) 983-6712 Email	MA Food Code Mobile Food Temporary Food / Farmers Markets Residential Kitchens Food Protection Manager Certification Programs Food Allergen Training Frozen Desserts CBD in Food Foodborne Illness Investigations FDA National Retail Food Program Standards FDA Bad Bug Book FDA Retail Food Program FDA Training Courses
Grease Traps	-	Examples of Local Regulations: Hudson
Hazardous Materials	Office of Technical Assistance & Technology (617) 626-1060	DEP Toxics Use Reduction Program Model Local Hazardous Materials Regulation (MEHA)
Hazardous Waste Spills and Cleanup	DEP Bureau of Waste Site Cleanup (617) 292-5500 24/7 Report of a Spill or Environmental Emergency: (888) 304-1133	State Regulation (Mass Contingency Plan 21E) Federal Superfund Information (EPA) Board of Registration of Hazardous Waste Site Cleanup Professionals (LSP Board) Brownfields (DEP)
Household Hazardous Wastes	DEP Household Hazardous Waste Information	Safe Disposal of Medications (DEP)
Housing & Healthy Homes	DPH Community Sanitation Program (617) 624-5757	State Regulation Bed Bugs Hoarding Mass PHIT Housing – LPHI Examples of Local Regulations: Barnstable Malden
Indoor Skating Rinks	DPH Community Sanitation Program (617) 624-5757	State Regulation
Lead Paint	DPH Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (617) 624-5757	State Law and Regulation Community Lead Data and Reports (DPH) Deleading and Lead Safety – DLS Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting Program – EPA
Massage Therapy	Board of Registration of Massage Therapy (617) 701-8630	No local health responsibility
Medical Waste	DPH Community Sanitation Program (617) 624-5757	State Regulation Disposal of Medical Sharps
Mosquito Control	MDAR State Reclamation & Mosquito Control Board (508) 281-6786 DPH Bureau of Infectious Disease & Laboratory Sciences (617) 983-6550	Regional Mosquito Control Projects & Districts Arbovirus Info for Local Health (DPH) Mosquito Control (CDC) EPA Registered Insect Repellents
Nail Salons	Board of Registration of Cosmetology (617) 701-8792	State Regulation Examples of Local Regulations: Boston
Noise	DEP	DEP Noise Policy DEP Guidance on Local Response to Noise Complaints DEP Seminar on Noise Complaints (includes DEP contacts)
Nuisance & Noisome Trades	-	State Statute on Nuisance Site Assignment State Law Guidebook for MA Boards of Health (Chapter 20: Nuisances & Noisome Trades) – MAHB Noisome Trade Site Assignment Model Local Regulation (MAHB)
Odor	See Air Quality (Outdoor) above.	DEP Guidance on Local Response to Odor Complaints
Onsite Wastewater Disposal (Septic Systems)	DEP (Link includes contact info)	State Regulation (Title 5) MA Title 5 Credentials – New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC) Title 5 Training Course for Local Health – Barnstable County Health & Environment
Pesticides	MDAR Pesticide Program (617) 626-1776	EPA National Pesticide Information Center (Oregon State University)
Private Wells	See Drinking Water (Private) above.
Public/Semi-Public Swimming Pools	DPH Community Sanitation Program (617) 624-5757	State Regulation Certified Pool Operator
Recreational/Bathing Beaches	DPH Environmental Toxicology Program (617) 624-5757	State Regulation
Recreational Camps for Children	DPH Community Sanitation Program (617) 624-5757	State Regulation
Rodent Control	-	Examples of Local Rodent Control Program: Arlington Cambridge Somerville
Sanitary Sewer System (Private)	DEP	Sanitary Sewer Overflow (DEP)
Solid Waste & Recycling	DEP (Link includes contact information)	State Statute on BOH Licensure of Waste Haulers (Solid Waste, Septage, Cooking Oil/Grease, etc.) Waste Disposal Bans (DEP) SMRP Municipal Grants (DEP) Guidebook for MA Boards of Health (Chapter 8: Solid Waste Management) – MAHB State Regulation on Site Assignment of Solid Waste Facilities Examples of Local Regulations (State Statutory Authority): Wellesley Malden
Tanning Facilities	DPH Radiation Control Program (617) 242-3035 Email	State Regulation
Ticks	DPH Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences	Ticks (DPH) Ticks (CDC)
Trans Fat	-	Examples of Local Regulations: Boston Needham