MIL-OSI USA: On Earth Day, NCDHHS Recognizes the Critical Work of Environmental Health Programs

This Earth Day, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is recognizing the essential role environmental health plays in protecting and promoting a safe and healthy environment for all North Carolinians. 

“We know the environment where we live, work and play directly impacts our health and well-being,” said NC Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai. “Our environmental health and epidemiology teams work every day to protect families from unseen dangers such as contaminated water, excessive heat, foodborne illness and heavy metals in soil.”

Environmental health plays a vital role in North Carolina communities. For example, approximately 25% of the state’s population depends on private wells for drinking water. Programs like NCDHHS Private Well and Health program help families interpret test results and understand treatment options. The program is also developing a mapping tool to identify areas of increased concern due to arsenic, bacteria, nitrates and other contaminants.

Many of these programs that help keep North Carolinians safe — from clean drinking water and extreme heat alerts to childhood lead poisoning prevention and food safety — are at risk of going away due to staffing reductions at key federal agencies including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. At least one program has already been paused, and others are in jeopardy due to the loss of federal staff supports.

Examples of critical environmental health work in North Carolina supported by federal funding:   

• Extreme heat alert systems and illness tracking program which monitors emergency department visits for heat-related illness and issues local alerts when temperatures reach dangerous levels. In 2024, NCDHHS tracked 4,688 emergency department visits and issued over 1,200 local alerts.
• Childhood lead exposure prevention,  including inspections and interventions in homes, child-care centers, and from food sources
• Outbreak response and investigations of foodborne illness outbreaks
• The Environmental Health Data Dashboard, a widely used tool that provides public access to 120 environmental and health indicators
• Education and testing that protect families and workers from pesticide and industrial pollution
• Occupational health monitoring, including exposure to hazards like carbon monoxide and lead
• Improving safe drinking water through private well testing and treatment projects in Sampson County for families who rely on well water and who may have fewer options to keep their water safe to drink.

“These programs often operate quietly in the background—but they’re essential to everyday health and safety,” said Dr. Kelly Kimple, Interim State Health Director and NCDHHS Chief Medical Officer. “NCDHHS remains committed to protecting our communities, but continued investment is vital. As North Carolina faces increasing environmental threats from hurricanes to heatwaves, we can’t afford to lose these safeguards.”