Environmental medicine; information and advice

Environmental medicine comprises the identification, assessment, prevention and treatment of environmental factors that influence the health of individuals or the population, as well as the development of principles for health protection and health-related environmental protection.

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The health assessment of biological, chemical or physical noxious substances that affect humans is at the heart of the environmental medical activities of health authorities.

This involves comparing measured or predicted exposures with suitable assessment values as part of a risk assessment. On the basis of such a risk assessment, a decision is made on how to deal with hazards (risk management). If possible, all of these processes should be accompanied by information and participation of the persons concerned (risk communication).

The Occupational and Environmental Health Protection Division of the Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety (LGL) supports the health authorities as a technical control center for all environmental medical, toxicological and environmental epidemiological issues. The focus is on environmental medicine based on the precautionary principle, which contributes to the timely identification, assessment and prevention of risks and hazards to human health through a wide range of preventive measures. Topics include the health assessment of particulate matter, breastfeeding and breast milk, air quality in schools and the environmental medical significance of perfluorinated substances.

The Bavarian State Office for Environmental Protection (LfU) is the central specialist authority for environmental protection, nature conservation, geology and water management in Bavaria, which is responsible for collecting data on the state of the environment in Bavaria and developing goals, strategies and plans for the sustainable use and protection of our environment.