Environmental Health Programs

As a key component of public health, environmental public health focuses on preventing and controlling human diseases caused or impacted by our environment. Many aspects of our environment, both built (pools, sidewalks, and park access) and natural (water, air, soil, and food), can impact our health. Environmental public health professionals work to prevent disease and create healthy environments that promote well-being, fostering healthy, and safe communities by ensuring the safety of what we eat, breathe, touch, and drink. 

These programs seeks to do this through public education, licensing, inspection, investigations, and enforcement of public health laws, focused on community health, facilities, inspections, pollutant storage tanks, Water, and on-site sewage programs.

Red Tide Advisory

Pinellas County and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) are monitoring Red Tide detected in water samples taken from Pinellas waters. Low, medium, and high concentrations were found offshore at locations in Pinellas County. Occurrences of Red Tide in the Gulf of Mexico have been regularly documented, but blooms can be worsened by excess nutrients.

Residents along the beach communities, especially those cleaning out their homes and businesses from the recent storms, may experience respiratory irritation when concentrations are higher, especially when the wind is blowing onshore. It is not known if Hurricanes Helene or Milton are linked to this occurrence of Red Tide nor when conditions will improve. Residents and visitors are advised to check current water quality status at Protecting Florida Together. Fish kills can be reported to FWC through the FWC Reporter app by calling 800-636-0511 or by submitting a report online. Residents who find dead fish near their boat dock can retrieve them with a skimmer and dispose of them with their regular trash.

State Department of Health information regarding Red Tide