Massachusetts Environmental Health Association

The Massachusetts Environmental Health Association (MEHA) is an affiliate of the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA), which was incorporated in 1937. MEHA was established in 1948 and is a non-profit association organized for charitable and educational purposes. The goal and purpose of MEHA is to provide quality training and educational programs while also providing the opportunity for members to meet and exchange ideas and information with other professionals in the field of Public and Environmental Health.

View the Food Allergy Training Video

Click here to learn how to take the MA Registered Sanitarian (RS) or NEHA Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS/RS) Exam.

View the Merged Food Code

Title 5 Soil Evaluator Training

The New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission is offering training on the following dates:

May 30 -Makeup Field Exam. A 1-day field makeup exam for anyone who has previously not passed the Title 5 SE field portion of the exam.
June: Soil Evaluator Refresher course (1 day classroom (6/4) with option of either of two days of field training (6/11) or (6/20)).

Register by clicking here: (external link to... http://www.neiwpcc.org)

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May is Asthma Awareness Month.

Americans spend up to 90 percent of their time indoors. Indoor allergens and irritants play a significant role in triggering asthma attacks. Triggers are things that can cause asthma symptoms, an episode or attack or make asthma worse. If you have asthma, you may react to just one trigger or you may find that several things act as triggers. Learn more by clicking here (external link to... epa.gov).

wind turbine

View past MEHA educational seminar presentations by going to "Member Services" then "Seminar Notes", or by clicking here. Listed below is a sampling of some of the seminars:
Anaerobic Digestion
Backyard Chicken Farming
Communicating Your Message to the Public
Construction Inspections
Cert of Death: Data/Public Health Uses
Outdoor Wood Boilers
Polyethylene Tanks Onsite Wastewater
Public Health Response to Mercury Spills
Second Hand Smoke Exposure
Wind Turbine Health Impact Study

Fatal Exposure to Methylene Chloride Among Bathtub Refinishers

In 2010, the Michigan Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation program investigated the death of a bathtub refinisher who used a methylene chloride-based paint stripping product. OSHA identified 10 other bathtub refinisher fatalities associated with methylene chloride stripping agents in nine states during 2000-2011. Public health agencies should communicate the extreme hazards of using methylene chloride–based stripping products in bathtub refinishing to employers, workers, and consumers. Click here to learn more (MMWR: February 24, 2012 / 61(07);119-122). Toxic Substances Portal - Methylene Chloride

What is the GuLF STUDY?

The Gulf Long-term Follow up Study (GuLF STUDY) will learn about potential health effects from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) is leading this research. Click here to learn more. Who is eligible? You are eligible if you are at least 21 years old; You did oil spill clean-up work for at least 1 day; or You were not directly involved in oil spill cleanup but you worked near the oil spill or completed some oil spill worker training.

Anaerobic Digestion

Anaerobic digestion is a common technology in today's agriculture, municipal waste, and brewing industries. It uses bacteria to break down waste organic materials into methane and other gases, which can be used to produce electricity or heat. Click here to learn more (external link to... energy.gov).