Recent Environmental Issues versus the Environmental Health Laws

The media are replete with examples of environmental issues exposing us to health risks. The growing concern of environmental issues is the reason why the environmental health laws, such as CAA and CWA, were introduced in the 1970s. There have been several amendments throughout these years.

Using the Internet, research on examples of the following topics:

• Environmental Issues that Have Occurred in Last One Year
• Major Environmental Health Laws that Have Been Introduced in Past Ten Years

On the basis of your research and understanding of the topic, answer the following questions:

• In the past one year, which environmental health issue is the most grave one and why?
• What is the role of various government agencies that are charged with enforcing and evaluating the impact of the law?
• How have the government agencies been able to assess the gravity of the issue?
• Which one is the most important environmental health law that has been introduced within the past few years and why?
• Analyze the intended impact of environmental health laws on your local community.

What are the laws that were in effect, or should have been in effect, at the time when the environmental issue occurred?