One Health at EPA: Applying a One Health Approach for Environmental Research
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The mission of EPA is to protect human health and the environment. From its inception, EPA’s Office of Research and Development (EPA-ORD) has exemplified the principles of One Health, recognizing the interdependence of the health of humans, animals, and the environment. Essentially, when EPA protects the environment (air, water, and soil), EPA is protecting humans, animals, crops, and ecosystems.
One Health concept is a collaborative, multisectoral, and transdisciplinary approach that that recognizes that the health of people is closely connected to the health of animals and our shared environment. The EPA One Health Coordination Team (OHCT) was established in Fall 2022 and the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine in 2023 made recommendations to EPA for further expanding the concept across the Office of Research and Development.
This session, which included EPA leaders, provided an overview of the One Health program at EPA-ORD and examples of how the framework has been applied to specific environmental challenges, like wildfire, hazardous algal blooms, and antimicrobial resistance.