The East Region Health Protection Service (ERHPS) works with local authorities and national agencies to respond to environmental and chemical incidents that may pose risks to public health. These include:
- Contaminated land - from historical or current industrial activity
- Chemical incidents - such as industrial spills or toxic releases
- Water safety - drinking water quality and recreational water incidents
- Radiological hazards and environmental contamination
- Air quality – indoor (e.g. charcoal stoves) and outdoor (e.g. transport, industry, wildfires)
- Noise pollution – transport noise, industrial noise, neighbours
Who does what?
The East Region Health Protection Service works in partnership with Local Authority Environmental Health teams and other agencies to provide a coordinated response to Environmental and Public Health incidents. This shared approach ensures that each organisation plays its part effectively, giving communities clear, reliable support when issues arise.
- Local Authority Environmental Health teams: Deal with issues relating to places. They regulate businesses and industries, monitor water supplies, investigate pollution or contamination, and take enforcement action when needed.
- ERHPS (Health Protection team): Deal with issues which affect Public Health, known as Environmental Public Health. We assess and manage the potential health impacts of environmental incidents, coordinate health advice, support risk assessments, and communicate with the public and NHS services.
ERHPS’s role is to:
- Provide expert public health advice
- Coordinate multi-agency responses during incidents
- Support risk assessments and public communication
- Help communities understand and reduce exposure risks
Who to contact
If you are concerned about an environmental hazard in your area, please contact your local Environmental Health Team in the first instance.
If you have concerns about the health impacts on people (for example, suspected illness linked to an environmental or port-related incident), please contact your GP or refer to the NHS Inform website.
Environmental Health links
Other useful links
Page last reviewed: 10 July 2026