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The mission of DEODC is to create a California free of environmental
and occupational disease through the promotion of strong effective prevention activities,
public health leadership, scientific excellence, informed public discussion and productive
collaboration with stakeholders.
All branches of the Division of Environmental and
Occupational Disease Control (DEODC) contribute to the prevention and control of
environmental and occupational disease through exemplary scientific public health
assessment: surveillance, investigation, laboratory innovation, education and
technical assistance. We are the sentries, scouts, laboratorians and intelligence
officers in the war on environmental and occupational disease. DEODC must determine
how environmental and occupational diseases are related to harmful exposures to
non-infectious environmental agents (e.g., chemicals, physical agents, ionizing and
non-ionizing radiation) and all workplace pathogens and factors leading to injury and
disease. Since children are particularly vulnerable to environmental and take-home
occupational exposures, the Division deals with issues like birth defects, asthma,
childhood lead poisoning and pesticides poisoning. Because environmental and
occupational hazards work interactively with genetic susceptibility, nutrition and
dangerous habits the Division takes a comprehensive approach to understanding risks and
formulating policy. DEODC works with stakeholders, county health departments and
regulatory agencies to resolve environmental and occupational problems and controversies.
In addition to our core public health assessment
activities, the childhood and adult lead poisoning prevention programs include quality
assurance and policy formation functions. Additionally, the childhood lead program
has regulatory responsibilities and local assistance components and thus comprises a
comprehensive public health program.
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