Environmental Health and Hazards

The Environmental and Occupational Health Division protects people from exposure to health hazards in homes, workplaces, and public spaces, prioritizing health equity and environmental justice.

Page Sections

Questions? Contact us:
environment@bphc.org
617-534-5965
1010 Massachusetts Ave.

2nd Floor

Boston, MA 02118

Request an Inspection

We conduct inspections and regulatory enforcement in response to environmental hazard concerns. We work to ensure that responsible parties eliminate identified hazards.

To report a health hazard or request an inspection, call 617-534-5965 or email environment@bphc.org.

We inspect hazards in private homes, public buildings, workplaces, and outdoor spaces.

Common investigated hazards:

mold in homes and businesses
asbestos hazard or illegal asbestos removal

bedbugs

lead hazards and illegal deleading

chemical spills and exposures

waste disposal and recycling issues
violations by businesses the office permits

Public Information Requests

To request information about permits issued, inspections and enforcement activities, and lead case records, please complete the form below and email it to ehpermits@bphc.org.

Download Request Form

Services and Programs

Learn about our environmental health services and programs we provide, from permitting to lead poisoning prevention.

Public Health Permits

We regulate and permit different business types in Boston to protect the health of all Boston residents.

Safe Shops

We help ensure small businesses in Boston are safe places to work through outreach and trainings.

Climate Change and Public Health

We work with city, state, regional and national partners to mitigate and adapt to climate change and promote health equity.

Lead Poisoning Prevention

We offer information on lead and services to help prevent lead poisoning in your home.

Environmental Notices and Alerts

Combined Sewer Overflow Alerts

Check out public health warnings related to sewage discharges in Boston.

Cyanobacteria Alerts

Cyanobacteria produce toxins that can make people and pets sick. We work with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to alert the public of cyanobacteria algae blooms in Boston.

Beach Closures

This Interactive Beaches Dashboard provides water quality results for the current beach season. It will tell you which beaches are open or closed. If a beach is closed, do not swim or enter the water at that location to avoid risk of illness.

Heat Safety Tips and Alerts

Find information on how to stay cool during heat advisories and emergencies.

Air Quality Map

This map tells you how relatively clean or polluted the air is based on the pollutants monitored at that location, and what this might mean for your health.

Environmental Justice

The Environmental Health Office applies the principles of environmental justice to our work. Environmental Justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.

Fair treatment means no group of people should bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, governmental and commercial operations or policies.

Meaningful involvement means:

people have an opportunity to participate in decisions about activities that may affect their environment and/or health
the public's contribution can influence the regulatory agency's decision
their concerns are considered in the decision making process
the decision makers seek out and facilitate the involvement of those affected