In this way, communities provide valuable information and historic knowledge in identifying environmental contaminants and community concerns. In return, they gain a greater understanding of the health outcomes and health risk factors, along with the environmental factors that must be considered to enhance the overall health of their population. Before prevention strategies can be addressed, exposure to environmental agents must be assessed. As communities are gathering baseline data, scientists examine exposure and health indicators in poor urban and rural communities where there are concerns of exposure to metals and pollutants. This identification of contaminated air, water, food, and soil and the assessment of potentially exposed populations provides information that can be used to assess exposure.
Professional education is also a key component to incorporating the findings into public health.
The PRC has defined methods of continuing education and degree programs to assist public health professionals as they incorporate the overall prevention approach. These profiles will help integrate the community in the hazard identification process, communicate facts about health risk factors, and provide baseline data for future studies. Establish methods and process for communication, community education, and professional education. Define environmental issues for developing health promotion and disease prevention strategies. The impact of environmental pollution on poor communities is a major public health issues that is not well understood and requires rigorous scientific research.