What is Environmental Health?

Environmental health focuses on the relationships between people and their environment, promotes human health and well-being, fosters healthy and safe communities and is a key part of any local public health department. FVHD’s aims to protect the communities we serve and the people living in them by advancing policies and programs that eliminate harmful environmental threats and exposures from air, water, soil, and food to provide healthier environments.

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FVHD Environmental Health Topics

Other Environmental Topics

Mosquitos

The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) conducts a statewide program to trap, identify, and test mosquitoes for encephalitis viruses, including West Nile and Eastern Equine Encephalitis. More than 25 scientists are involved in this surveillance, which includes collecting data on mosquito populations and virus prevalence. The program also engages in research to understand virus transmission dynamics and provides public health guidance based on mosquito infection rates. Regular updates and findings are shared with state health departments and published on their website. FVHD has two trapping locations, One in Barkhamsted, one in Farmington.

For more information, you can visit the Connecticut Mosquito Trapping and Arbovirus Testing Program.

Radon

Radon is an odorless, colorless, and tasteless naturally occurring gas that enters homes through cracks and holes in the foundation. Radon exposure is the leading cause of lung cancer deaths among non-smokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer deaths overall in the United States. Testing is the only way to find out if your home has radon.   

Nearly 25% of homes in the Farmington Valley Health District have unsafe radon levels. 

Thankfully, testing is easy! Radon tests can be purchased at your local hardware stores or from online retailers, including here. Every test brand has slightly different instructions, but generally homeowners will leave the radon test kit for three to seven days, undisturbed, in the lowest level of their home that they regularly use and then mail the test kit to the lab for analysis.  

For more information on radon, including next steps you should take if you have high radon levels in your home, visit the Connecticut Department of Public Health and the American Lung Association.  

Pick up a free radon test kit starting January 13th, 2025, available at the following locations while supplies:
  • Avon Free Public Library
  • Beekley Community Library, New Hartford
  • East Granby Public Library
  • Granby Public Library
  • FVHD Office

Latest News

Yaomiao Children’s Jewelry Sets Recalled Due to Risk of Lead and Cadmium Poisoning; Violations of the Federal Lead Content Ban and Federal Hazardous Substances Act; Sold Exclusively on Amazon by LordRoads

Name of Product: Yaomiao Children’s Jewelry Sets Hazard: The recalled jewelry sets contain levels of [...]

02
Jan
Children’s Jewelry Sets Recalled Due to Risk of Lead and Cadmium Poisoning

⚠️⚠️ #RECALLALERT ⚠️⚠️   This recall involves Newmemo’s children’s ring sets. The recalled sets were [...]

19
Sep
Red Toolbox Recalls Stanley-Branded Jr. Kids Garden Sets Due to Lead Poisoning Hazard; Violation of Federal Ban for Lead in Paint; Sold Exclusively by Costco Wholesale

This recall involves the long hoe and rake in the Stanley Jr. Kids Wheelbarrow and [...]

12
Sep
Dixon Ticonderoga Recalls Creativity Street Foam Pattern Rollers Due to Violation of Federal Lead Content Ban

More information: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2024/Dixon-Ticonderoga-Recalls-Creativity-Street-Foam-Pattern-Rollers-Due-to-Violation-of-Federal-Lead-Content-Ban

02
May

Our Environmental Health Staff

Dianne Harding, RS
Chief Sanitarian

dharding@fvhd.org

x309

Jason Brown, RS
Food Program Coordinator

jbrown@fvhd.org

x 304

PATRICIA GIGLIOTTI, RS
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH COORDINATOR

pgigliotti@fvhd.org

x 325

KRISTIN KULA, RS
REGISTERED SANITARIAN

kkula@fvhd.org

x 308

KRISTIN OLSSON, RS
REGISTERED SANITARIAN

kolsson@fvhd.org

x 305

Kristin Kelley
Emergency Response Coordinator, Environmental Health Inspector

kkelley@fvhd.org

x 302

DEIDRA JAMES, BS
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH INSPECTOR

djames@fvhd.org

x 323