The environment we live in is directly related to our health.  Air pollution can impact our breathing, radon can cause cancer, excessive noise can damage our hearing, and the water we drink can cause a variety of illnesses.  Therefore, the Commission monitors and evaluates environmental conditions on a regular basis, and maintains files to preserve the environmental history.  If you have a question or concern about the environment, contact us as we may be able to provide some valuable information.  Read below for information on various environmental health concerns.

For the inspection results of restaurant and other establishments, see Inspection Results page.

Air quality is how clean the air is for people and the environment. The EPA established the Air Quality Index (AQI), which reports air quality in 6 different categories by level of health concern. 
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Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas given off by uranium found in nearly all soils.  It can become trapped in buildings and build up to high concentrations which can lead to cancer in humans.
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Whether the source of lead exposure is children’s toys, makeup, old peeling paint, household products or other items, the risk of exposure to lead, particularly for children, is very serious. Lead is a naturally occurring metal that has been put to good use by humans.
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In addition to town resources for recycling and routine waste disposal, Somerset County Recycling Office offers additional information and resources for safe disposal of yard and bulk waste, medical waste, electronic waste, hazardous materials, and other solid waste, such as tires. 
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Most may not realize it, but many properties are serviced by an individual on-site sewage disposal system, commonly known as a septic system.  A modern, well-maintained septic system should serve a property for many years,
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Similar to on-site sewage disposal, many properties receive their water from a private well. Public water is not available everywhere and so a well may be required. Even where public water is available some maintain a private well for their water supply.
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The environment of New Jersey is incredibly diverse: large urban centers, suburbs, the Jersey shore, acres of farmland, and even a piece of one of the oldest mountain ranges on earth, the Appalachians.
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Diseases which are passed from animals to humans are called zoonotic diseases or zoonoses.  There are many of these diseases and they can be from a bacteria, virus, fungus or parasite.  Commonly known examples are Rabies, Salmonella, E. coli, West Nile Virus, Lyme Disease, and Avian Influenza.  Less common examples include Toxoplasmosis, Giardiasis, Hantavirus, Anthrax and many, many more.  The number of these diseases is growing as a result of increased movement of people around the world exposing us to new animals and diseases, and also as a side effect of human expansion into areas historically reserved for animals.  The Commission investigates cases of these diseases and does even more to prevent them.  Prevention efforts can take many forms, such as licensing of pets assuring appropriate vaccination against rabies, offering of rabies clinics, educating the public about reducing or eliminating exposure to disease-carrying animals such as ticks and wildlife, and arranging for testing of animals.

Remember to license and vaccinate your dogs and cats. The Commission offers free rabies vaccination clinics throughout the year in each of our towns. Residents may attend any location, regardless of residence.
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Ticks can transmit multiple diseases, the most well-known being Lyme Disease. Some other less known diseases that can be passed from a tick to a human or animal are Ehrlichiosis, Babesiosis, Anaplasmosis, Powassan virus and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. 
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Most types of mosquitoes do not spread germs, but the ones that do can spread dangerous diseases. West Nile, Zika, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, and malaria are some of the most common viruses and have all occurred in the United States. 
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