1390 Market St., Suite 210
San Francisco, CA 94102
8:30 am - 5:00 pm, Monday - Friday
(415) 252-3800
FAX: 252-3875

Our Mission

The San Francisco Department of Public Health’s Environmental Health Section strives to promote health and quality of life in San Francisco by ensuring healthy living and working conditions in the City and County of San Francisco.

What's New:

Heavy Fines on the Horizon for Violators of New Lead Paint Standards

SACRAMENTO – The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) is reminding licensees that beginning April 22, 2010, contractors could face fines of up to $37,500 for not complying with federal regulations aimed at protecting them and consumers from exposure to dust from leadbased paints.

Click here for more information

Public Notice: Solid Waste Facility Permit Modification for the San Francisco Solid Waste Transfer and Recycling Center

The San Francisco Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Services, Local Enforcement Agency (“LEA”) has received an application from the SFSWTRC for a modification to its Solid Waste Facility Permit.  On January 11, 2010, the LEA accepted SFSWTRC’s application and determined it to be complete and adequate and the proposed modification to be minor and insignificant.  The LEA has forwarded the application to the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery for review and concurrence. Click here for more information

USEPA Re-analysis Consistent with Health Protective Asbestos Management at Hunters Point Shipyard

Based on a review of all the asbestos monitoring data collected during the initial construction of Parcel A of the Hunters Point Shipyard and an independent re-analysis of some data, the USEPA has reached a tentative conclusion, in a draft letter circulated to public agencies, that the combined SFDPH and Air District mitigation measures and asbestos monitoring procedure have been operating in an effective manner to minimizing dust generation to limit asbestos exposure to health protective levels. EPA concluded, in the draft letter, that there is no reason to stop construction activities at Parcel A in Hunters Point. These findings corroborate prior analysis and assessment by both SFDPH and the Air District.

Public Health Analysis using GIS - Workshop January 2010

SFDPH will be holding 3 Saturday workshops around public health using GIS on January 23, 30, and February 6 from 10am - 1pm. SFDPH provides on-line tools for community members and organizations to assess the health of San Francisco neighborhoods using hundreds of factors. The Health Impact Assessment (HIA) tools are important in policy decisions, project developments, and analyzing the health inequities. Students will learn how these tools effect policy and demonstrations on how these tools are used. Register at the GIS Education Center and Enroll Now.

Enforcement of San Francisco Tobacco Control Laws Dramatically Cuts Illegal Sales to Minors

To prevent the sales of tobacco to minors, San Francisco began conducting police decoy operations and began tracking the rate of illegal tobacco sales to minors in 1999. In 2005, DPH began using the City's new retail tobacco facility permit law to enforce such illegal sales by suspending permits to shops who were found selling tobacco to minors.  Between 2004 and 2005, there began a dramatic decrease in observed tobacco sales to minors.  Based on the undercover operations, the percent of minors that were able to buy tobacco fell from 22.3% in 2004 to 17% in 2005 to 11% in 2008 (Tobacco Sales to Minors 1999 - 2008 Chart (pdf)).  These incredible results are testimony to the strength of environmental health laws to change health risk behaviors and the commitment of the San Francisco City agencies to enforce accountability to these laws.

SFDPH Integrates Environmental Health Impact Assessment into Work

SFDPH supports the San Francisco Planning Department in reviewing project analysis of adverse environmental health impacts. SFDPH has developed and implemented new methods for analysis of health impacts and has identified feasible mitigation strategies to prevent adverse health impacts. Click here for more information.

The City and County of San Francisco established 311 to provide an easy-to-remember telephone number that connects residents, businesses, and visitors to highly-trained Customer Service Representatives ready to help with general government information and services.