An official of a local authority who examines the environment and tests for air pollution, bad sanitation, noise pollution and similar threats to public health.
A local-authority health official specially qualified in aspects of environmental health such as clean air, food hygiene, housing, pollution, sanitation and water supplies. He or she is responsible for running the authority’s environmental health department and, when epidemiological advice is needed, the relevant public-health physician acts in a consultative capacity.