---
title: "Findings at a glance: Environmental health specialists"
description: "A majority of Americans have a positive overall view of environmental health scientists, though their opinions are more mixed when it comes to trust in them to do a good job, show concern for the community’s interest and provide fair and accurate information."
date: "2019-08-02"
authors:
  - name: "Travis Mitchell"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2019/08/02/findings-at-a-glance-environmental-health-specialists/"
categories:
  - "Climate, Energy & Environment"
  - "Health Policy"
  - "Medicine & Health"
  - "Trust in Science"
---

# Findings at a glance: Environmental health specialists

A majority of Americans have a positive overall view of environmental health scientists, though their opinions are more mixed when it comes to trust in them to do a good job, show concern for the community’s interest and provide fair and accurate information. The public is skeptical when it comes to issues of scientific integrity, according to a new [Pew Research Center report](https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2019/08/02/trust-and-mistrust-in-americans-views-of-scientific-experts). Few are confident that environmental health specialists hold themselves accountable for mistakes or are transparent when it comes to potential conflicts of interest with industry, for instance.

#### Overall views

****

[![Six-in-ten Americans have a positive view of environmental health specialists](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2019/07/PS_08.02.19_trust.in_.scientists_ataglance7.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2019/08/02/findings-at-a-glance-environmental-health-specialists/ps_08-02-19_trust-in_-scientists_ataglance7-png/)

60% of Americans have a positive view of environmental health specialists.

#### Trust and mistrust

About four-in-ten Americans say environmental health specialists care about the best interests of the people in the community they serve (43%) or do a good job providing recommendations about how to address risk to human health from the environment (39%) all or most of the time. About a third (35%) say these specialists provide fair and accurate information when making recommendations all or most of the time.

Fewer than two-in-ten say environmental health specialists are transparent about potential conflicts of interest with industry groups (17%) and admit and take responsibility for mistakes (14%) all or most of the time.

About a third (36%) of Americans think professional misconduct is at least a moderately big problem among environmental health specialists. Just 11% think environmental health specialists usually face serious consequences when misconduct occurs.

#### Other notable findings

- Just 12% say they know a lot about what environmental health specialists do, and 63% say they know a little.
- People who are more familiar with environmental health specialists tend to have more positive and trusting views of them than people who lack familiarity. For example, 60% of those who know a lot about environmental health specialists think this group cares about the community’s best interest all or most of the time, compared with 29% of those who know nothing about environmental health specialists.
- Democrats (including Democratic-leaning independents) are more positive and more trusting of environmental health specialists than their Republican counterparts (including leaners). Overall, 73% of Democrats and 46% of Republicans have positive views of environmental health specialists − a 27 percentage point difference. And more Democrats than Republicans have confidence in environmental health specialists to provide fair and accurate information all or most of the time (43% vs. 25%).
- The public’s overall views and trust in [environmental health specialists](https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2019/08/02/a-majority-of-americans-have-positive-views-of-environmental-scientists-but-trust-in-them-varies-by-politics) is similar to that for environmental research scientists.

#### About the survey

The nationally representative survey from Pew Research Center was conducted among U.S. adults ages 18 and older. About half of the survey respondents (N=2,238) were asked about dietitians; these responses have a margin of sampling error of +/- 2.7 percentage points. Before answering questions about this group, respondents were given the following brief description: “**Environmental health specialists** often advise organizations in a local community about environmental risks to human health such as air and water pollution and how to clean up polluted areas.”