Milestones in Public Health

From scientific discovery to policy change, there have been countless advances in public health throughout human history. This list of selected milestones is a reminder of how public health innovations have improved the quality and longevity of our lives.

Waste Water Systems

Looking as far back as ancient Babylonia, there is evidence of societies working to improve public health. The Babylonian sewage systems were among the first designed to protect their water supply from contamination and disease.

Pasteurization

Thanks to pasteurization, food products like milk, orange juice, beer, wine and cheese are free of germs and other disease-causing organisms. This innovation by Louis Pasteur in the 1860s has helped to ensure the safety of food supplies throughout the world.

Childhood Immunizations

Due to the widespread use of vaccines, parents today rarely have to watch their children suffer from diseases such as polio or measles. While these diseases have not been eliminated, immunizations help to protect children and communities from these once debilitating diseases.

Reducing Motor Vehicle Deaths

Through policy changes ranging from lowering the legal blood alcohol levels to making seat belts and motorcycle helmets mandatory, the public health field has been actively involved in reducing motor vehicle deaths in the United States.

Water Fluoridation

After 40 years of advocacy, about two-thirds of the nation’s population has fluoridated water. This practice has been a safe and cost-effective method for preventing tooth decay since 1950.

Tobacco Control

Just 20 years ago, it was common to smoke in workplaces, restaurants and on airplanes. Through efforts to raise awareness about the harmful effects second-hand smoke and policy changes that restrict where smoking in permitted, the public health field has helped to reduce the overall number of smokers and protected countless non-smokers from the effects of tobacco and nicotine.

Reducing Firearm-Related Injuries

In the last decade, the public health field has helped to raise awareness of the fact that firearms-related injuries and deaths amount to an epidemic in the United States. Through research and advocacy, these experts have changed the debate about firearms in our culture and passed ground-breaking legislation to reduce availability of handguns.

Preventing Birth Defects

Next time you are in your pantry, check the ingredient labels on your flour, pasta and cereal. Through the efforts of public health advocates, these products are now fortified with folic acid (or folate), a B vitamin, that helps to prevent birth defects in the brain and spinal cord early in pregnancy.

For More Information

Ten Great Public Health Achievements in the 20th Century

The CDC's Ten Great Public Health Achievements in the 20th Century was created to remind us of how far we've come, how we got here, and exactly what public health is.

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