Book excerpt: This handbook is designed to create an integrated approach to developing a public health perspective within the framework of environmental assessments (EA). The handbook focusses on the following: the role of the health sector in EA; sustainable development as a framework for integrating risks and benefits to public health; analysis of data on health risks; integration of a public health approach in developing public notices and public health interventions in EA; development of a process for communicating with the public. The appendix presents several examples of the main environmental and health impacts of different types of projects.