NEHA Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield NEHA facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which federal program requires landlords and sellers to disclose known lead-based paint hazards in pre-1978 housing before sale or lease? → Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act (Title X)
2. Which tick species is the primary vector of Rocky Mountain spotted fever in the eastern United States? → Dermacentor variabilis (American dog tick)
3. Which solid waste management strategy is ranked highest in the EPA's solid waste management hierarchy? → Source reduction and reuse
4. In public health, what is a 'vector' in the context of disease transmission? → An organism that transmits a pathogen from one host to another
5. What is the primary environmental concern associated with sanitary landfills? → Leachate contamination of groundwater
6. According to the International Property Maintenance Code, what minimum ceiling height is required for habitable rooms? → 7 feet (2134 mm)
7. Which federal law is the primary statute governing solid waste disposal in the United States? → Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
8. Which of the following practices is recommended to avoid cross-contamination? → Washing hands after handling raw meat
9. What are the four primary routes of exposure by which toxic substances can enter the human body? → Inhalation, ingestion, dermal absorption, and injection
10. Which life stage of mosquitoes is targeted by larvicides such as Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis)? → Larvae in aquatic habitats
11. What environmental health concern is associated with open dumping of solid waste? → Vector breeding, groundwater contamination, and fire hazards
12. Which federal law primarily governs the safety of public drinking water supplies in the United States? → Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)
13. What is the minimum daily cover requirement for active sanitary landfill working faces under federal criteria? → 6 inches of soil or approved alternative
14. Under RCRA Subtitle D, which entity is primarily responsible for regulating municipal solid waste landfills? → State environmental agencies
15. Which rodent species is a primary reservoir and source of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in the western United States? → Deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus)
16. In environmental health inspections, what practice is most effective for preventing rodent entry into structures? → Exclusion — sealing all gaps and openings ≥ 1/4 inch in the structure's exterior
17. Which particulate matter (PM) size is most harmful to human health because it can penetrate deep into the lungs? → PM2.5
18. Which type of waste is classified as 'universal waste' under RCRA regulations? → Batteries, pesticides, mercury-containing equipment
19. What is the primary source of ground-level ozone, a major component of smog? → Motor vehicle exhaust
20. What is the fundamental principle of toxicology attributed to Paracelsus? → The dose makes the poison — all substances can be toxic at a sufficient dose
21. What is the significance of Aedes aegypti in public health? → It is the primary vector of dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and yellow fever
22. What is the main health concern associated with high levels of nitrates in drinking water? → Blue baby syndrome (methemoglobinemia)
23. What is the primary concern with cockroach infestations from an environmental health perspective? → They are associated with asthma, allergies, and mechanical transmission of pathogens
24. What does the term 'integrated solid waste management' refer to? → A hierarchy combining source reduction, recycling, composting, and disposal
25. What is the primary purpose of a wastewater treatment plant? → To remove contaminants from wastewater before discharge
26. What does the AQI (Air Quality Index) measure? → The concentration of various pollutants in the air
27. What is the EPA's action level for lead in drinking water that triggers public water systems to take corrective action? → 15 µg/L
28. What is the purpose of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program? → To regulate discharges of pollutants from point sources into waters of the United States
29. What is sludge in the context of wastewater management? → The solid waste produced from wastewater treatment
30. What is a 'carcinogen' in environmental health and toxicology? → A substance or agent that is capable of causing cancer