Any non environmental health professional reading this month's magazine for the first time would probably be amazed by the breadth of issues the profession engages with. Food hygiene and health and safety they would expect to see. But door supervisors, riding establishments, pet fairs and the psychology behind hoarding? It is probably easier to list what EHPs don't deal with, rather than what they do.

Some argue, that it is for this reason that the profession should focus on what it has a legal responsibility for, rather than delving into new and highly sensitive and complex issues like development. Then along comes the tsunami. A devastating natural phenomena of such magnitude that it rocks the world into the most astonishing outpouring of compassion. The environmental health profession was no exception. EHPs around the country raised tens of thousands of pounds in aid whatever way they could. But, environmental health is all about disease vector control, sanitation and safe water, so it looks as though the profession may be able to offer more than just money to a region likely to be suffering the impact of this earthquake 10 years from now.

Our story on the tsunami will hopefully help anyone who feels their skills could be usefully used in international development. With 100 local authorities around the UK pledging some form of aid, and with many looking to twin with affected cities and towns, some EHPs may soon have the opportunity to visit these devastated communities to offer their practical help. As our story reveals, many EHPs have the unique ability to engage with communities by working through local government structures. A skill that many staff working in aid agencies don't have.

These experiences combined with the work that is already ongoing through charities like Water for Kids and the twinning that is already being established between EHPs and their counterparts in the developing world, will result in a growing understanding of humanitarian aid and development. Events like the tsunami, along with the UK government's focus on development this year, are set to have a knock-on effect on the profession. This could be thought of as change from below.

Then there is change from above, or legislation. Two years ago, EHPs had no interest in alcohol as a public health issue. Then along comes the Licensing Act. With licensing being handed over to local authorities amid growing concerns that alcohol is posing a serious public health risk EHPs are set to step into the fray.

Equally, animal welfare has always been peripheral to an EHP's duties. This looks set to change with the animal welfare bill, and the increased duties, such as those described in this issue in our piece on livery yards. While this places pressure on limited resources and requires the profession to be flexible to ever-increasing change, who would want to work in a profession that remains stagnant?