Public health is specialized in protecting people's lives and livelihoods. The relationship between water and the environment in human health has been considered important since ancient times, and public health has contributed to the prevention of infection with various bacteria and viruses, from cholera bacteria to coronaviruses.

Professor Inoue specializes in the field of public health known as social epidemiology, and is researching the health of non-regular workers, etc. His research focuses on investigating and analyzing under what circumstances people working in unstable positions are more likely to suffer from health problems, whether they have access to preventive medical care, and exploring ways to solve the problem.

Japan has a law on industrial hygiene, and workplaces with 50 or more regular employees are required to appoint an industrial physician, but the vast majority of companies in Japan are small and medium-sized enterprises. Small businesses do not receive sufficient industrial insurance benefits, and self-employed people tend to fall through the cracks.

Therefore, new efforts are being started, such as the utilization of regional industrial health centers in the region and the emergence of experts working on industrial hygiene in small and medium-sized enterprises. As the number of "side jobs" that lead to increased productivity and the diversification of working styles increases, measures are needed to ensure that concerns about industrial hygiene do not become a barrier to working.

Ideally, people should work to live happily, and it would be counterproductive if work harmed their health. Illnesses and stress caused by the work environment are cause for concern, and the main goal of this research is to change the current situation. From the perspective of the SDGs, public health is an attempt at the health of society. "Examining" the economy and society through the health of workers will lead to improved social potential and health.