180.601.01
Environmental Health
Location
East Baltimore
Term
Summer Term
Department
Environmental Health and Engineering
Credit(s)
5
Academic Year
2019 - 2020
Instruction Method
TBD
M, W, F, 1:30 - 3:20pm
Auditors Allowed
Yes, with instructor consent
Available to Undergraduate
No
Grading Restriction
Letter Grade or Pass/Fail
Course Instructor(s)
Contact Name
Frequency Schedule
Every Year
Resources
Prerequisite
College courses in general biology, algebra, and physics or chemistry.
The environment profoundly affects the public's health. The field of environmental health utilizes interdisciplinary strategies to discover, understand, and help mitigate adverse effects in populations.
Acquaints students with how the environment impacts human health by examining specific health issues, exploring the scientific understanding of causes, and possible future approaches to control the major environmental health problems in industrialized and developing countries. Uses case-studies, detailed lectures, and interactive sessions to highlight topics including how the body reacts to environmental pollutants; physical, chemical, and biological agents of environmental contamination; environmental media (air, water, soil) that may disseminate these agents; solid and hazardous waste; susceptible populations; biomarkers and risk analysis; the scientific basis for policy decisions; and emerging global environmental health challenges.
Learning Objectives
Upon successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
- Define the major environmental agents (i.e. environmental chemical, biological, and physical agents that cause adverse effects on human health) and their sources
- Discuss the transport and fate of these agents in the environment, and identify the carriers or vectors (air, water, soil, and food) that promote the transfer of these agents from the environment to the human
- Describe the toxicokinetics of these agents in the body, including the effect of route of entry (inhalation, ingestion, absorption)
- Describe the toxicodynamics of these agents, including biotransformation and the mechanisms by which they exert adverse health effects, and the use of models for prediction of the magnitude of adverse effects
- Identify and define the steps in the risk assessment process, including both exposure and dose-response assessment, and the sources and magnitude of uncertainty
- Describe various risk management approaches, including regulatory, engineering, and behavioral/risk communication options
- Describe specific genetic factors (including gender- and ethnicity-related factors), physiologic factors (including age- and health status-related factors), and psychosocial factors (including SES- and social/cultural-related factors) that influence the risk of exposure and/or the likelihood of developing adverse health outcomes from exposure to environmental agents
- Identify techniques for improving risk assessment and risk management strategies, including consideration of: (1) factors in the physical environment, (2) factors in the social environment, (3) community-based participation in both the assessment/management process and in basic environmental/public health research, and (4) issues of environmental justice/equity
Methods of Assessment
This course is evaluated as follows:
- 60% Exam(s)
- 10% Assignments
- 30% Paper(s)
This course is required for MPH students. Optional Q&A and discussion sessions are on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 3:30-4p.m.