Course Description
Teaches the fundamentals of environmental health. Topics will include biological and ecological processes, sources and effects of environmental stress and pollutants, and methods to control and minimize detrimental effects. Scientific methods, evidence, long-term perspective, and critical thinking will be stressed.
Athena Title
Fundamentals of EHSC
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in EHSC 7010E
Pre or Corequisite
BIOS 7001 or BIOS 7001E
Corequisite
BIOS 7003L
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall, spring and summer
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
1. Demonstrate knowledge of the primary scientific facts and principles of environmental health. 2. Evaluate approaches for assessing, preventing, and controlling environmental hazards that pose risks to human health and safety. 3. Analyze how direct and indirect human, ecological, and safety effects of major environmental and occupational agents affect human and environmental health. 4. Critically assess current human activities that cause major environmental risks and potential solutions to mitigate these risks. 5. Evaluate genetic, physiologic, and psychosocial factors that affect susceptibility to adverse health outcomes from exposure to environmental hazards. 6. Interpret environmental issues using concepts from risk management, risk communication, and environmental justice. 7. Interpret summary data from toxicity data and use concepts of general mechanisms of toxicity in eliciting a toxic response to various environmental exposures to explain risks. 8. Evaluate the roles of federal and state environmental control agencies, their policies, and regulatory programs related to controlling environmental health issues. 9. Analyze and critically assess the primary literature of key current environmental health concerns and research topics to identify constraints and strengths.
Topical Outline
Introduction to Environmental Health Ecology and the Environment Population Effects + Sustainability Environmental Chemistry and Metals Toxicology Pest Control and Pesticides Environmental Epidemiology Occupational Epidemiology Exposure Assessment and Biomarkers Industrial Hygiene Injuries and Prevention Radiation Food Water Air Ecology of Diseases Genetics Microbiomes and Antibiotic Resistance Children and Transgenerational Effects Developing Nations Healthy Communities and Buildings Solid and Hazardous Waste Energy Production and Use Climate Change Environmental Disasters Environmental Justice Environmental Health Policies Risk Assessment and Communication Nature Contact
Syllabus