Unit 1370: Environmental Health

1. Introduction to Environmental Health

• Definition and scope of environmental health
• Historical background and evolution of the field
• Importance of studying environmental impacts on human health
• Relationship between environment, health, and society

2. Environmental Risk Factors

• Air pollution
  • Types of air pollutants (particulates, gases, biological agents)
  • Sources and health effects
• Water contamination
  • Common contaminants (microbial, chemical, heavy metals)
  • Impact on human health
• Exposure to chemicals
  • Types of chemical hazards
  • Routes of exposure and toxicity
• Climate change as a risk factor
  • Overview of climate-related environmental changes
  • Impact on ecosystems and health

3. Environmental Health Regulations and Policies

• Overview of environmental legislation
• Clean Air Act
  • Objectives and provisions
  • Enforcement and impact
• Clean Water Act
  • Objectives, scope, and regulatory mechanisms
• Other relevant legislation
  • Toxic Substances Control Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
• Role of governmental and international agencies

4. Impact of Climate Change on Health

• Extreme weather events
  • Floods, hurricanes, droughts and health consequences
• Heatwaves and heat-related illnesses
• Vector-borne diseases
  • Changes in distribution of vectors (mosquitoes, ticks)
  • Emerging infectious diseases
• Mitigation strategies
  • Reducing greenhouse gas emissions
• Adaptation strategies
  • Public health preparedness and response

5. Occupational Health and Safety

• Common occupational hazards
  • Physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic hazards
• Workplace safety regulations
  • OSHA standards and compliance
• Protective measures and risk reduction
• Health surveillance and worker education

6. Environmental Justice

• Definition and principles of environmental justice
• Unequal distribution of environmental hazards
• Case studies on marginalized communities
• Policy approaches to address disparities

7. Risk Assessment and Management

• Steps in environmental health risk assessment
  • Hazard identification
  • Exposure assessment
  • Dose-response evaluation
  • Risk characterization
• Risk management strategies
  • Prevention, control, and communication
• Role of stakeholders

8. Water and Food Safety

• Importance of safe drinking water
• Potential contaminants and their health effects
• Food safety hazards
  • Biological, chemical, physical contaminants
• Regulatory frameworks and standards
  • EPA, FDA roles

9. Waste Management and Pollution Control

• Types of waste
  • Municipal, industrial, hazardous, electronic
• Challenges in waste management
• Pollution control measures
  • Recycling, treatment, disposal
• Environmental and health impacts of improper waste handling

10. Emerging Environmental Health Issues

• Electronic waste
  • Composition, hazards, and management
• Nanotechnology
  • Potential risks and applications
• Antibiotic resistance
  • Environmental contributions to resistance
• Future challenges and research directions