Environmental Epidemiology

1. Define environmental epidemiology and its core concepts
2. Apply exposure assessment methods to evaluate environmental hazards
3. Conduct risk assessments for air, water, and soil pollution
4. Investigate disease clusters using epidemiological techniques
5. Interpret scientific evidence related to environmental health hazards
6. Utilize statistical packages for data analysis in environmental studies

13 weeks, about 52 hours in total. Yours will differ.

1. Week 1Module 1: INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDERMIOLOGY

   • Unit 1: Definitions, concepts and general introduction to epidemiology and environmental epidemiology · 4 hours

     Read definitions of agent, bias, case fatality rate, cohort study, demography, disease frequency, ecology, epidemic, epidemiology, host, incidence rate, levels of prevention, morbidity rate, mortality rate, prevalence rate, relative risk, risk, sensitivity, specificity, surveillance, vital statistics..

2. Week 2Module 1: INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDERMIOLOGY

   • Unit 2: Exposure assessment and descriptive analysis · 4 hours

     Study exposure assessment concepts, including potential dose, applied dose, internal dose, and biologically effective dose. Review measurement techniques like personal monitoring, biologic monitoring, and microenvironmental monitoring..

3. Week 3Module 1: INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDERMIOLOGY

   • Unit 3: Methods of investigation including the use of time and trend; and spatial pattern analysis, Poisson regression and surveillance. · 4 hours

     Learn about time-trend analysis and its uses in environmental investigations. Study spatial pattern analysis and the role of GIS in identifying health problems. Understand Poisson regression and surveillance techniques..

4. Week 4Module 2: RISK ASSESSMENT, POLLUSION AND INTERPRETATION OF SCIENTIFIC DATA

   • Unit 4: Risk assessment and management of pollution of air, water and soil · 4 hours

     Define risk assessment and its application to environmental epidemiology. Study the four stages of risk assessment: hazard characterization, exposure assessment, health risk characterization, and risk management..

5. Week 5Module 2: RISK ASSESSMENT, POLLUSION AND INTERPRETATION OF SCIENTIFIC DATA

   • Unit 4: Risk assessment and management of pollution of air, water and soil · 4 hours

     Understand the sources and effects of air pollution, including particles and gases. Learn about the Air Quality Index (AQI) and its components. Study management strategies for air pollution, such as emissions standards and cleaner cooking options..

6. Week 6Module 2: RISK ASSESSMENT, POLLUSION AND INTERPRETATION OF SCIENTIFIC DATA

   • Unit 4: Risk assessment and management of pollution of air, water and soil · 4 hours

     Study the causes and effects of soil pollution, including industrial waste, pesticides, and sewage sludge. Understand the role of heavy metals and organic pesticides in soil contamination. Learn about control measures for soil pollution, such as extraction techniques and reducing chemical use..

7. Week 7Module 2: RISK ASSESSMENT, POLLUSION AND INTERPRETATION OF SCIENTIFIC DATA

   • Unit 4: Risk assessment and management of pollution of air, water and soil · 4 hours

     Understand the effects and challenges of water pollution, including heavy metals, organic pollutants, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Study wastewater treatment methods and environmental policies for water protection..

8. Week 8Module 2: RISK ASSESSMENT, POLLUSION AND INTERPRETATION OF SCIENTIFIC DATA

   • Unit 5: Ionizing and de-ionizing radiation · 4 hours

     Define ionizing and non-ionizing radiation. Understand their sources, uses, and negative effects on public health and the environment. Study the health effects of ionizing radiation, including acute radiation syndrome and cancer risk..

9. Week 9Module 2: RISK ASSESSMENT, POLLUSION AND INTERPRETATION OF SCIENTIFIC DATA

   • Unit 6: Investigation of disease clusters · 4 hours

     Learn about the investigation of disease clusters, including the definition of a cluster and the processes involved in its investigation. Study the stages of cluster investigation: preliminary evaluation, verification, case ascertainment, and surveillance..

10. Week 10Module 3: RECENT ADVANCES

    • Unit 8: Critical interpretation of scientific evidence relating to potential environmental hazards to health · 4 hours

      Study the principles of evaluating scientific evidence related to potential environmental hazards. Understand the importance of transparency, avoidance of bias, validity, and replicability in health hazard characterization..

11. Week 11Module 3: RECENT ADVANCES

    • Unit 7: Recent advances in environmental epidemiology · 4 hours

      Explore recent advances in environmental epidemiology, including the impact of demographics, urbanization, global environmental change, and technology. Study the role of data availability and study design in future research..

12. Week 12Module 3: RECENT ADVANCES

    • Unit 9: Use of statistical packages (SPSS, EPI-INFO, epi data and other vital statistics) · 4 hours

      Learn about statistical packages used in environmental epidemiology, including SPSS, EPI-INFO, and vital statistics. Understand the applications of these packages in data analysis and interpretation..

13. Week 13Module 3: RECENT ADVANCES

    • Final Revision and Exam Preparation · 4 hours

      Review all units and prepare for final examination. Focus on key concepts, definitions, and methodologies discussed throughout the course..