Environmental HealthModule Details

Module Description

This module will inform students how the natural and built environment can affect human health across different regions, populations, and professions.

Module Aim

This module aims to provide students with an understanding of, environmental factors which are impacting health and are related to inadequate access to safe water supplies, inadequate sanitation, inadequate waste management, inadequate vector control, inadequate housing/overcrowding, poor food systems and hygiene, air pollution, exposure to climate changes and emergencies, lack of occupational health and safety measures etc. This will be complemented by describing the main factors and hazards affecting health and safety at the workplace. These issues will compare and contrast issues from both the developed and the developing world perspectives.

Module Learning Outcomes

After completion of the module, students should be able to:
1.    Assess the environment and how it can influence the health of populations. 
2.    Apply the principles of toxicology and analyse the effects of toxic agents in humans. 
3.    Analyse effects of outdoor and indoor air pollution in population health both in the developed and the developing world.
4.    Describe effects of toxic hazards (including heavy metals and carcinogenic agents) in health both in the developed and the developing world. 
5.    Demonstrate deep understanding and describe in detail the effects of inadequate and unsafe water supplies, poor sanitation, vector control, and water pollution in population health both in the developed and the developing world.
6.    Demonstrate deep understanding and describe in detail the interaction between the food system, the environment, and population health both in the developed and the developing world. 
7.    Demonstrate deep understanding and describe in detail the effects of inadequate housing, poor home conditions, and overcrowding in population health both in the developed and the developing world.
8.    Demonstrate deep understanding and describe in detail the effects of climate change in population health both in the developed and the developing world, and the use of risk assessment method in natural disaster situations. 
9.    Demonstrate deep understanding and describe in detail principles of sustainability and analyse the importance of environmental protection including waste management, safeguarding natural resources, and maintenance of ecological balance in sustainable development. 
10.  Evaluate global initiatives aiming at improving public health through environmental protection and sustainable development (e.g. UN ‘Sustainable Development Goals’, UNEP ‘Healthy Planet, Healthy People’, WHO/UNEP ‘Environment Linkages Initiative’).
11.  Analyse the concept of Occupational Health and factors affecting health and safety at the workplace, and methods and systems for preventing workplace injuries, as well as risk management, incident investigation, and monitoring.