DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCE COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES EHS-280: Introduction to Environmental Health Science: 3 credit hours 100% WEBCOURSE: SPRING 2013-1 ST EIGHT WEEK TERM CRN# 23867 INSTRUCTOR: Dr. D.B. Barnett, R.S., DAAS Professor/U.S. Fulbright Scholar Department of Environmental Health/College of Health Sciences Room 240 Disney Building/EKU 521 Lancaster Avenue, Richmond, KY 40475 Office: 859.622.6158 Fax: 859.622.1939 Email: db.barnett@eku.edu TERM CLASSES BEGIN: 14 JAN 13 TERM CLASSES END: 08 MAR 13 PLEASE SEE THE FOLLOWING FOR OTHER IMPORTANT DATES: http://www.eku.edu/compass/deadlines/ QUIZ MAKE UP DAY: ONLINE FROM 0600-2355 ON 05 MAR 13 COURSE FINAL EXAMINATION DAY: ONLINE FROM 0600-2355 ON 07 MAR 13 THERE IS NO EXTRA CREDIT WORK AVAILABLE IN THIS COURSE COURSE DESCRIPTION Elements of environmental health, including water and waste treatment, air pollution, food sanitation, vector control, solid waste disposal, and general sanitation problems. REQUIRED TEXT: It is the student s responsibility to obtain the required textbook which is listed below. This text should be available at both on campus and off campus bookstores as well as online. TEXT: Friis, R.H., Essentials of Environmental Health, 2nd ed., Jones and Bartlett Learning, 2012 (ISBN-13:978-0-7637-7980-3 PRIMARY COURSE READINGS, QUIZZES, and TIME SCHEDULE: INTRO MODULE: Introduction to Course: 13 JAN 13 MODULE 1: Chapter 1: The Environment at Risk: 14-20 JAN 13 Quiz 1: Available 18 JAN @ 0600 through 20 JAN 13 @ 2355 MODULE 2: Chapter 2: Environmental Epidemiology: 14-20 JAN 13 Quiz 2: Available 18 JAN @ 0600 through 20 JAN 13 @ 2355 MODULE 3: Chapter 3: Environmental Toxicology: 21-27 JAN 13 Quiz 3: Available 25 JAN @ 0600 through 27 JAN 13 @ 2355 1
MODULE 4: Chapter 4: Environmental Policy and Regulation: 21-27 JAN 13 Quiz 4: Available 25 JAN @ 0600 through 27 JAN 13 @ 2355 MODULE 5: Chapter 5: Zoonotic and Vector-Borne Diseases: 28 JAN-03 FEB 13 Quiz 5: Available 01 FEB @ 0600 through 03 FEB 13 @ 2355 MODULE 6: Chapter 6: Toxic Metals and Elements: 28 JAN-03 FEB 13 Quiz 6: Available 01 FEB @ 0600 through 03 FEB 13 @ 2355 MODULE 7: Chapter 7: Pesticides and Other Organic Chemicals: 04-10 FEB 13 Quiz 7: Available 08 FEB @ 0600 through 10 FEB 13 @ 2355 MODULE 8: Chapter 8: Ionizing and Nonionizing Radiation: 04-10 FEB 13 Quiz 8: Available 08 FEB @ 0600 through 10 FEB 13 @ 2355 MODULE 9: Chapter 9: Water Quality: 11-17 FEB 13 Quiz 9: Available 15 FEB @ 0600 through 17 FEB 13 @ 2355 MODULE 10: Chapter 10: Air Quality: 11-17 FEB 13 Quiz 10: Available 15 FEB @ 0600 through 17 FEB 13 @ 2355 MODULE 11: Chapter 11: Food Safety: 18-24 FEB 13 Quiz 11: Available 22 FEB @ 0600 through 24 FEB 13 @ 2355 MODULE 12: Chapter 12: Solid and Liquid Wastes: 18-24 FEB 13 Quiz 12: Available 22 FEB @ 0600 through 24 FEB 13 @ 2355 MODULE 13: Chapter 13: Occupational Health: 25 FEB-03 MAR 13 Quiz 13: Available 01 MAR @ 0600 through 03 MAR 13 @ 2355 MODULE 14: Chapter 14: Injuries with a Focus on Unintentional Injuries and Deaths: 25 FEB- 03 MAR 13 Quiz 14: Available 01 MAR @ 0600 through 03 MAR 13 @ 2355 ONLINE QUIZ MAKE UP DAY: 05 MAR 13 FROM 0600-2355 ONLINE COURSE FINAL EXAMINATION DAY: 07 MAR 13 FROM 0600-2355 Course Objectives: STUDENT WILL BE ABLE TO: 1. Understand the nature and scope of physical, chemical, and biological hazards which affect human health and the environment. 2. Describe how environmental factors affect both short and long term health in human populations. 3. Understand the different aspects of basic environmental health as stated in the course description. 4. Describe the role of certain agencies and organizations involved in environmental health and environmental protection. 5 Understand the basic issues regarding major laws and regulations impacting environment and health. 2
6. Understand the scientific principles and methods utilized to control environmental hazards and to prevent injury and illness. CHAPTER OBJECTIVES: Students who successfully complete this course will be able to: Chapter 1, The Environment at Risk State a definition of the term environmental health List at least five major events in the history of environmental health Identify three current issues in the environmental health field List at least three employment opportunities in the environmental health field List three environmental health problems that influence our lives Define at least three potential impacts of population growth upon the environment Chapter 2, Environmental Epidemiology Define the term environmental epidemiology List and describe three major historical events in environmental epidemiology Provide three examples of epidemiologic tools used in environmental health List at least three employment opportunities in the environmental health field List and define at least three associations found between environmental hazards and health outcomes List and define at least at least three study designs used in environmental epidemiology Chapter 3, Environmental Toxicology Define the term toxicology. List and define three important terms used in the field of toxicology List five factors that affect responses to a toxic chemical List at least three employment opportunities in the environmental health field List and discuss the steps involved in risk assessment Describe the methods for human exposure assessment Chapter 4, Environmental Policy and Regulation List four key environmental health regulatory agencies at the international, national, state/provincial, and local levels. List four principals that guide environmental policy development. List and discuss five major environmental laws that have been introduced within the past 10 years. Describe environmental policies designed to protect vulnerable groups. List the major steps in the policy-making process. List and discuss the major components of the National Environmental Policy Act. Chapter 5, Zoonotic and Vector-Borne Diseases List and discuss three factors that have impacted emerging infectious diseases in animals and humans. Explain how a disease may be transmitted from an animal reservoir to humans. Define the terms vector-borne disease and zoonotic disease. List least three human diseases transmitted by arthropod vectors and three caused by zoonoses. List three environmental health problems that influence our lives List three methods used to control vector borne and zoonotic diseases. 3
Chapter 6, Toxic Metals and Elements List five heavy metals that pose health hazards to humans Distinguish between essential and toxic levels of trace metals List three occupational settings in which workers are exposed to a specific toxic metal List three methods for prevention of exposure to toxic metals Chapter 7, Pesticides and Other Organic Chemicals List three common substances that are included in the organophosphate group Name three commonly used pesticides and one commonly used herbicide Discuss the health effects of exposure to pesticides Name one chemical used in the manufacture of plastic Describe the potential health effects of exposure to household chemicals Chapter 8, Ionizing and Non-ionizing Define the terms ionizing radiation and non-ionizing radiation List three differences between ionizing radiation and non-ionizing radiation Describe sources and types of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation Describe the major health effects of exposure to ionizing and non-ionizing radiation List and describe the major incidents in which the population was exposed unexpectedly to ionizing radiation Chapter 9, Water Quality Describe three sources of potable water List and describe the steps in the hydrological cycle Identify and describe four hazardous substances that may be found in drinking water List and explain the stages of treatment at a water treatment plant List and define three hazards to the aquatic environment associated with environmental pollution Chapter 10, Air Quality Describe three historically important air pollution episodes List and describe three important health effects associated with air pollution Identify and describe three potential hazards linked to indoor air List and briefly describe the eight criteria air pollutants Discuss the primary concept to global warming Chapter 11, Food Safety List three measures for preventing food borne illness List and discuss briefly 10 microbiological agents that are implicated in food borne illness List two significant issues of food borne illness as it relates the world s population List 5 categories of contaminants in the food supply Name and describe one major regulation for protecting the safety of food from carcinogens Chapter 12, Solid and Liquid Wastes List and describe two trends in the production of solid waste List and discuss three methods of solid waste reduction Discuss the primary role of landfills for disposing of solid waste List and describe the two methods each for primary, secondary, and tertiary sewage treatment 4
Name and discuss two hazards each for poorly designed solid waste disposal sites and improperly processed sewage Chapter 13, Occupational Health List and describe four major events in the history of occupational health List and describe two significant impacts of the occupational environment for health State four physical and psychological effects of occupational hazards State five categories of health impacts of occupational hazards List three methods for the prevention of occupationally related diseases Chapter 14, Injuries with a Focus on Unintentional Injuries and Deaths List and describe three environmental factors associated with injuries State the "time trends" in the United States for the three leading causes of injury death since 1979 List the top two types of injuries associated with children, adults and the elderly in the United States List and describe the four components of the public health approach to injury prevention ASSIGNMENTS: 1) Module/Chapter Quizzes: BLACKBOARD (Weighted to 75% of Final Grade) The student will complete online Blackboard quizzes at the end of each week covering Chapters 1-14. The quizzes can be found in the module under Assignments. The student may use their book and any notes for these quizzes. The quizzes will cover additional material found on-line or downloaded from Blackboard as indicated by the instructions provided for each Module/Chapter. THE QUIZZES ARE INDEPENDENT EXERCISES FOR WHICH THE STUDENT MAY NOT RECEIVE ASSISTANCE FROM ANY PERSON IN ANY MANNER. STUDENTS FOUND TO BE IN VIOLATION OF THIS WILL BE SUBJECT TO THE EKU ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY. It is highly advised that the student read all assigned materials before attempting the quiz as the quizzes are timed. The allocated time for each quiz is designed to NOT allow researching each question before answering. The student should use care once the quiz has been started to allow time to complete the exam, once closed out they will not be accorded a second attempt at the quiz unless there are technical difficulties. Each quiz will be timed on the Blackboard system. Exceeding the allocated time for the quiz will result in a penalty of one point per minute over the allocated time. Blackboard may not tell you how much time you have left during the quiz, so it is advisable and your responsibility to utilize a stop watch to maintain knowledge of the time expired. Each quiz will be opened on the Monday morning from 0600-1200 after the quiz closes so the student may view their grades and questions missed. It will close at 1200 on the same day. Students who miss a quiz for any reason will be afforded an opportunity to take the missed on-line quizzes. This will be done on the Quiz Make up Day from 0600-2355 (05 MAR 13). It is highly advised that the student take the quizzes as early as possible to avoid last minute and late problems with Blackboard that cannot be solved at the last hours of the quiz. 5
2) FINAL EXAMINATON: BLACKBOARD: Weighted to 25% of the Final Grade: The final examination for the course will occur on 07 MAR 13 from 0600-2355. The examination will be a random sample of 60 questions drawn from questions used in the Module Quizzes. The final will allow 60 minutes. Please read the information under the MODULE/CHAPTER QUIZZES above as the requirements apply to the final examination. The final examination will be found in MODULE 15-FINAL EXAMINATION. ATTENDANCE POLICY: NA STUDENT PROGRESS: In accordance with university policy, a midterm grade for each student for the course will be provided to the Registrar s Office. This will be based upon the quiz grades completed at the time of the midterm report. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY STATEMENT: Students are advised that EKU s Academic Integrity policy will strictly be enforced in this course. The Academic Integrity policy is available at http://www.academicintegrity.eku.edu. Questions regarding the policy may be directed to the Office of Academic Integrity. STATEMENT RE: OFFICE OF SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES If you are registered with the Office of Services for Individuals with Disabilities, please make an appointment with the course instructor to discuss any academic accommodations you need. If you need academic accommodations and are not registered with the Office of Services for Individuals with Disabilities, please contact the Office on the third floor of the Student Services Building, by email at disserv@eku.edu or by telephone at (859) 622-2933 V/TDD. Upon individual request, this syllabus can be made available in alternative forms. GRADE REPORTING: The Blackboard quizzes are set to inform the student at the completion of the quiz their score on that quiz. Thus, the student s current grade can be determined by visiting the Gradecenter section in Blackboard. GRADING SCALE: A= 90% B= 80% C= 70% D= 60% F= < 60% 6