environmental health i. introduction shu-chi chang, ph.d., p.e., p.a. assistant professor 1 and...
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Environmental Health I. Introduction
Shu-Chi Chang, Ph.D., P.E., P.A.Assistant Professor1 and Division Chief2
1Department of Environmental Engineering2Division of Occupational Safety and Health,
Center for Environmental Protection and Occupational Safety and Health
National Chung Hsing University
Outline
Instructor’s background Course overview and grading policy
Overview of this course Grading policy References
Introduction of Environmental Health
Instructor’s background Ph.D., Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan at Ann
Arbor, U.S.A. (among the top 5 graduate programs in U.S. News ranking)
Award Government Scholarship: Sole grantee in Environmental
Engineering in year 2000. Professional qualification
PE, Environmental Engineering (1989) PE, Industrial Safety Engineering (1997) CPA, ISO 14000 (1996, Naville & Clark) CPA, ISO 9000 (1997, Mercedes-Benz)
Professional Expertise Environmental microbiology and nanobiotechnology (8
years) Bioremediation of contaminated soils and groundwater (6
years) Integrated quality, environmental, safety, and health
management ( 5 year)
Dissertational Research
Rapid detection and enumeration of mycobacteria in metalworking fluids: technology development and validation
Tools Flow cytometry Fluorescent antibody and nucleic acid dyes Functionalized magnetic nanoparticle Statistical data analysis
Contributions Shortened test time by more than 95% Single colony-forming-unit sensitivity ~98% specificity Good correlation over 4 orders of magnitude Can effectively reduce health hazards and
environmental burdens
Extended Research
Nano-emulsion: novel industrial fluid formulations, groundwater remediation enhancer, etc.
Ultrafine magnetic nanoparticles (~1 nm) Flow-Genomics™: an ultrasensitive and high-
throughput single molecule detection platform Instantaneous characterization of microbial
ecosystems: simultaneous identification of structural and functional roles of numerous microorganisms in a microbial ecosystem
Peptide Nucleic Acid Probes
Dioxin Study
University of Michigan Dioxin Exposure Study (UMDES)
Soil, blood, dust, and questionnaire Data analysis
Modeling Pattern analysis Exposure pathway modeling
Conclusion Age, sex, and BMI account for 50% of the variation in serum
dioxins Fish and game consumption, river activity, and specific
occupation account for 1-6 % of the variation in serum dioxins Living on the contaminated lands, living within Midland and
Saginaw counties account for 0.2~1.0% of the variation in serum dioxins
Overview of this course (1)
Teaching goals To equip students with fundamental
knowledge in environmental health and enhance their comprehension of current environmental health issues.
To help students be familiar with the links between environmental pollution sources and their endpoints.
Overview of this course (2)
Main topics Chemical and toxicology Biological agents and epidemiology Workplace hazards Environmental hazards Law and policy Risk assessment Others: Energy and disaster response
Overview of this course (3)
Style Fact and Engineering oriented
Understanding and memorization Quantification and calculation
Group learning Finish a group term project together
Grading policy
1. All lectures, assignments and tests will be given in English. However, questions, term paper, and homework are allowed to be finished in Chinese or English.
2. Homework will be handed out every 2 to 3 weeks and a term paper will be assigned to each group of students, usually 2 students in a group. Late homework or term paper submission is not acceptable. Discussion is allowed but no copying (will get significant loss of points).
3. Composition of final score Midterm (30%, close-book, 90 minutes); Final (35%, open-book, 90
minutes) Homework (20%); Term paper (15%) Participation (5%)
4. Term paper requirements: Font in size 12 and double space. 7 pages minimum and 10 pages maximum, not including references. References should be no less than 7 citations as journal articles, preferably in English. (Again, no copying or plagiarism. )
Group Term Paper
Why Promotion of group learning and
interaction Chance to investigate the topic you are
most interested in within environmental health realm
Getting familiar with the format of typical journal article writing
Environmental professionals need better communication skills than any other engineering professionals
ScheduleWeek Topic
1 Introduction and scope
2 Basic toxicology
3 Epidemiology and workplace
4 Ambient air quality and air pollution
5 Food
6 Drinking water
7 Liquid waste
8 Solid waste
9 Midterm
10 Rodents and insects
11 Injury Control
12 Electromagnetic radiation
13 Environmental law
14 Monitoring and auditing
15 Risk assessment and management system
16 Energy
17 Disaster response
18 Final examination
Textbook and references
Textbook (not required): Moeller, D.W., 2005. Environmental Health. Harvard
University Press, 3rd edition (A copy will be available on reserve desk in NCHU library).
References: Bassett, W.H. Clay’s handbook of environmental health.
19th ed.; Spon Press, 2004. New York. (Electronic resource, NCHU Library)
Worthington, David. Dictionary of environmental health; Spon Press, 2003. New York. (Electronic resource, NCHU Library)
For lecturing slides, please refer to http://web.nchu.edu.tw/pweb/users/shucc
Office hours and others
Office hours: Wednesday: 11AM (noon) ~ 12PM Other time: by appointment
Guest speakers (TBA)
Introduction
Definition “In its broader sense, environmental health
(EH) is the segment of public health that is concerned with assessing, understanding, and controlling the impacts of people on their environment and the impacts of environment on them.” –Moeller, D.W., 1997.
For human well-being, interactions are important
Defined more by the problems than by the approaches
Subtle differences between EH professionals and Public health professionals
Defining the environment (I)
Inner versus outer environment Principle protective barriers
Skin Gastrointestinal tract Lung membrane
Defining the environment (II)
Personal versus ambient environment
Personal environment: have control
ambient environment: have no control
Defining the environment (III)
Gaseous, liquid, and solid environments Gaseous: particulates and gases Liquid: discharged into water Solid: solid wastes, esp. plastics and
toxic chemicals
Defining the environment (IV)
Four aspects that affect people’s health Chemical Biological Physical Socioeconomic
Assessing the problems
Population growth and urban environments
Steps to assess the problems Determining the sources of contaminants
and nature of them How and pathway of contact Measuring the effects Applying controls
Need an interdisciplinary team Need to recognize technological advent
in analytical instrumentation
Cancer and the personal environment
Tobacco use Physical activity Weight maintenance Healthy diet Alcohol
Systems approach
Pollution may only change into different forms
Examples Incineration Air-cleaning systems Chemical treatment of liquid waste Discharge of sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides Discharge of chlorofluorocarbons Discharge of carbon dioxides
Intervention and control
Three different intervention models Clinical Public health Environmental
stewardship
Outlook
Recognition of the problems and capability to control them. However, “greatest good” is important.
Take system approach and avoid exchange of problems
Sustainable development makes sense