Course Number & Complete Course Title: PH 7150 - Environmental Health
Instructor’s Name: Christine E. Stauber
Division: Environmental Health
Class Day/Time:
Mondays from 8:00-10:30am
Course Basics
Year: 2014
Class Location:
Petit Science Center (PSC) 433
Prerequisite(s):
None
Required Course Materials
Edited by Howard Frumkin, MD, DrPH, the course textbook is
Environmental Health: From Global to Local, 2nd edition, San
Francisco, CA: Wiley and Sons/Jossey-Bass. This textbook is
available for purchase (new or used) at the GSU Bookstore.
Faculty Accessibility
Semester: Fall
Instructor(s) of Record:
Christine E. Stauber
Office Location:
PSC 414
Phone Number(s):
404-413-1128
Email:
cstauber@gsu.edu
Office Hours/Availability:
By appointment (please send email to request)
I.
Course Description:
This introductory course will provide a basic multidisciplinary understanding of the science
(biology/toxicology, chemistry, and engineering), practice, and selected laws and policy of
environmental health sciences (EH sciences). Topics include: types and sources of environmental
contaminants; exposure assessment, including media and pathways; types of microenvironments
and the role of human behavior and time-location-activity patterns; toxicology and the risk
assessment paradigm; basics of environmental and occupational epidemiology; and, communicating
to the public about technical aspects (science, potential risks) of EH sciences.
Additional Course Details: The course includes one problem set, one writing assignment, and one
final project (group or individual). In addition, there will required readings and an in-class mid-term.
The textbook and supplemental readings will be available through GSU bookstore or Internet site,
professor (class handout), library (journal articles) through the University library. The reading
assignments are designed to foster critical thinking and provoke multidisciplinary, analytical
discussions during class time. The assignments and exam are designed to improve problem-solving
and critical thinking skills.
II. Course Objectives / Competency / Assessment of Student Learning:
Students in the Master of Public Health programs will be expected to demonstrate
competence in the following areas after completion of this course, as indicated in the GSU
School of Public Health Graduate Student Handbook (see MPH Competencies):



Describe major environmental and occupational contaminants including biological,
chemical and physical agents and discuss effects of exposure to these contaminants
on human health. (MPH Core Competency #5)
Identify important susceptible human sub-populations with respect to
environmental exposures and the sources of variability. (MPH Core Competency #6)
Analyze approaches to assessing, preventing and controlling environmental hazards
that pose risks to human health. (MPH Core Competency #7)
Course Objectives
Program
Competency
MPH Core 5
Assessment Method(s)
Explain the multi-disciplinary (ecological)
scientific approaches to addressing EPH threats
at the community, regional, state, national,
international and global levels;
MPH Core 7
Reading reflections, take home
problem-set, final project and
presentation
Demonstrate the basic implications of
regulations, laws, standards, and various types
of policy, including voluntary versus mandatory
and the role of economics (cost-benefit and
risk-benefit analyses) in decision-making, on
protecting EPH;
MPH Core 5
&7
Reading reflections, take home
problem-set
Identify and describe important susceptible
human sub-populations with respect to
environmental exposures and the sources of
variability, which help explain the relative
differences that may confound environmental
epidemiologic statistical analyses;
MPH Core 6
Reading reflections, individual writing
assignment, final project and
presentation
Demonstrate the ability to compose focused
papers and present orally, individually and/or
as small teams, on EPH sciences and
epidemiology;
MPH Core 5,
6&7
Take-home assignment, individual
writing assignment, final project and
presentation
Describe the field and science base of, and
topics in, EPH sciences including major
environmental contaminants and implications
of exposure such as human health effects;
Reading reflections, in-class mid-term
IV. Course Assignments and Requirements
Course Requirements
Two individual assignments - a take home problem set (9/29/14), an individual writing
assignment (due 11/10/2014).
% of Final
Grade
20% (1st), 20%
(2nd)
Reading Reflections – You will be given 6 opportunities throughout the semester and have
to complete 4 reading reflections. The reflections will ask questions about required text
and journal articles.
Mid Term Examination (In class) (Due 10/13/14)
Criteria for grading include: (1) knowledge of the subject matter covered;
(2) ability to recognize and address environmental public health sciences implications; (3)
ability to recognize variety of perspectives and ability to use
multi-disciplinary approaches; and, (4) ability to apply knowledge and one or more
approaches to problem solving.
10%
Group assignment – Development of a poster on an EPH topic (see guidelines and
deadlines on Desire2Learn). Students can work individually or in a group of up to 3
students. (Final poster due 12/1/2014, presentation of poster to class 12/8/2014)
Total
25%
25%
100%
V. Grading Policy
Grade Assignments: 90 -100% = A, 80-89.9% = B, 70-79.9% = C, 60-69.9% = D, Below 59.9% = F, Any
grade disputes on individual assignments need to be provided in writing via email or in person
within two class periods of receiving the graded assignment or exam. See template for grade
dispute via Desire2Learn.
VI. Attendance and Class Participation Policy
The nature of the course requirements makes attendance highly critical and although attendance
will not be recorded, each student is responsible for the material covered in class.
VII. Late Assignments and Make-up Examination Policy
If a student has a serious conflict for a documented personal/family or full-time work related reasons,
he or she must notify the instructor at least one week prior to the exam. In the event that the
student is unable to notify the instructor prior to the exam, make-up exams will only be allowed for
documented emergency situations (e.g. a doctor’s note, letter from academic advisor, etc.
describing the emergency situation). Five percentage points will be deducted from an assignment’s
grade for each day the assignment is late; assignments must be submitted by 11:59pm on the due
date.
VIII. Syllabus Deviation Policy
The course syllabus provides a general plan for the course; deviations may be necessary.
IX. Student Code of Conduct and Policy on Academic Honesty
All students at this University are expected to engage in academic pursuits on their own
with complete honesty and integrity. Any student found guilty of dishonesty in any phase of
academic work will be subject to disciplinary action. The complete Academic Honesty policy
is located in the GSU Graduate Catalog, Section 1350: http://enrollment.gsu.edu/catalogs/.
Students and faculty are expected to review and conform to the university’s policy on
academic honesty. Information on the Student Code of Conduct and related policies and
procedures are available at: http://codeofconduct.gsu.edu/
Plagiarism. Plagiarism is defined as, “appropriating and putting forth as one’s own the ideas,
language, or designs of another” (The Living Webster, 1975) – and it is strictly forbidden.
Written and oral presentations must be a student’s own work. Students plagiarizing or
cheating in any form will face disciplinary action which could result in an “F” in this course
and suspension or expulsion from the University. Copying from written materials,
presentations, websites, etc. without source acknowledgement and referencing is
plagiarism. Read it, appreciate it, learn from it, and make sure you source it – and then
reflect it with your own thoughts and words! If you are uncertain about what constitutes
plagiarism, please contact the instructor.
Multiple Submissions. It is a violation of academic honesty to submit substantial portions of
the same work for credit more than once without the explicit consent of the faculty
member(s) to whom the material is submitted for additional credit. In cases in which there
is a natural development of research or knowledge in a sequence of courses, use of prior
work may be desirable, even required; however, the student is responsible for indicating in
writing, as a part of such use, that the current work submitted for credit is cumulative in
nature.
XI. Disabilities Accommodations Policy
Students who wish to request accommodation for a disability may do so by registering with
the GSU Office of Disability Services. Students may only be accommodated upon issuance by
the Office of Disability Services of a signed Accommodation Plan and are responsible for
providing a copy of that plan to instructors of all classes in which an accommodation is
sought. The Office of Disability Services is located in the GSU Student Center, Suite 230.
XII. Course Evaluations Statement
Your constructive assessment of this course plays an indispensable role in shaping education
at Georgia State. Upon completing this course, please take time to fill out the online course
evaluation
XIII. Career Services
The School of Public Health provides career services & student leadership opportunities
(student clubs & organizations) to all current SPH students and alumni. SPH Career Services
can help students with resume writing, interviewing, job searching, internship development,
and professional networking. Students are invited to attend our career events and
workshops, and individualized career counseling appointments can be arranged. To see
what career panels, career fairs, and events are available this semester, please visit:
http://publichealth.gsu.edu/students/career-resources/. The SPH Career Services office is
co-located with the Office of Academic Assistance in room 640 at One Park Place.
IX. Tentative course schedule, topics, and readings
See course schedule below:
Table 1: Reading Schedule
Class
Date
1
8/25/14
Introduction in text book
Required Supplemental Reading
Article:"The impact of the environment on
health by country: a meta-synthesis"
Pruss-Usten, et al., Environmental Health
2008 7:7.
9/1/14
Labor Day
University Holiday
9/8/14
Chapter 3
2
Required Reading in Text
Chapter 4
3
9/15/14
Ch. 27
Ch. 30
4
9/22/14
Ch. 2
Ch. 29
5
9/29/14
Ch. 12
6
10/6/14
Ch. 19
Article: Mead, M.N. 2005. Arsenic: In
Search of an Antidote to a Global Poison.
Environmental Health Perspectives,
113(5):A378-A386.
Article: Reduction in personal exposures
to particulate matter and carbon monoxide
as a result of the installation of a Patsar
improved cook stove in Michoacan
Mexico. Indoor Air 2008; 18: 93–105
Ch. 11
7
10/13/14
8
10/20/14 Ch. 15
9
10/27/14
10
11/3/14
Mid-term -In class
Mid-term in class
Article: "Water, sanitation and hygiene
interventions to reduce diarrhea in lessdeveloped countries: a systematic review
and meta-analysis" Fewtrell et al., Lancet
Infectious Disease, 5: 42-52. 2005
Article: Surveillance for waterborne
disease and outbreaks associated with
recreational water use…" Yoders, et.
al.,MMWR Surveill Summ. 2008 Sep
12;57(9):1-29.
Ch. 5
Ch. 14
11
11/10/14 Ch. 20
Article: "Selected science: an industry
campaign to undermine an OSHA
hexavalent chromium standard.
Environmental Health: 2006, 5:5"
Ch. 4
12
11/17/14 Ch. 25
11/24/14 Thanksgiving
University Holiday
13
12/1/14
Article: "Built Environment Issues in
Unserved and Underserved AfricanAmerican Neighborhoods in North
Carolina", Wilson S.M. et al.,
Environmental Justice, Volume 1, Number
2, 2008 (p. 63-72)
Ch. 8
Ch. 26
14
12/8/14
Ch. 31
Poster Presentations or Group Presentations- End of
class
Table 2: Topics and Assignment Schedule
Week Class
1
1
2
3
4
2
3
Date
Primary Topic of Class
8/25/14
Course Overview
9/1/14
Labor Day - no class - see
topics for required readings.
9/8/14
Introduction to epidemiology
in EPH sciences
9/15/14
Intro to environmental public
health (EHP) regulation and
practice;
Class Subtopic 1
Introduction to
syllabus/Expectations for the
course/Strategies for reading journal
articles
Study design and common terms in
epidemiology; Exposure
Assessment
Calculations of risk, incidence rate,
and odds ratios; Examples from
Occupational and Environmental
Epi
Class Subtopic 2
Impact of environment by country: select a
country profile to discuss next class
Calculations of risk, incidence rate, and odds
ratios; Examples from Occupational and
Environmental Epi
Role of regulations and various agencies
involved in regulation in EHP
5
6
4
5
9/22/14
Introduction to risk assessment
and environmental toxicology
and related human physiology;
1st homework assignment problem-set provided.
Overview of quantitative risk
assessment process for human and
ecological EPH sciences concerns
Overview of toxicology and related human
physiology (lead, arsenic and diesel as
illustrative examples)
9/29/14
Overview of outdoor air
pollution, and human and
ecological health; 1st
homework set due
Federal and state laws (CAA)-measured levels of criteria
pollutants and monitoring stations
Overview of impacts of acute and chronic
exposure to various air pollutants outdoors
and health; focus on epidemiologic evidence
Major agents and their sources,
conditions necessary to be present at
all and/or at higher levels
Health impact concerns, and known
interventions or behaviors to reduce or
prevent exposure to agents
Global: Role of water, sanitation
and hygiene in contributing to EBD
WHO: Guidelines for drinking water quality;
Federal laws (CWA, SDWA)
Overview of drinking water and
wastewater/storm water run-off
treatment processes
Environmental Health Lab - Measuring total
coliforms and E. coli in water
7
6
10/6/14
Overview of indoor air and
environmental quality
8
7
10/13/14
MID-TERM - In class
9
10
8
9
Overview of global water
pollution, quality and
10/20/14 monitoring.
Waterborne illness and
measuring drinking water
10/27/14 quality;
11
12
13
10
11
Occupational health and
industrial hygiene. Individual
writing assignment due
11/10/14 11/10/2014
12
Introduction to children's
environmental health and
11/17/14 asthma; Environmental justice;
11/24/14 Thanksgiving break
14
15
16
11/3/14
Introduction to urban health
and the built environment
13
14
12/1/14
Discussion of children's
environmental health; Posters
due
12/8/14
Class period for poster
presentations and summary
Define and discuss concepts and
terminology surrounding built
environment and urban health
Discuss and define workplace
hazards, assess epidemioliogical
evidence
No class meeting
Poster Presentations!
Discuss transportation and the built
environment, including urban sprawl