FALL 2012
PURDUE UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF HEALTH SCIENCES
HSCI 345
INTRO TO OCCUPATIONAL & ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES
Instructor: Neil J. Zimmerman, PhD
Office: CIVL 1263F
Phone: 494-1439 (w), 714-5653 (c)
E-mail: neil@purdue.edu
Office Hours: MW 10:30am-12:30pm
or by appointment
Instructor: Frank S. Rosenthal, PhD
Office:
CIVL 1273
Phone:
494-0812
E-mail:
frank@purdue.edu
Office Hours: by appointment
Class: Tues, Thurs. 12:00 – 1:15pm
Room: LWSN B155
Grad TA: Stefanie O’Neal
Office: CIVL 1263B
Phone: 812-345-6121
Email
oneals@purdue.edu
Office Hours: T Th 10:00-11:45am
Undergrad TA: Daysha Braxton
Email:
dbraxton@purdue.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION: HSCI 345, Semester 1, Credit 3
Principles of occupational health (industrial hygiene) and environmental health as related to anticipation,
recognition, evaluation and control of hazards in the workplace and the surrounding community. Emphasis is on
hazards of chemicals and their role in occupationally and environmentally related diseases. Historical basis and
current legislation are discussed. In addition, the principles of epidemiology, toxicology, exposure standards and
respiratory protection are addressed.
GOALS OF THE COURSE:
The primary goal of this course is to prepare students to recognize health hazards associated with
exposures to toxic agents in the workplace and in the general environment. This course is the first in the
sequence of core courses of the Occupational Health Science and Environmental Health Science majors in the
School of Health Sciences. HSCI 345 covers the fundamentals of occupational and environmental health and is
taken by students with a wide variety of backgrounds and purposes, as well as by those interested in majoring in
the fields.
OBJECTIVES OF THE COURSE:
Upon completion of this course, the student should:
 Be able to discuss the historical background of the fields of occupational and environmental health and events
leading to the establishment of current related regulations.
 Understand the major principles and terminology of toxicology, epidemiology, and environmental exposure
assessment as they are applied to environmental and occupational health.

Understand the units of airborne contaminant concentration, and be able to perform basic calculations and
conversions involving these concentrations.

Be able to identify classes of environmental contaminants, their major health effects, and typical environments
where they are of concern.

Understand the operations of OSHA, NIOSH, EPA, ACGIH, their important interactions with industry, and their
principle types of regulations and/or guidelines.
 Understand the use of different types of respiratory protective equipment.
HSCI 345
FALL 2012
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING:
Most courses are made up of a combination of lectures, discussions, assignments and tests. This course is no
different. In order to evaluate your progress in assimilating and understanding the material, there will be 2 in-class
midterm examinations and a final examination (cumulative), as well various assignments. Students are
responsible for all material presented in class by the instructors and guest lecturers as well as material in reading
assignments, and material posted on the course website. There will be unannounced “pop” quizzes covering the
lecture material, including reading assignments which are required to be read by the date indicated on the
schedule. Periodic extra credit opportunities may be offered and those scores will be factored into the Homework
category. Each of these categories will count as follows toward your class grade:
Exam 1 = 20%
Exam 2 = 20%
Final Exam = 25%
Quizzes = 15%
Homework/Assignments = 20%
Grades will be assigned using the following
cut-off percentages:
A
B
C
D
F
90 - 100%
80 - 89.9%
70 - 79.9%
60 - 69.9%
<60%
We encourage you to participate actively in the class with appropriate questions or comments. Don't hesitate to
seek help if you have any questions about the material, the course in general, your grades, etc. We are available
during office hours or by appointment. Your job as a student is to learn as much as possible from this course.
Our job is to help you in that pursuit.
MISCELLANEOUS
Ethics is important issue In any walk of life. The professions of Occupational and Environmental Health, and
indeed every profession, demand high ethical standards of its constituents. Just as many professions have
Codes of Ethics, you, as students have a Code of Ethics, or Honor Code at Purdue. It is never too soon to
establish your own personal foundation of ethics, and any infraction of the University's Honor Code with regard to
any class activities will be dealt with severely. Anyone found cheating will be asked to leave the class with an F.
Similarly, instances of plagiarism in any assignment will be dealt with severely (see posted policy). We certainly
are looking forward to a class with the characteristics of high ethical standards and enthusiastic interest in the
material.
Attendance Is required for all class sessions. If you miss a quiz because of an unexcused absence or because
you come late to class you will get a 0 on the quiz. All assignments must be submitted on the due date. Please
check the website frequently for new postings, including assignments and their due dates. (See posted policy)
TEXTBOOK:
The Occupational Environment – It’s Evaluation, Control and Management, 3rd Ed., D. Anna, Editor, American
Industrial Hygiene Assoc. Press, Fairfax, VA, 2011. Assigned chapters are made available on the class website
courtesy of the AIHA, exclusively for use only by registered students in the class.
COURSE MATERIAL – Available on course website: https://courses.pnhs.purdue.edu/hsci345. This site is
password protected so you will need to use your username and password for access. For technical problems
accessing course materials, contact webmaster Jeff Rattray (RHPH Rm 301; 496-2403; rattray@purdue.edu).
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HSCI 345
FALL 2012
DATE
TOPIC
READINGS
Tues. 8/21
Thurs. 8/23
Introduction to Course and to Occupational & Environmental Health
History of Occupational & Environmental Health
Chap. 1
Chap. 1
Tues. 8/28
Thurs. 8/30
Principles of Industrial Hygiene & Exposure Assessment
Exposure Limits & Guidelines
Chap. 7 & 9
Chap. 4
Tues. 9/4
Thurs. 9/6
Exposure Limits & Guidelines
Epidemiology – Dr. Rosenthal
Chap. 4
Chap. 6
Tues. 9/11
Thurs. 9/13
Epidemiology – Dr. Rosenthal
Industrial Toxicology
Chap. 6
Chap. 5
Tues. 9/18
Thurs. 9/20
Industrial Toxicology
TEST I
Chap. 5
Tues. 9/25
Thurs. 9/27
Lung Structure and Function - Dr. Rosenthal
Airborne Pollutants: Absorption and Deposition - Dr. Rosenthal
Tues. 10/2
Thurs. 10/4
Occupational and Environmental Lung Diseases - Dr. Rosenthal
Silicosis and Asbestosis
Chap. 14
Tues. 10/9 OCTOBERBREAK - NO CLASS ! ! !
Thurs. 10/11 Solvents
Tues. 10/16 Solvents
Thurs. 10/18 OSHA: the Act and the Agency
Chap. 3 & 43
Tues. 10/23 IH Case Studies in the Real World – Sarah Anderson
Thurs. 10/25 Metals – Dr. Wei Zheng
Tues. 10/30 Metals
Thurs. 11/1 TEST II
Tues. 11/6
Thurs. 11/8
Water Pollution – Dr. Jane Frankenberger
EPA Regulations (Biological Agents lecture posted on website)
Chap. 22*
Tues. 11/13 IH Issues of Nanotechnology – Steve Jurss (Physical Agents lecture on website) Chap. 24 & 27*
Thurs. 11/15 Emergency Preparedness – Dr. Pam Aaltonen
Chap. 34 & 44
Tues. 11/20 Personal Protective Equipment and Respiratory Protective Equipment
Thurs. 11/22 THANKSGIVING BREAK - NO CLASS ! ! !
Chap. 39 & 40
Tues. 11/27 Occupational Medicine – Dr. Stephen Wintermeyer
Thurs. 11/29 Ethics in Occupational and Environmental Health – Dr. Rosenthal
Chap. 50
Chap. 2
Tues. 12/4
Thurs. 12/6
Evaluation & Control Overview
Summary & Course Review
FINALS WEEK – Cumulative Final Exam
* NOTE: these chapters (22, 24, 27) are optional readings
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