ENVM 643 - Environmental Health

Unit(s): 2

Environmental health is the study of how physical, biological and chemical pollutants affect the environment and, in turn, human health. In many ways, concern about the health impacts of chemicals released into the environmental was the original driver behind the environmental movement in this country and remains a critical consideration in many aspects of environmental management. Despite wide-spread concern about the effects of exposure, chemicals are pervasive. There are over 600 distinct (and mostly unidentified) compounds in a cup of coffee. Should we be worried? Furthermore, chemicals are not the only type of pollution. We will discuss biological pollution, including invasive species and pathogens. The reemergence of old diseases and the emergence of new ones is a major concern, given global change. Another major focus of this course will be endocrine disruptors. We will compare emerging endocrine disruptors to the classic case of tributyl tin and discuss whether pesticides such as atrazine should be managed similarly to tributyl tin. We will also look at wastewater treatment plants as a potential source of environmental estrogens, and evaluate their impacts through a trip to a wastewater treatment plant.

Restriction: Level Restricted to Graduate; Field of Study restricted to Environmental Management Major
College of Arts and Sciences