Occupational and environmental health

ENV-468 / 3 credits

Language: English

Summary

This course analyzes the critical interactions between human health and our environment, within both occupational and general settings. Students are introduced to the fundamental principles of public health engineering, focusing on the risk assessment cycle: identification, evaluation and control.

Content

This course covers the various stages of risk assessment (identification, evaluation, control) for pollutants frequently encountered in occupational and general environments. The properties of these pollutants, their pathways of entry or interaction with the body, their effects, their measurement, and the adequate control/prevention strategies are discussed over the course of the semester. Four main categories of pollutants are covered

- Chemical (gases, vapors, liquids)

- Physical (noise, vibrations, thermal environment, non-ionizing radiations

- Physico-chemical (particles, fibers)

- Biological (bacteria, viruses, molds)

At the end of the semester, two cross-disciplinary subjects will be covered, drawing on the concepts covered earlier: the health effects of global warming, and the issue of environmental interventions (interventions in situations of environmental contamination/pollution).

Keywords

Risk assessment, work environment, environmental health, occupational health, exposure sciences, physical, chemical, biological pollutants

Learning Prerequisites

Required courses

None

Recommended courses

Environmental chemistry, Analysis of pollutants in the environment, Analysis and management of industrial risks, Ecotoxicology

Important concepts to start the course

Understanding the physical and chemical properties of pollutants.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, the student must be able to:

Identify the risks associated with pollutants in the environment
Characterize the different types of pollutants and their properties
Use simple risk assessment tools and methods
Select appropriately appropriate skills or methods to manage a particular risk
Identify occupational and environmental health issues within public health
Identify the risks associated with pollutants in the environment
Characterize the different types of pollutants and their properties
Use simple risk assessment tools and methods
Select appropriately skills or methods to manage a particular risk
Assess / Evaluate exposure situations
Explain the principles and tools of health risk assessment

Transversal skills

Make an oral presentation.
Demonstrate the capacity for critical thinking

Teaching methods

Ex cathedra lectures, group exercises and presentations

Expected student activities

Participate actively in the course and exercise session
Prepare and present a case study of a practical problem

Assessment methods

Presentation of a case study during the semester (in groups or individually, depending on the number of students) (1/3)

Oral exam (individually) (2/3)

Supervision

Office hours	Yes
Assistant.e.s	No
Forum	Yes

Resources

Bibliography

The Occupational Environment: its evaluation, control and management. 3rd ed. AIHA Press. 2011.
Environement et santé publique: fondements et principes. 2nd ed. Presses de l'EHESP, 2023