Handbook : Unit informationEdith Cowan University

School: Medical and Health Sciences

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

Please note that given the circumstances of COVID-19, there may be some modifications to the assessment schedule promoted in Handbook for this unit. All assessment changes will be published by 27 July 2020. All students are reminded to check handbook at the beginning of semester to ensure they have the correct outline.

• Unit Title

  Environmental Disease

• Unit Code

  HST2185

• Year

  2020

• Enrolment Period

  2

• Version

  1

• Credit Points

  15

• Full Year Unit

  N

• Mode of Delivery

  On Campus
  Online

• Unit Coordinator

  Mr Edmore MASAKA

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Description

Diseases that are associated with exposures of populations to environmental pollutants, such as air pollution or chemicals in the workplace, are responsible for a significant proportion of disease morbidity and mortality in modern society. In this unit students will be introduced to these non communicable diseases and their toxicological process. Epidemiological assessments of causality will be explored.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

1. Describe disease surveillance and environmental health monitoring methods.
2. Describe methods available to determine the environmental health risk communities are exposed to.
3. Describe the mechanisms of environmental disease and injury.
4. Determine exposure routes and exposure levels and calculate absorbed dose of toxic substances.
5. Discuss the role of a range of environmental agents in producing disease.
6. Make recommendations for intervention to protect the health of communities.

Unit Content

1. A brief review of the discipline of environmental medicine.
2. Determination of environmental health risk.
3. Disease surveillance and environmental epidemiology.
4. Exposure assessment and determination of absorbed dose.
5. Mechanisms of environmental disease and injury (carcinogenic agents, mutagens, congenital abnormalities and the effects on specific organs).
6. Monitoring of environmental agents / hazards.

Learning Experience

Students will engage in learning experiences through ECU Blackboard as well as additional ECU learning technologies.

Additional Learning Experience Information

On Campus students The unit combines lectures, case studies and discussion to present the learning material and to stimulate critical thinking and problem solving skills in the field of environmental health disease assessment. Off Campus students The unit uses specially prepared notes, readings and tutorials to present the learning material and to stimulate critical thinking and problem solving skills in the field of environmental health disease assessment.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

Core Reading(s)

• Kacew, S., & Lee, B. (2013). Lu’s basic toxicology : fundamentals, target organs, and risk assessment (6th ed.). New York, NY: Taylor and Francis. Retrieved from https://ecu.on.worldcat.org/oclc/816977151?databaseList=638

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