| Academic year: | 2008-2009 |
| Course code module | 1MBMW-K-0231 |
| Semester: | 1st semester |
| Credits: | 6 |
| Study load (hours) | 168 |
| Theory (hours): | 30,00 |
| Practice/Exercises(hours): | |
| Other (hours): | 15,00 |
| Part-time program: | 1 |
| Instructor(s) | Marc Van Sprundel
Greta Schoeters
Patrick Meire
Luc Verschaeve
|
| Language of instruction: | Dutch |
| Semester exam information: | exam in the 1st semester |
| Contract restriction information: | exam contract not possible |
1. Prerequisites
*Algemene competenties
- The student is able to perform a literature search, to consult databases, to find relevant websites
- The student is able to read critically scientific articles in English
- The student has general knowledge about chemistry, physics and microbiology
- The student has general knowledge about biology
- The student has general knowledge about human physiology, pathology, physiotherapy and toxicology
- The student has general knowledge about epidemiology
*Sequentiality
fully completed 1Ba and 2Ba program
2. Objectives (expected learning outcomes)
The student can explain the organization and functioning of ecosystems. He gets insight in the relationship between ecosystems and humans. He can analyse the different elements of the causal chain between environmental pressure and adverse health effects. He knows about the quality of the environment (air, water, soil,food) and can explain how chemical, physical and microbiological environmental risk factors act upon the human body and may cause adverse health effects. He can analyse and explain whether environmental stressors have a significant impact on public health.
3. Course content
- The functioning of ecosystems
- The impact of environmental pollution on ecosystems
- The impact of ecosystem disturbances on human health
- Basic principles of sustainable development
- Determinants of human health
- Indicators to follow the relationship between environmental pressure and health effects
- Characteristics of the urban environment (including traffic, heating,, housing ) and related environmental pressure (air pollution, waste, noise, light, soil ...)
- Pollution of the atmosphere (including ozone, particulate matter,, photochemical air pollution, PAHs, dioxins) and impact on humans
- Indoor air pollution (relation between indoor and outdoor pollution, solvents, humidity in houses, dust, radon, CO,..) and their impact on humans
- Effects of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation on humans
- Pollution of soil and water and the impact on humans
4. Teaching method
Direct contact: Lectures
Personal work: ExercisesSupervised self-study
5. Assessment method
Exam: Written, without oral presentationClosed book
6. Compulsory reading – study material
- lecture notes
- handouts
- scientific articles
- MIRA-reports (http://www.milieurapport.be/)
7. Recommended reading - study material
- Environmental Science: Creating a sustainable future. Chiras D.D., Jones & Bartlett, 6th edition, 2001, 725 p.
- Milieu- en natuurrapporten Vlaanderen, VMM website
- Themanummer ‘Impact of environmental pollution on health: Balancing risk’. British Medical Bulletin, 2003, volume 68, number 1, 282 p.
- Yassi A., Kjellström T, de Kok T, Guidotti TL. Basic Environmental Health. World Health Organization. OxfordUniversity Press, 2001, 441 p.
8. Tutoring