This course is designedto provide an overview of the major issues in contemporary environmentalhealth in the U.S.  By the end of this course, participants will recognizeresearch and control strategies, and means by which environmental policiesare developed.

WEEK	TOPIC	PRESENTER	CHAPTER
1/18	Course Introduction -  Course Project  (Data Requirements) Public Health Policy Making	Lynch	1
1/25	Global Environmental Health	Robson	2
2/1	Toxicology and Risk Assessment	Robson	5, 8, 12
2/8	Air Pollution Project Update	Lynch	10
2/15	Environmental Law and Regulations	Carruth	13
2/22	Public Health and Infectious Disease Ebola Virus Film	Robson	7
2/29	Water Pollution and Sewage  Lecture in Rm. V-10 RWJMS	Robson	9
3/7	Radiation and Health Effects Project Update	Upton	10
3/14	Spring Break
3/21	Midterm Examination
3/28	Food and Pesticide Safety Project Update	Robson	6
4/4	Occupational Health and Safety	Lynch
4/11	Solid and Hazardous Waste	Lynch	11
4/18	Environmental Justice Risk Communication	Robson
4/25	In Class Presentations Project Reports Due	Lynch/Robson
5/2	Final Examination

GRADING   CRITERIA:
 

Midterm Examination	35%
Final Examination	35%
Group Project	20%
Assignments	10%

COURSE  TEXT:
Living With The Earth,Moore, G.  1999 (http://www-unix.oit.umass.edu/~envhl565/)
Username:  ulearn
Password:  mar99
 

OTHER    INTERESTING    READINGS:
A Civil Action, Harr J., 1996
Silent Spring, Carson R., 1962
Earth in the Balance, Gore A.,1992
 
 

GROUP  PROJECT

The class will divide itself into groups of approximately 10 students each.  Each groupwill address the following problem.  Groups will submit a 20 pagedouble - spaced written project report and present the methods and findingsof the report on April 25, 2000.

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH at HOME 2000:

Each group will designand implement a research study to determine the monthly average amountof natural resources utilized, as well as the amount of hazardous and solidwaste produced in their homes, in comparison to other residential homesin NJ and throughout the U.S.  This information will be used to developa report of the following:

• recommended methods for reducingresource expenditures
• recommended methods for safely reducingthe volume of wastes produced
• recommended viable alternativesfor directing wastes produced to environmentally sustainable disposal/treatment/and recycling options
 

GROUP PROJECT  DATA   REQUIREMENTS

Each group should design a studythat characterizes their use of natural resources and contribution to theair pollution,
solid waste and hazardous wasteproblems addressed in the course.  During the month of March eachperson within
each group should collect Ata Minimum, the following:

Size of home (square feet)
Number of occupants
KWH electricity used
Gallons of oil used
Gallons of water used
Gallons of water used for drinking,cooking, comsumption
Pounds of trash generated
Pounds of trash to landfill
Pounds of paper/cardboard recycled
Pounds of plastics recycled
Pounds of glass recycled
Pounds of metal recycled
Description of potential hazardouswastes generated and how disposed
Total miles driven
Average fuel ecomony
Number of miles carpooled

Each group should determine theirmethod for data collection before 3/1/99, and collect the data during March.
In April each will compute groupaverages for each of the above and compare these averages to NJ and/ ornational
averages.  Based upon the data, groups will consider potential factors influencing resource use andways to reduce
them.  Each group will prepare a written report of all findings and present their findings inclass at the end
of the semester.