Environment and Health

3 credits · Undergraduate

(3 hrs Lecture) There is growing concern amongst the scientific community, media, and general public that environmental chemical contamination may be responsible for some human and ecosystem health problems. This course provides a scientific overview of selected chemical contamination issues, discusses relative risks of recognized and potential hazards, and assesses possible technical and regulatory solutions. Topics may include stratospheric ozone depletion, tropospheric air pollution, acid rain, greenhouse gas emissions, anthropogenic pollutants such as PCBs and perfluorinated chemicals, and other relevant issues. A knowledge of high school level chemistry is useful, but not absolutely necessary. Requisite Courses: ENV-1600(3) or permission of the instructor [prerequisite(s)].