Learning objectives
The course aims to provide students with the fundamental knowledge to link environmental issues (such as climate change, integrated water cycle, air and confined environment pollution, and urban health) with promoting health and preventing diseases in affected populations. It emphasizes understanding the interplay between human activities and environmental and ecosystem changes- Students will need to acquire the skills to assess how the environment affects human health, considering both risks and benefits from a One Health perspective. This is important for promoting appropriate public health initiatives for the well-being of both individuals and the community.
Students should be able to explain how human activities such as industry, agriculture, energy production, and transportation affect air, water, and soil pollution, as well as climate change. They should also be able to identify the risks to individual and collective health that result from these impacts.
Prerequisites
The course assumes the following topics:
Causality in Observational Epidemiological Studies
Conducting epidemiological investigations
One Health Concept
Basic Microbiology
Presentation of diseases in the community: concept of sporadic, endemic, epidemic and pandemic disease
Modes of transmission through carriers
Notification, isolation, and surveillance
Course unit content
In the Environmental Hygiene module, which is an integral part of the Course of Prevention and Protection of Health in Living Environments along with the module of Technical Sciences applied to the indoor environment, the following topics will be covered:
Air pollution is a factor that affects health and contributes to diseases. It is caused by human activities as well as natural sources. The course describes the main air pollutants and their impact on the environment and human health, especially in vulnerable populations. It also discusses different types of research studies on air pollution associations, both long-term and short-term. Additionally, it covers air quality guidelines and current legislation related to air pollution.
Water is crucial for human health but can also pose risks. This course covers the importance of clean drinking water and discusses the chemical and microbiological risks associated with using unsafe water. It will describe the main waterborne pathogens. The course will also look at the integrated water cycle, from supply to distribution, considering quality parameters and drinking water treatments. Additionally, it will address issues related to the disposal of urban wastewater, including its origin, characteristics, collection, removal systems, treatment, and disposal.
Causes and effects of climate change on human health and ecosystems. Current knowledge and evidence, future perspectives, and mitigation and adaptation actions.
Full programme
General introduction to air pollution: history, its sources, and health impacts, description of classical air pollutants and their characteristics.
The main determinants of air pollution and their impact on human health in relation to climate change. Overview of international and national air quality legislation about the WHO guidelines (2021).
Household air pollution and its main effects on health, safety, and social impacts.
The health effects of air pollution: from the definition of adverse health effects to the main routes of exposure and disease. Main pathological mechanisms exerted by air pollution: short- and long-term effects. Identification and quantification (the main epidemiological studies) of the populations at highest risk.
The role of health professionals in addressing the health impacts of air pollution includes concrete examples at both the clinical and public health levels. This involves summarizing the main health messages related to outdoor environmental and domestic air pollution and advocating for principles, actions, and community commitment to clean air.
Water resources, sources of supply, and their characteristics. –
Main sources of water contamination: domestic, industrial, and agricultural wastewater. –
Health risks related to water: notes on the main diseases caused by microbial and chemical agents. -
Legislative Decree 18/2023: water quality requirements for human consumption, including hydrogeological, organoleptic, physical, chemical, and microbiological characteristics, judgment of potability, water purification treatments, and liability. -
Wastewater: qualitative and quantitative characteristics, wastewater removal systems, and wastewater purification treatments.
The impact of climate change on human health and ecosystems from a One-Health perspective is significant.
Climate change can be caused by natural factors such as cyclical variations in the Earth's orbit around the Sun or volcanic eruptions, as well as human activities such as the increased emission of greenhouse gases, primarily carbon dioxide from the combustion of fossil fuels like oil, natural gas, and coal. The effects of climate change on a global and local scale include
sea level rise, desertification of agricultural areas, the spread of diseases such as malnutrition, vector diseases, food- and waterborne diseases, biodiversity loss, geopolitical instability, and the deterioration of living conditions for large populations, particularly in the most vulnerable regions of the planet.
Mitigation and adaptation actions are necessary to address these issues.
Bibliography
The study material and bibliographic references are provided by the teacher.
Teaching methods
Lectures, participation in World Health Organization online courses, classroom discussions of case studies, and event simulations.
Assessment methods and criteria
The assessment of learning will occur through two tests. The first test will be a written exam consisting of a multiple-choice quiz with only one correct answer. The second test will involve a 5-minute oral presentation on a topic related to the course, which will be agreed upon with the teacher. Both tests will be graded on a scale of thirty.
Other information
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2030 agenda goals for sustainable development
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