Environmental Epidemiology and Health Hazards

Environmental epidemiology is the primary scientific discipline that establishes exposure-disease relationships in environmental health. For example, epidemiologists determined that exposure to asbestos causes mesothelioma.

This is one example of chemical agent leading to health hazards. Other environmental hazards, such as air and water pollution, have been linked to adverse health outcomes.

Using the Internet, research on the following topics:

• Significant Episodes in which an Environmental Hazard Caused Adverse Health Outcomes in Humans

• Three Major Historical Events in Environmental Epidemiology

On the basis of your research and your readings and understanding of the above topics, answer the following questions:

• Which environmental hazard, such as the pollutant or pollutants, caused the most adverse health outcomes and why?

• What are the various adverse health outcomes that occurred as a result of exposure to the environmental hazard?

• What are the steps that were taken to prevent the adverse health outcomes from occurring? Should there be any other step that was necessary to prevent the adverse health outcome? Explain.

• Suggest the ways to prevent future occurrences of such episodes.

• Is there an association between environmental hazards and adverse health outcomes in humans? Why or why not?

• Analyze and explain the exposure-disease relationship for each of these three events.

What do you think is the impact of these events on the communities where they occurred?