LEARNING OBJECTIVES

 

Upon completion of this course a student will be able to:

List, describe and explain: climate, biosphere, biomes, ecosystems, energy flow, trophic levels, nutrient cycles, succession and retrogression.

• Know, list, and analyze the reasons for overpopulation using various measures of population dynamics.
• Describe and contrast the various cultural philosophies regarding "overpopulation".
• Describe the various impacts of overpopulation on global resources and ecosystems.
• Summarize the role of toxic chemicals in producing mutations and cancer.
• List and describe the adverse health effects of the major toxic chemicals including PCBs, dioxin, lead, asbestos, mercury and magnesium.
• Recognize, list, and describe the ecological and health impacts of selected pesticides, and the reasons for insect and animal resistance to those pesticides.
• Describe and list the major food pathogens, their life cycles, and the acceptable methods for preventing food-borne infection and poisoning.
• Delineate the most significant reasons for emerging diseases and describe the major etiological agents associated with emerging diseases.
• Outline and differentiate the major criteria air pollutants, their sources, health effects, and current trends in regulatory control.
• Outline and describe the hydrologic cycle, the chemical and biological tests for determining water quality, the major source and types of surface and ground water pollution, and the regulatory system available to protect water.
• Describe and identify the major steps in municipal sewage treatment and septic system disposal of human waste. Understand the reasons for the various steps and processes.
• Distinguish several forms of solid waste disposal and compare the positive and negative characteristics of each type of disposal.
• Know and list the criteria for a hazardous waste, describe the major sources of such waste, and outline the regulations (RCRA, CERCLA, TSCA, SARA) designed to protect the public health from hazardous wastes.

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Fall 2011

COURSE CONTENTS - SYLLABUS

 

 

Sept 8 -INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE

Sept 15 Chapter 1 ECOSYSTEMS AND ENERGY FLOW: CHAPTER ONE SLIDES (Note: If file doesn't open immediately, right click on this file and "save target" to a new folder on your desktop. Open the file on the desktop that you have just saved.

Sept 22 Chapter 2 HUMAN POPULATION Chapter 2 PDF (See instructions for Chapter 1)

Sept 29 Chapter 3 ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION AND FOOD SECURITY Chapter 3 PDF (See instructions for Chapter 1)

Oct 6 Chapter 4 ENVIRONMENTAL DISEASE CHAPTER FOUR SLIDES (See instructions for Chapter 1)

Oct 6 - Quiz #1 ---- 30 minutes

Oct 13 Chapter 5 TOXICITY AND TOXINS CHAPTER FIVE SLIDES (See instructions for Chapter 1)

Oct 20 Chapter 6 THE TROUBLE WITH PESTS CHAPTER SIX SLIDES (See instructions for Chapter 1)

Oct 27 Chapter 7 EMERGING DISEASES CHAPTER SEVEN SLIDES (See instructions for Chapter 1)

Oct 27 Quiz #2 --- 30 minutes

Nov 3 Chapter 8 FOODBORNE ILLNESS CHAPTER 8 SLIDES

Nov 10 Chapter 9 WATER AND WASTEWATER CHAPTER 9 SLIDES

Nov 17 Chapter 10 AIR QUALITY AND RADIATION CHAPTYER 10 SLIDES

Nov 24 Thanksgiving recess

Dec 1 Chapter 11 SOLID AND HAZARDOUS WASTE CHAPTER 11 SLIDES

Dec 8- FINAL EXAM #3 ----- 90 minutes

COURSE TEXTBOOK (Click on "course textbook" to take you to CRC press. Type in Living with the Earth to find and order this text.

Author: Gary Moore

Title: LIVING WITH THE EARTH: An Environmental Health Text

Edition: 3rd edition

Publisher: CRC/Lewis Publishers

ISBN #:978-0-8493-7998-7

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CLASS POLICIES

There are three (3) objective, short answer exams. There is NO FINAL EXAM. The course grade is based on the average of the 3 exams. Each exam is worth 33 percent of the final grade. All make-up exams will take place immediately after normal class time (noon} within 1 week after the missed exam. Please plan to provide verification on request.

If you plan to observe a religious holiday not already appearing in the syllabus, notify me 2 weeks in advance in writing and make preparations for a make-up exam.

CLASS ASSIGNMENT

No special assignment

EXAM DATES

There are three (3) objective, short answer exams. The course grade is based on the average of the 3 exams plus the project. All make-up exams will take place immediately after normal class time (noon} within 1 week after the missed exam. Please plan to provide verification on request.

• Sept 29
• Oct 27
• Dec 8

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