SESC9721 — Environment and Medicine

COURSE COORDINATION

Coordinator :	Professor Chris Winder
Contact Details :	Tel : (+612)93855370   •   Fax : (+612)93856190   •   Email : C.Winder@unsw.edu.au
Lecturer :	Dr John Frith
Contact Details :	E-mail: J.Frith@unsw.edu.au

DELIVERY DETAILS		[ Current Schedules and Locations ]

Mode	Session	Type
On campus or Off campus	2	short

COURSE DETAILS
Units of Credit :	6
Assumed Knowledge :	None -
Description :	Aspects of medicine bearing upon physiological consequences of pollutants. Metabolic mechanisms; chemical interactions, synergism and antagonism; photosynthesis and phytotoxicity. Ozone depletion and greenhouse effects. Morbidity and mortality surveys. Studies of particular pollutants and environmental contaminants.
Objectives :	After completing this course, students should: develop an appreciation of the inter-relationships of environment, health and disease relevant to local and global environmental health priorities; develop knowledge in the identification and analysis of health effects of hazards of both the natural and man-made environments; develop knowledge and skills in the principles of public health management and prevention of environmental health problems; research and analyse issues of environmental health that are of relevance to the student's background or work; utilise the knowledge and skills gained in this subject in participating in intersectoral research, management and prevention of environmental health problems
Reading :	Baum A, Singer JE (editors). Environment and Health. Hillsdale, NJ; Erlbaum Assoc, 1982. World Commission on Environment and Health. Our Common Future. Oxford, New York; Oxford University Press, 1987. Greenburg MR. Public Health and the Environment. New York; Guildford Press, 1987. NHMRC. Ecological Sustainable Development - the Health Perspective. Canberra; Australian Government Printing Service, March 1991. Simpson S. The Times Guide to the Environment. London, Times Books, 1990. McMichael AJ. Planetary Overload: Global Environmental Change and the Health of the Human Species. Cambridge University Press; Cambridge NY, 1993. Harper AC, Holman CDJ, Dawes VP. The Health of Populations, second edition. Churchill Livingstone; Melbourne Edinburgh, 1994. Talbott EO, Craun GF (editors). Introduction to Environmental Epidemiology. CRC Press; Boca Raton NY, 1995.

ASSESSMENT
Details Due Date Weight A case study requiring literature research and a five page reference report TBC 30% An environmental epidemiology exercise on a community health issue TBC 40% A group seminar presentation TBC 30%

COURSE SCHEDULE
Week: 1 :	Introduction to Environment and Medicine
Week: 2 :	Environmental and Occupational Toxicology
Week: 3 :	Carcinogens and Teratogens
Week: 4 :	Lead Pollution
Week: 5 :	Herbicides and Agricultural Pollution
Week: 6 :	Nuclear Radiation and Health
Week: 7 :	Waste Disposal
Week: 8 :	Ozone, UVR and Health
Week: 9 :	Air Pollution
Week: 10 :	Water Pollution
Week: 11 :	Epidemic Diseases and Vectors
Week: 12 :	Emerging Diseases - CJD and HUS
Week: 13 :	Diseases of Travelling
Week: 14 :	Climate change and Greenhouse

LEARNING RESOURCES
The University of New South Wales provides a range of resources to help students develop their skills and to realise their full potential. The Learning Centre, located at the entrance to the Library provides guidance material, which is also available on-line.
	The University also provides academic orientation programs called MyStart and ReStart for both new and returning students to help them in their transitions into academia..