Environment and Public Health

Course Syllabus

Synopsis

The environment plays a fundamental role in human health. The main global environmental challenges and their consequences to public health will be addressed according the ‘One heath’ concept and approach (animal, human and environmental health).

Aims

To get knowledge of global environmental challenges and their consequences to public health, applying the ‘One health’ approach.

Objectives

At the end of the Unit, you should have:

1. fundamental and applied concepts on Environment and Public Health, and to get training in methods and techniques used in assessments, including new approaches (e.g. One Heath approach) necessary to address and overcome major environmental and public health challenges (e.g. pollution, zoonosis and other problems resulting from human population growth, climate changes).
2. Increased interest in scientific research and skills to continuously update knowledge and training and to apply them in problem solving (environmental and public health issues).
3. Developed the capability to work in a team, in an integrated and multidisciplinary way.
4. Developed autonomy and skills to promote consensual choices, to analyse and discuss results, make decisions and communicate results, risks and decisions in the scope of environment and public health to different types of audience in distinct contexts. 

Syllabus

Topics covered include:

1. Environment and Public Health: introduction to the subject through interactive discussion with the students. One Heath.
2. Exposure to environmental stressors and effects on human health: from scientific research to clinical practice. General population and groups at special risk. Environment and development. Environment and aging.
3. Main environmental stressors and human health: assessment of effects; risk assessment and management; global problems and methods to address/overcome them; regulation; institutions involved in prevention and control.

3.1. Global changes.
3.2. Pollution. Emerging problems.
3.3. Bioinvasions and zoonosis. Emerging and re-emerging diseases.
3.4. Combined effects of multi-stressors.
3.5. Resistance to therapeutic agents.
3.7. Terrorism (biological and chemical).
3.8. Other environmental effects. 

Learning & Teaching

• Lectures: 8 hr
• Theoretical-practical: 11 hr
• Seminary: group autonomous work with oral presentation 

Teaching Staff    

L. Guilhermino (Coord.); E. Rocha

Semester: 2

Timetable slot: To be advised

ECTS: 3            

Level: Optional

Bibliography

• Barboza, L.G.A., Vethaak, A.D., Lavorante, B.R.B.O., Lundebye, A.-K., Guilhermino, L. 2018. Marine microplastic debries: an emerging issue for food security, food safety and human health. Marine Pollution Bulletin 133, 336-348.
• Herrmann, J.A, Johnson-Walker, Y.J. (EDs) 2019. Beyond One Health: From Recognition to Results. Wiley-Blackwell.
• Frumkin, H. (ED.) 2010. Environmental Health. From Global to Local. 2nd edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
• Lueddeke, G. 2019.  Survival: One Health,One Planet, One Future. Routledge,Taylor and Francis Group.
• Woods, A., Bresalier, M., Cassidy, A., Dentinger, R. M. 2018. Animals and the Shaping of Modern Medicine. One Health and its Histories. Cham: Springer International Publishing.
• Recent articles and several websites

Assessment

• Written examination (50%)
• Continuous evaluation (10%)
• Seminary and oral presentation (40%) 

Course Evaluation

By completion of University Unit Evaluation Questionnaire by students, annual assessment by Unit Coordinator.