EES1139H Perspectives in Environmental Health: Mechanisms of Toxicity

This course is designed to provide an in-depth understanding of the potential effects on human health of exposure to environmental contaminants and the underlying mechanisms of toxicity, with special attention to population groups bearing a disproportionate exposure burden. In this course, students will learn about methods used to investigate the health effects of environmental contaminants, and specific classes of environmental contaminants (sources, pathways of exposure, human health effects, mechanisms of toxicity). To understand the complexity of factors influencing environmental quality and health, students will work with real air quality data collected from various Canadian regions and will assess the interplay between the sociodemographic and built environment and levels of exposure to contaminants. Through lectures, case studies and a seminar, the course will cover these specific topics:

  1. Methods for the evaluation of environmental health
  2. Environmental exposure and vulnerability
  3. Classes of contaminants: sources, pathways, health effects and mechanisms of toxicity

Furthermore, students will become familiar with research that illustrates the role of interdisciplinary research in studying complex environmental health problematics.

Skills developed and fine-tuned by students in this course include: use of the scientific method; science communication; design a proposal, conduct research, interpret data and implement findings; interdisciplinary collaboration

*NEW Course*

Most current timetable information.