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Welcome ….. Introduction to Environmental and Occupational Health Course Instructor: Eric Amster MD MPH …. Let’s start with a story
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猫踊り病, neko odori byō 1950
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1956 First victim
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1957 “An epidemic of an unknown disease of the central nervous system”
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1958 Elevated levels of lead, arsenic, manganese, mercury, selenium, thallium
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1959 Biomonitoring for Mercury: Hair samples 4 ppm191 ppm 705 ppm Outside Minamata Minamata average Symptomatic
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1960 “Minamata disease is rather considered to be poisoning by a heavy metal... presumably it enters the human body mainly through fish and shellfish But where was the heavy metal coming from?
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1932, Japan
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1932-1968
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1966-1973
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The Story of Minamata Disease How was the cause of the disease discovered? Methods in Environmental Epidemiology How did the exposure to mercury occur? Exposure Assessment What is the toxic effect of mercury? Toxicology What effect did policy, advocacy, legislation have on the effects of the disease? Environmental Health Policy
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This course will give you a general introduction to the core topics in environmental and occupational health.
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Framework of the course 1. Evaluating environmental causes of disease Exposure Assessment Environmental/Occupational Epidemiology Environmental Toxicology Clinical Toxicology
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Framework of the course 2. Environmental exposures Pesticides Chemical Hazards Water Pollution Physical hazards Built environment, transportation Air pollution
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Framework of the course 3. Social aspects of EOH Environmental Health Policy Pediatric Environmental Health Vulnerable Populations/Environmental Justice International Environmental Health Environmental Health Ethics and Advocacy
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Exposure Assessment There is no effect on health without an actual exposure that results in internal dose. The chemical pathway from ambient environmental exposure to biological dose.
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Exposure Assessment
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Monitoring exposures in the environment Monitoring exposures in humans Modeling the route of exposure Calculating the predicted internal dose
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Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology Utilizing epidemiology methods to discover the environmental causes of disease Case-control, Cohort… what else?
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Lecture 2: Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology Sentinel episode, cluster analysis
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Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology Review common epidemiological methods in EOH Discuss common sources of bias and error in environmental and occupational epidemiology How to read and analyze environmental and occupational epidemiology literature
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Chemical Hazards Review of common occupational and environmental chemical hazards metals solvents persistent organic pollutants Discuss common routes of exposure and related health effects Inhalation Ingestion dermal
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Water Pollution Discuss common sources of water pollution Discuss common related health effects from exposure to aquatic toxins
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Pediatric Environmental Health Children have higher burden of disease Children have more significant exposures
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Pediatric Environmental Health Recognize the physiological and developmental aspects which pose children at risk for environmental exposures. Recognize routes of exposures to children
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Pesticides Pesticides are the most ubiquitous environmental exposures. We are exposed in food, water, and air
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Pesticides Learn about pesticides – what they are and what are the risks they may pose? Identify the scenarios – where and when are people exposed? Recognize signs, symptoms and diseases that may be related to pesticide exposure Know how to prevent pesticide exposure
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Toxicology Toxicology is the laboratory study of the biological effects of chemical exposure. What is the effect on DNA, cells, tissue and organs What is the relationship between dose and response Toxicology describes what is a safe versus hazardous dose
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Environmental Health Policy Policy has the single greatest influence on environmental health outcomes
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Environmental Health Policy Understand how toxicological data (NOAEL, LOAEL) is used to develop drinking water standards Understand the relationship between air pollution standards and epidemiologic findings regarding the health effects of air pollution Understand how human biomonitoring can inform environmental health policy
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Physical Hazards Noise, vibration, temperature, radiation
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Physical Hazards Noise, vibration, temperature, radiation Describe basic physiology of exposure to physical hazards List illnesses associated with exposure to physical hazards Discuss prevention and engineering controls of physical hazards Describe differences between ionizing and non- ionizing radiation
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Transportation and Health
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Describe the current epidemiology of road trauma in terms of use, exposure and risk for all road users. Describe the role of the public health professional in assessment and prevention in urban and rural environments
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Indoor and Ambient Air Pollution
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Discuss the global burden of disease attributed to air pollution Identify primary pollutants to the indoor and outdoor environments List associated health effects from O3, NOx, SO 2, and PM
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International Environmental and Occupational Health
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Discussion of case studies in international EOH Apply lessons learned from past failures and successes, with attention to the strengths and limitations of epidemiology Define and use simple tools for assessing human impacts on global environmental sustainability
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Ethics and Advocacy Review case scenarios in ethical conflicts common in occupational and environmental health Discuss problem solving conflicts of interests Advocating for environmental and occupational safety and health
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Course Text
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Course Grading Skill Assignment Grade % Interactive learning 1 hour on-line module. “Approaching Cases of Environmental Exposure ” 10% Oral presentation Critical analysis 10-minute oral critique of epidemiology paper 25% Factual knowledge 50 question multiple choice final exam 65%
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Lecture 1: Introduction to Env/Occ Health What is Environmental Public Health What is Occupational Public Health What is the primary difference between the two What is Environmental and Occupational Medicine What is the primary difference with Env/Occ Health
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Environmental Public Health The study of the impact which environmental exposure plays on the health outcome of a community. Environmental Exposure Outcome Community
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Environmental Public Health Exposure? Outcome? Community?
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Environmental Public Health Exposure? Air pollution Outcome? Community?
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Environmental Public Health Exposure? Air pollution Outcome? Asthma Lung Cancer Birth Defects Community?
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Environmental Public Health Exposure? Air pollution Outcome? Asthma Lung Cancer Birth Defects Community? People who live in the city
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Occupational Public Health The study of the impact which occupational exposure plays on the health outcome of a workers. Occupational Exposure Outcome Worker population
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Occupational Public Health Exposure? Outcome? Worker population?
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Occupational Public Health Exposure? Solvents Metals Heat Vibration Outcome? Worker population?
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Occupational Public Health Outcome? Asthma Lung Cancer Birth Defects Worker population? Exposure? Solvents Metals Heat Vibration
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Occupational Public Health Outcome? Asthma Lung Cancer Birth Defects Worker population? Factory workers Security guards Family of workers Exposure? Solvents Metals Heat Vibration
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Environmental vs. Occupational Health Environmental Larger affected population Smaller concentrations Fewer exposures Regional monitoring Occupational Smaller effected population Higher concentrations More exposures Direct monitoring Occupational health issues become environmental health issues
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Environmental Medicine The study of the impact which environmental exposure plays on the health outcome of an individual. Environmental Exposure Outcome
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Environmental Medicine
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Exposure? Outcome? Community?
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Environmental Medicine Exposure? Outcome? Arsenic poisoning Hyperkeratosis Anemia Fatigue Cancer Community?
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Environmental Medicine Exposure? Arsenic in Tigris River Outcome? Arsenic poisoning Hyperkeratosis Anemia Fatigue Cancer Community?
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Environmental Medicine Exposure? Arsenic in Tigris River Outcome? Arsenic poisoning Hyperkeratosis Anemia Fatigue Cancer Community? The patient… but also these guys
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Environmental Medicine Key points There is almost always someone else exposed If one person is sick look for who else is exposed Co-workers Family members Neighbors First step is always to get a good exposure assessment. What do they do at work? Where do they do it? What kind of a house do they live in? Where do they get their water? Their food?
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Environmental Public Health 1. Recognizing disease in a specific community 2. Identify environmental exposures in the community 3. Make the connection between exposure and disease 4. Reduce the exposure to pollution
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Environmental Public Health Recognizing disease in a specific community From 1920-1960 there was a 6 point drop in average IQ in the US population In the same period there was a 3 fold increase in cognitive delay Autism disorders began to be recognized
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Environmental Public Health Recognizing disease in a specific community Identify environmental exposures in the community Multiple different exposures were identified Advent of TV Popularity of drugs Decline of education Increase in air lead levels
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Lead example A heavy metal Found naturally in the environment Has been used by humans for thousands of years. Used in wine by the Romans Used in pharmaceuticals by Chinese Used in gasoline and paint by us Only problem is that it’s a neurotoxin
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Lead example Health effects Neurotoxin Impedes neurotransmission Can result in Autism Cognitive delay Reduced IQ
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Lead Example: Env Public Health Recognizing disease in a specific community Identify environmental exposures in the community Increase of air lead levels During the 1920’s the industrial revolution was at its peak. Widespread use of fossil fuels for industrialization Lead was added to fuel as an anti-knocking agent
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Lead Example: Env Public Health Recognizing disease in a specific community Identify environmental exposures in the community Increase of air lead levels From 1920s to 1970s there was an 18 fold increase in fossil fuel usage In same time a 11 fold increase in air lead levels
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Lead Example: Env Public Health Recognizing disease in a specific community Identify environmental exposures in the community Make the connection between exposure and disease Epidemiology: the study of disease distribution and cause Did the exposure precede the disease? Is the exposure associated with the disease? Did the exposure cause the disease?
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A quick word on causation What’s the difference between causation and association? How do we prove causation? We can’t! Beware of research that states “caused” and “proved” Scientific Method Hill’s Criteria: Temporality, dose response, biological plausibility, strength of effect, reversal of effect
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Lead Example: Env Public Health Recognizing disease in a specific community Identify environmental exposures in the community Make the connection between exposure and disease Reduce the exposure to pollution In 1970 clean air act was instituted In 1975 started phasing out lead in gasoline In 1978 lead was banned from gasoline
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Lead Example: Env Public Health
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SOURCES: Rick Nevin, National Center for Healthy Housing 2000
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Environmental Public Health vs. Medicine Recognizing disease in a specific community Identify environmental exposures in the community Make the connection between exposure and disease Reduce the exposure to pollution Recognize disease in an individual Identify environmental exposure of the individual Make the connection between exposure and disease Reduce the exposure first… Treat the specific disease
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