1. Environmental Toxicology and Health IB 485 CHLH 461 ENVS 431 IB 485 CHLH 461 ENVS 431 Bettina Francis 677 Morrill Hall 333-5136 bfrancis@illinois.edu

2. Course Scope and Policies  Scope of course  Effects of chemicals in the environment  on the environment  on human health  Requirements  1 in-class exam: midterm  Class discussions / short papers  10 page term paper  Final?  Course Policies  Attendance  Grading  Assignments  Textbook  handouts?  PDfs of lectures?  Scope of course  Effects of chemicals in the environment  on the environment  on human health  Requirements  1 in-class exam: midterm  Class discussions / short papers  10 page term paper  Final?  Course Policies  Attendance  Grading  Assignments  Textbook  handouts?  PDfs of lectures?

3. Course Outline  Toxicity at the level of the organism  What is it and how do we measure it?  Acute, chronic and delayed toxicities  Ecosystem toxicology  “Air, water, earth …”  Persistence  Bioaccumulation  Transport  International pollution and its consequences  Public policy and social issues  Who decides what happens to the environment?  Public policy issues  Players  How do they decide?  Risk perception and risk assessment  Politics and policy  Toxicity at the level of the organism  What is it and how do we measure it?  Acute, chronic and delayed toxicities  Ecosystem toxicology  “Air, water, earth …”  Persistence  Bioaccumulation  Transport  International pollution and its consequences  Public policy and social issues  Who decides what happens to the environment?  Public policy issues  Players  How do they decide?  Risk perception and risk assessment  Politics and policy

4. AxiomsAxioms  Dose alone makes a chemical toxic.  “All things are poison; nothing is that is not poison.”  Every chemical that is produced commercially has benefits.  Pesticides kill pests.  Perfumes sell products.  CFCs make softer couch cushions.  New products create new jobs.  Every chemical has some costs.  Wildlife?  Human health?  Loss of jobs in other sectors?  E.g.: Eurasian water milfoil & fluridone in Minnesota  Banning a chemical also has costs.  Loss of its use  Loss of jobs  Is the alternative safer or better or less polluting?  People  Fight to protect their benefits.  Try to minimize their costs.  Dose alone makes a chemical toxic.  “All things are poison; nothing is that is not poison.”  Every chemical that is produced commercially has benefits.  Pesticides kill pests.  Perfumes sell products.  CFCs make softer couch cushions.  New products create new jobs.  Every chemical has some costs.  Wildlife?  Human health?  Loss of jobs in other sectors?  E.g.: Eurasian water milfoil & fluridone in Minnesota  Banning a chemical also has costs.  Loss of its use  Loss of jobs  Is the alternative safer or better or less polluting?  People  Fight to protect their benefits.  Try to minimize their costs. Photo courtesy FDACS Div. of Plant Industries

5. Environmental Policy in Practice: 4 Questions  How safe is safe enough?  What are we willing to pay?  Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?  How do we know there actually is a problem?  How safe is safe enough?  What are we willing to pay?  Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?  How do we know there actually is a problem?

6. An Example from the Wall Street Journa l: Oh, Deer: It’s an Antlered Doe

7. ASSIGNMENT 1: Should the state of NY approve fracking? Why or why not?  Hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) is a technique for retrieving oil and/or gas from shale. It is increasingly the extraction method of choice (and it is the reason gasoline prices have dropped by over 50% in the past 6 months) but its use is controversial.   A major site for fracking is the Marcellus shale, underlying large parts of Pennsylvania and a significant area of New York State. Fracking is occurring in Pennsylvania, but has not yet been approved in New York.   300-500 word essay due Monday 1/26. Be prepared to discuss the issue.  Hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) is a technique for retrieving oil and/or gas from shale. It is increasingly the extraction method of choice (and it is the reason gasoline prices have dropped by over 50% in the past 6 months) but its use is controversial.   A major site for fracking is the Marcellus shale, underlying large parts of Pennsylvania and a significant area of New York State. Fracking is occurring in Pennsylvania, but has not yet been approved in New York.   300-500 word essay due Monday 1/26. Be prepared to discuss the issue.