HLTH 663 Environmental Risk Assessment

This course will survey the general principles and practices of environmental health risk assessment for toxic exposures in the environment and interactions with other factors contributing to human health risks. Specific topics covered, to begin with include, establishing the scope of an assessment, developing conceptual models, identifying/representing exposure release, contaminant transport in water sources and the atmosphere; modeling food chains, conducting exposure assessment, and effective risk mitigation and communication. A variety of case studies will be used to demonstrate the basic methods and results of risk assessment, including estimation/evaluation of potential risk based on empirical evidence, hazard and dose-response assessment for regulatory decisions, and uncertainty analysis and risk communication. Students will be introduced to and use key tools used in quantitative risk assessment.

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

Course Guide

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*The information contained in our Course Guides is provided as a sample. Specific course curriculum and requirements for each course are provided by individual instructors each semester. Students should not use Course Guides to find and complete assignments, class prerequisites, or order books.


Environmental risk assessment is one of the six basic areas of knowledge needed to practice environmental health as part of a comprehensive public health program as defined by the Council on Education for Public Health.  Environmental threats present their own risks to the ecosystem including human health.  Understanding environmental risk/hazard identification, dose-response evaluation, risk characterization and risk communication further builds on public health skills that prepare Christian students to assume leadership positions to mitigate environmental risks and preserve the earth as God has decreed.


Lecture Presentations and Notes

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Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (8)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. The student will complete eight Discussions in this course. The student will post one thread of at least 400 words. The student must then post two replies of at least 200 words. For each thread, students must support their assertions with at least one scholarly citation and integrate at least one biblical principle in AMA format. Each reply must incorporate at least one scholarly citation in AMA format. Any sources cited must have been published within the last five years. Acceptable sources include government websites, scholarly articles, and the Bible. (CLOs: A, B, C, D, E, F)

Case Study Assignments (6)

The student will write a 4-5-page case study formulating analysis and responses to relevant major environmental risks, assessing former cases and giving research-based solutions or long-term planning for risk reduction. Case studies must use current AMA format and include at least five peer-reviewed or governmental sources published within the past five years. (CLOs: A, C, D, E, F)

Research Paper: Topic Selection Assignment

The student will select an important human or environmental health issue and conduct a risk assessment. The student will use your selected topic as the subject for a risk assessment and prepare a final research paper which addresses the risk assessment concepts presented in the course materials. (CLO; C, B, E)

Research Paper: Annotated Bibliography Assignment

The student will select 15 peer-reviewed articles from the past 5 years of public health literature and generate a bibliography using current AMA format. The student will also write a 150–200-word synopsis/critique of each article to be included as an annotation in the bibliography. (CLOs: B, C, D, E, F)

Research Paper: Final Assignment

Students will complete an 8–10-page research paper on a particular region or problem of their choice and formulate an approach towards properly researching and establishing an environmental risk assessment and proposed solution. Students final paper will professionally address and assess environmental risk in their subject of choice and provide proposed solutions or risk reduction. (CLOs: A, B, C, D, E, F)

Quizzes (2)

Each quiz will cover the textbook material for the previous and assigned Module: For week 4 and Week 8, covering former modules reading material. Each quiz will be open-book/open-notes and contain multiple-choice and true/false questions. Each quiz will be two hours. (CLOs: B, C, D, E, F)


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