Time Schedule:
Sverre Vedal
ENV H 448
Seattle Campus
Offers a comprehensive overview of community air pollution including: air pollution sources, chemistry, and meteorology; human health and environmental effects; global warming; air quality standards, monitoring, control, and management; indoor air; and local air quality management. Offered: Sp.
Class description
While a relatively comprehensive survey of air pollution topics is provided, there is a clear public health orientation. Topics covered include: 1) air pollution sources, chemistry and meteorology; 2) effects on human health and the environment; 3) greenhouse gases and global climate change; 4) air quality standards, monitoring and management; 5) air pollution control technology; 6) indoor air; 7) special topics, including wood smoke and alternative fuels.
Student learning goals
Classify the various sources of outdoor air pollution, contrast these for the different air pollutants and describe how meteorology affects air pollution.
Distinguish criteria air pollutants from hazardous air pollutants.
Describe and critique the types of studies used to learn about the health effects of air pollution and compare identified health and welfare effects of the different air pollutants.
Summarize the components of an air quality management program, including air monitoring, air quality and emission standards and emission control technologies.
Identify the greenhouse gases, describe how they contribute to global climate change, and contrast air quality management decisions based on greenhouse gas emissions vs. those based on health.
Classify the types of indoor air pollution and describe the health effects of each.
General method of instruction
This 3-credit course uses a lecture/seminar format, and makes use of local air pollution management resources and student oral and bulletin board discussions to provide a comprehensive overview of community air pollution. Instruction is at the level of upper-year undergraduates and graduate students in health-related or related technical fields; there are higher expectations and more requirements of graduate students (see "assignments and grading," below).
Recommended preparation
Background: general chemistry and biology Prerequisites: - Undergraduate student: Environmental Health student or permission of instructor - Graduate student: School of Public Health graduate student, graduate student in related field, or permission of instructor
Class assignments and grading
- Undergraduate student assignments include: 1) a mid-term examination; 2) a final examination; 3) two referenced web-based bulletin board contributions on an assigned topic; 4) short, frequent on-line quizzes and homework assignments on readings; 5) participation in classroom discussion of assigned topics and readings. - Graduate student assignments include, in addition: (1) lead class discussion on one of a selected group of topics (see class website); (2) one short, referenced term paper on an air pollution-related topic. Graduate students will not be required to take the undergraduate quizzes or to complete the homework assignments.
- Undergraduate grading: mid-term (20%); final (30%); bulletin board (20%); quizzes/homework (15%); class participation (15%) - Graduate grading: mid-term (15%); final (20%); bulletin board (15%); class discussion lead (15%); paper (20%); class participation (15%)
