This version of the course guide is provisional until the period for editing the new course guides ends.

Logo UAB

Environmental Health

Code: 106787 ECTS Credits: 6
2025/2026
Degree Type Year
Environmental Sciences OP 4

Contact

Name:
Ferran Torres Benitez
Email:
ferran.torres@uab.cat

Teachers

Helen Vada Susan Cole

Teaching groups languages

You can view this information at the end of this document.


Prerequisites

Have basic knowledge of English.


Objectives and Contextualisation

Introduction

This deals with how the environmental environment (exposure to air pollution, climate, water quality, radiation, toxins in food, etc.) can affect people's health. These are problems of growing interest that are examined from an epidemiological perspective, with special attention to the methodological aspects of risk assessment.

Course objectives

Provide the basic elements to be able to know and study the effects on health of the environmental conditions to which people are subjected (atmospheric pollution, climate, water quality, radiation, waste, metals, etc.). Likewise, provide basic knowledge about the main natural and industrial risks of our environment and their management.

The main topics of health and environmental risk and those of most current interest will be presented with the specific objectives of:

  1. Know the main epidemiological concepts and methods to evaluate the health risk of environmental factors
  2. Know the main environmental risk factors for health
  3. Give students tools for understanding and discussing epidemiological studies
  4. Know the main scientific perspectives on environmental risks that support management.
  5. Contrast scientific perspectives with social perspectives
  6. Introduce students to the topic of risk communication
  7. Be introduced to selected examples of specific risks, risk prevention, emergency management and post-disaster actions
  8. Evaluate the gender perspective and vulnerable populations

 


Learning Outcomes

  1. CM44 (Competence) Interpret the social, economic and environmental impact of issues related to demographic flows, global change or management in companies.
  2. CM46 (Competence) Contrast the different current and future options for environmental risk management, especially in the context of resource management, human health, and global and climate change.
  3. KM57 (Knowledge) Identify the complex network of knowledge necessary to comprehensively address the main contemporary challenges in environmental science.
  4. KM59 (Knowledge) Recognise the relationship between health, human activity and environmental factors.
  5. SM55 (Skill) Integrate different types of scientific, technological and social knowledge necessary for the in-depth analysis of environmental processes related to human health, climate change, and environmental management in companies, among others.

Content

The syllabus may vary depending on the academic calendar and incidents of each course. Basically, the topics to be covered are:


1. Presentation of the subject. Health in environmental risk management. Introduction to environmental epidemiology Public Health concepts. The determinants of health and main health problems in the population. Levels of prevention
2. Precautionary principle and health risk assessment. Assessment of carcinogens in humans
3. Measurement of the effect or disease. Incidence, prevalence, rates and attributable risk. Sources of information
4. Measurement of exposure. General concepts and measurements in the environment. Questionnaires and biomarkers
5. Types of epidemiological studies to describe and evaluate causal associations between exposure and disease. Ecological studies (geographical and temporal variations of diseases) and cross-sectional studies (health surveys)
6. Case-control studies. Odds ratio, population selection
7. Cohort studies. Relative risk. Example: Childhood and environment study (INMA)
8. Biases, confounding factors and stratification. Causality criteria
9. Exposure to organochlorine compounds. Characteristics and effects in adults and children
10. Water pollution
11. Air pollution. Main pollutants and acute and chronic effects
12. Electromagnetic fields: ionizing and non-ionizing radiation and their effects on health
13. Climate change and health
14. Gender perspective and vulnerable populations


Activities and Methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Classroom Practices (PAUL) 14 0.56 CM44, CM46, KM57, KM59, SM55, CM44
Field Practices (PCAMP) 8 0.32 CM44, CM46, KM57, KM59, SM55, CM44
Theoretical classes (TE) 28 1.12 CM44, CM46, KM57, KM59, SM55, CM44
Type: Autonomous      
Group and individual work 24 0.96 CM44, CM46, KM57, KM59, SM55, CM44
Performing Exercises 18 0.72 CM44, CM46, KM57, KM59, SM55, CM44
Personal study 36 1.44 CM44, CM46, KM57, KM59, SM55, CM44
Self-study tests 6 0.24 CM44, CM46, KM57, KM59, SM55, CM44

Supervised activities

  • Theoretical classes (TE). Each thematic block will begin with one or more face-to-face theory classes where the teacher will explain the key concepts, encourage interaction and discussion of doubts, and give guidelines for monitoring and preparation of complementary autonomous activities.

The support teaching material will contain the essential contents of the theoretical classes, will be available in advance on the Virtual Campus of the subject, and it is recommended that students have it available during the class (computer, tablet or paper format) to facilitate its monitoring.

  • Classroom Practices (PAUL). The practical classes will consist of the study of cases in which the concepts introduced in the theoretical classes will be put into practice. Some practical exercises can be individual and others in groups according to the instructions of the teacher. The practices will be evaluated and are mandatory to pass the course.
  • Field Practices (PCAMP). There will also be field trips to deepen the knowledge of a topic. These practices will complement the training received, representing an essential aspect of the subject and attendance is mandatory.

Autonomous activities

  • Self-study tests with feedback will be provided, using the questionnaire utilities of the Moodle classroom of the virtual campus of the subject, to facilitate the review of the subject synchronized with the teaching of the syllabus.
  • Group and individual work . Several practical works will be carried out, some in teams, where it will be tried to apply the knowledge approaching a real situation supervised by the teacher. It will be necessary to solve problems raised in which it will be necessary to consult several sources. The ability to work in groups or individually (as applicable), reasoning and experience of the student in solving problems related to the professional field will be promoted.
  • Personal study . An individual effort will be necessary to settle the theoretical classes and the knowledge of the practical part.

 

Tutorials and personal attention to students

Students are expected to attend classes and consult doubts by actively participating in them. However, you can consult with the professors using the virtual campus and the e-mails indicated in the teaching staff.

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.


Assessment

Continous Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Continuous evaluation 10% 10 0.4 CM44, CM46, KM57, KM59, SM55
Partial exams 40% 2 0.08 CM44, CM46, KM57, KM59, SM55
Practical activities 40% 2 0.08 CM44, CM46, KM57, KM59, SM55
Self-learning 10% 2 0.08 CM44, CM46, KM57, KM59, SM55

The grade will be evaluated taking into account the weights and criteria discussed below in this section, in the event that the criteria for averaging are met. Otherwise, the affected activities will have to be recovered. A minimum of 5 points out of 10 must be obtained to pass the subject.


To evaluate the degree of achievement of the competencies, the following instruments and weights will be used:

Exams

There will be two partial exams of the theoretical part, one for each part of the course. The theory part is worth 40% of the overall mark for the course. The minimum mark for weighting is 3.5 out of 10.

These activities are compulsory. In order to have access to the recovery it is necessary to have done 80% of the evaluable activities, and to have taken the 2 partial exams.

 

Practical work and field activities

These activities are compulsory, both in terms of attendance and delivery. You must have at least a grade of 3.5 in each of the activities, otherwise it will be necessary to recover the affected activities. Practical activities are worth 40% of the overall mark for the course.

Deliveries after the deadline:

  • The late delivery of the activities will imply a penalty of 20% of the obtained mark.

These activities are mandatory. The deliveries of the works are recoverable but not the attendance, which must be at least 75%. Otherwise, these activities may be penalized proportionally to the lack of attendance.

 

Self-study activities

They will have a weight of 10% provided that at least 80% of these activities have been carried out, otherwise the mark for this part will be a zero. There is no minimum mark for these activities.

Deliveries after the deadline:

  • The delivery of these activities late and up to 48 hours after the deadline, will imply a penalty of 20% on the grade obtained.
  • The late delivery of activities after this 48-hour margin will mean that they will be counted as not having been completed for the evaluation.

These activities are not mandatory, but they are not recoverable either.

 

Continuous training and evaluation

It is reminded that the evaluation will be made according to the contents commented by the teacher in class, and that, therefore, attendance in person is highly recommended since not all the information will be accessible on the virtual campus.

In addition, during the course there will be a continuous assessment and it will be necessary to have participated in 80% of these assessment activities for them to be weighted at 10%, otherwise the mark for this part will be a zero. Standard teaching innovation tools will be used to control class participation. There is no minimum mark for these activities.

These activities are not mandatory, but they are not recoverable either.

 

Summary of criteria and weights for the evaluation of the subject

 

Participation1

minimum Participation2

minimum Mark3

Exercise recoverable4

Weighting5

Partial Exams

Compulsory

100%

3.5

Compulsory

40%

Practical        activities

 

 

 

 

 

Deliveries

Compulsory

100%

3.5

Compulsory

40%

Attendance

Compulsory

≥75%

NA

Unrecoverable

*

Self-  study

Volunteer

≥80%

NA

Unrecoverable

10%

Continued appraisal

Volunteer

≥80%

NA

Unrecoverable

10%

NA: Not applicable

1: Compulsory participation implies that non-participation will have to be recovered in order to be weighted, and if it is not done, it will not be possible to average, and therefore the subject will not be approved either. Voluntary participation implies that it is not compulsory but that it cannot be recovered later.

2: Value of minimum participation to weight, otherwise the activities will count as 0.

3: Minimum mark of 10 points to be weighted with the rest, if the minimum is not reached, the specific activity will have to be recovered, regardless of the rest of the marks of the same type

4: When the activity is recoverable, it must be recovered if the minimum mark is not obtained. In case of non-recoverable activity, the mark cannot be recovered, and therefore it will be weighted to the final mark, even if it is 0 or less than any threshold.

5: Weight value if the previous criteria are met

*:  For participations of less than 75%, practical activities may be penalized in proportion to the lack of attendance

 

Single assessment

This course does not include a single assessment system.

 

Use of AI

In this course, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is permitted as an integral part of the development of coursework, provided that the final result reflects a significant contribution from the student in terms of personal analysis and reflection. The student must clearly identify which parts have been generated using this technology, specify the tools employed, and includea critical reflection on how these tools have influenced the process and the final outcome of the activity. Lack of transparency in the use of AI will be considered academic dishonesty and may result in a penalty to the activity grade or more severe sanctions in serious cases.

 


Bibliography

General bibliography

  • Baker D. i Nieuwenhuijsen MJ. Environmental Epidemiology. Study methods and application. Oxford University Press (disponible a la biblioteca de ciències)
  • Nieuwenhuijsen MJ. Exposure assessment in occupational and environmental epidemiology. Oxford University Press. (disponible a la biblioteca de ciències)
  • Martínez-Navarro F., Antó JM, Castellanos PL, Gili M, Marset P, Navarro V., ed. Salud Pública. Madrid: Mcgraw-Hill- Interamericana de España S.A.U. 1998 ; cap. 15: 261-71. (disponible a la biblioteca de Ciències)
  • Antó JM, Sunyer J. La epidemiología ambiental. En: Martínez-Navarro F., Antó JM, Castellanos PL, Gili M, Marset P, Navarro V., ed. Salud Pública. Madrid: Mcgraw-Hill- Interamericana de España S.A.U. 1998 ; cap. 15: 261-71. (disponible a la biblioteca de Ciències)
  • Ayala Carcedo,F.J. y Olcina Cantos, J. (eds) (2002): Riesgos Naturales. Barcelona: Ariel
  • Calvo García-Tornel, F. (2001): Sociedades y Territorios en Riesgo. Barcelona, Ediciones del Serbal.   Haque, C. Emdad. (2005): Mitigation of Natural Hazards and Disasters: International Perspectives. Dordrecht: Springer.
  • Llasat. M.C. i Corominas, J. (2010): Riscos associats al clima, a J.E. Llebot (ed): Segon Informe sobre el Canvi Climàtic a Catalunya. Barcelona: Institut d'Estudis Catalans i Consell Assessor per al Desenvolupament Sostenible de la Generalitat de Catalunya.
  • http://www15.gencat.cat/cads/AppPHP/images/stories/publicacions/informesespecials/2010/sicccat/inform    Smith, K.; Fearnley, C. J.; Dixon, D.; Bird, D. K.; Kelman, I. (2023): Environmental Hazards. Assessing risk and reducing disaster. Londres, Routledge (7ena edició).
  • Vilaplana, J.M. (2008) RISKCAT. Els riscos naturals a Catalunya. Barcelona: Consell Assessor pel Desenvolupament Sostenible http://www15.gencat.net/cads/AppPHP/images/stories/publicacions/informesespecials/2008/els_riscos_na
  • Kieffer, Susan W. (2013): The Dynamics of Disaster. New York: Norton.

 

Some interesting links

  • WHO - OMS Organització Mundial de la Salut http://www.who.int/es
  • Agència Europea del Medi Ambient   http://www.eea.eu.int
  • Programa de les Nacions Unides pel Medi Ambient      http://www.unep.org/
  • US Environmental Protection Agency http://www.epa.gov
  • International Society for Environmental Epidemiology    http://www.iseepi.org/ WFP_ Programa Mundial d'Aliments         http://www.wfp.org/
  • European Centre for Environment and Health  http://www.euro.who.int/ecehrome
  • Publicacions de la UE. Sovint hi ha publicacions disponibles en pdf sobre salut i medi ambient            http://bookshop.europa.eu/
  • Agència internacional d'avaluació del càncer   http://www.iarc.fr
  • Natural Hazards Center     http://www.colorado.edu/hazards Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters        http://www.cred.be/
  • Estratègia Internacional per a la Reducció de Desastres http://www.unisdr.org Protecció Civil Espanya  http://www.proteccioncivil.org
  • Direcció General de Protecció Civil (Catalunya)           http://www20.gencat.cat/portal/site/interior/

Software

Use of standard office software and pdf documents


Groups and Languages

Please note that this information is provisional until 30 November 2025. You can check it through this link. To consult the language you will need to enter the CODE of the subject.

Name Group Language Semester Turn
(PAUL) Classroom practices 1 Catalan first semester morning-mixed
(PCAM) Field practices 1 Catalan first semester morning-mixed
(TE) Theory 1 Catalan first semester morning-mixed