Spring Quarter 2006
Study Guide for the Midterm Examination

In preparing for the mid-term examination you should have read all of the assigned chapters in the textbook and the required supplementary readings.  You should also review all of the course handouts.  The exam will be compiled from these materials, plus information presented in the class lectures.  In particular, you should concentrate your study on the major principles and concepts identified for each of the following program areas.

Format:

The midterm exam will consist of approximately 20 objective questions (multiple choice) and 6 short essay questions that will be designed to test your ability to integrate and synthesize the material presented in the lectures and the readings. You will not need a blue book or scantron form as you can answer the questions directly onto the examination booklet.

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Introduction

• Know the definition of environmental health
• Be able to name the three factors (agent, host, environment) involved in any environmentally linked disease or injury and give examples of each.
• Understand and be able to discuss world population growth using the concept of doubling time and the implications of the worst case projection (i.e., the limits to growth)

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Ecology, Population & The Limits to Growth

• What is ecology and how does it relate to Environmental Health?
• Be able to describe at least two of the more important webs and cycles (hydrologic cycle, food web, energy cycle, carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle, etc.)
• Know  some of the major human diseases (measles, smallpox, etc.) related to domesticated animals, including the pathogen, usual reservoir and transmission cycle.
• What is the Club of Rome? Know the five key trends that they used for their computer model (Population growth, Industrial Ouput, Resources Consumption, Food Production and Pollution).
• Be able to discuss population growth and population growth models and how various models might predict different health outcomes on a global scale.
• Explain how choices we make in both our personal lives and as members of society have both positive and negative effects on the environment, and in turn on our health.  Be able to give more than one specific example

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Epidemiology

• Know the definition of Epidemiology
• Understand what is meant by the terms prevalence and incidence of disease
• Be able to explain what spatial distribution and temporal distribution are.
• Be able to identify what an agent, host, and environment are and how they are related
• Explain the importance of stratification by age or other factors in analysis of epidemiologic data
• Know the three types of disease-causing agents (biological, chemical & physical) with examples
• Know the three most important modes of transmission of infection with examples

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Toxicology

Know the definition of toxicology

Know and be able to explain the dose-response relationship

Give examples of several health effects associated with exposure to specific chemical agents in the environment (e.g., asbestos, smoking, lead, arsenic, etc.)

What are the four types of toxicology information used to determine environmental health risks to humans? (Human [Epidemiological] data, animal models, in vitro assays and structural activity models)

Know what is a cumulative quantal dose response curve and be able to distinguish that from an individual dose-response curve

Know what is an LD₅₀ -- what it can and can not tell you.

Be able to discuss the concepts of acute and chronic exposures, e.g., using fetal alcohol syndrome or other toxic effects as an example.

Be able to define an NOAEL.

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Risk Assessment

• Understand what is risk (Risk = hazard x exposure)
• Know the definitions of risk assessment, risk management and risk communication.
• Explain how one might compare risks?
• What are the methods used in hazard identification (pros vs. cons of each)?
• Recall several host factors affecting differences in susceptibility
• Describe two types of dose response curves (threshold vs. non-threshold)
• What are two types of uncertainty in risk assessment?

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Disease Transmission & Control

Describe the major routes of tranmsission of pathogenic organisms of importance to Environmental Health

Explain how choices we make in both our personal lives and as members of society have both positive and negative effects on the environment, and in turn on our health.  Be able to give more than one specific example

List several examples of infectious diseases transmitted through the environment, including at least one that is considered an emerging (or re-emerging) disease

Be able to identify several examples of environmental disease not caused by microorganisms, and describe how humans are exposed to the causative agent

Be able to describe the four gerneral engineering control strategies used to mitigate environmental health hazards and be able to present an example for each.

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Food Protection

• Know why most foods are considered perishable and the factors that lead to food spoilage
• Know the reported incidence of foodborne illness and problems of reporting the true incidence of these diseases
• Know the difference between an outbreak and a case
• Know the difference between infections and intoxications and be able to provide examples of each
• Know the four major causes of foodborne illness and be able to give examples of how each can be prevented
• Be able to discuss the importance of the time/temperature relationship

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Zoonotic Diseases & Vector Control

• Know the definition of a vector
• Know the two ways in which zoonotic diseases can be transmitted to humans, with examples of each
• Understand the general vector-borne disease transmission cycles and be able to give examples
• Know the two plague cycles (urban and rural or sylvatic) and the three ways plague can manifest itself
• Understand the use of Integrated Pest Management in public health

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Ecology & Ecosystems

• Provide specific examples and explanations of how humans have accelerated the degradation of land resources.
• Explain the major causes of biodiversity loss and what laws have been passed both nationally and internationally to protect species.
  

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Population Dynamics, Control, and People-Food Predicament

• Explain the types of population growth curves and the relationship to biotic potential, environmental resistance, carrying capacity, and homeostatic controls.
• Know population growth theories and the application to both developing (Third World) and developed countries.
• Understand how to interpret population growth profiles.
• Explain the health effects of urbanization in developing countries.
• Provide examples of how family planning differs in developing countries versus developed countries.
• Explain the causes and human impacts of hunger and what diseases / birth defects are related to nutritional deficiencies.
• Provide examples of ways to reduce world hunger. Then explain the success or failure of these measures in the fight to eradicate world hunger.