Health Risk Assessment

Catalog description

This course develops the qualitative and quantitative skills necessary to evaluate the probability of adverse health effects resulting from exposure to environmental contaminants/chemicals. Basic concepts of qualitative and quantitative risk assessment are demonstrated using practical case studies and review of the primary literature. Emphasis is placed on hazard identification, dose-response evaluation, exposure assessment, and risk characterization. Integration of risk assessment with risk management and communicating risks to the public are discussed. Regulatory aspects of risk assessment in the promulgation of environmental standards are presented. Disaster risk estimation and assessment is not a content area covered in this course (e.g. probability of a catastrophic storm event and flood risks under specific scenarios) nor is microbial risk assessment (e.g. foodborne or waterborne pathogen risk assessment).