डॉ. बी. आर. अम्बेडकर विश्वविद्यालय दिल्ली 
| Course Type | Course Code | No. Of Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation Elective | SHE2ED309 | 2 |
Semester and Year Offered: Winter Semester, 2018
Course Coordinator and Team: Dr Oinam Hemlata Devi
Email of course coordinator: hemlata[at]aud[dot]ac[dot]in
Pre-requisites: None
Course Objectives/Description:
Aim: This course will introduce students to the issues of environment and its implications on Health. It will cover vast areas of human activities and its effects which are detrimental to environment particularly human health. It will cover areas like air and water pollution, hazardous waste (home and occupational), occupational health, health studies in the changing world etc. Case studies will use to simplify the whole actions and reactions of man and environment. This will also throw a base for discussion mode in the area concerned.
Learning Objectives:
The main objective of the study is to understand the critical issues of health hazards and it analysis in order to gain a light for future studies and procedures.
- To study common global environmental issues
- To understand the reasons and efforts made for various issues in developing risks minimisation strategies
- To acknowledge the efforts of people in resolving some issues (case studies)
- To find out the possible measures of tackling certain health hazards
Course Outcomes:
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Read, comprehend and analyse complex texts across the social and ecological issues.
- Read and write, communicate research findings effectively through written, media materials and colloquia.
- Identify and evaluate the factors of environmental hazards related to human health such as air pollution, water/waste pollution etc.
- Apply analytical thoughts to common environmental issues at national and global level.
- Understand the role of power and politics in outcomes of environmental and social actions.
- Learn values and beliefs of multiple cultures and a global perspective, use ethical practices in all work.
- Apply competencies acquired to understand and address real world environmental health problems, scenarios and case studies.
- Develop critical sensibility to lived experiences with self-awareness and reflexivity of both self and society.
- Design and carry out independent research on common environmental issues and its implications on human health.
- Draw valid conclusions and support them with evidence.
- Pursue careful field-based inquiry into the “big questions” of justice, well-being and sustainability in local, empirical contexts.
Brief description of modules/ Main modules:
| S. No. | Module |
| 1 | Introduction to Environmental Problems |
| 2 | Air pollution |
| 3 | Solid and Hazardous waste |
| 4 | Toxic chemicals and Water Pollution |
| 5 | Occupational Health |
| 6 | Changing Human Health |
References:
- Altaman, R.G. et al (2008). Pollution comes home and gets personal: Women’s experience of household chemical exposure. American Sociological Association, 49(4): 417-435.
- Bentham, G (2003). Global environmental change and health. In Phillips, D.R. and Verhasselt, Y. (Eds.). Health and Development (Chapter 2).New York: Routledge Publication.
- Carson , R. (1982 ). Silent Spring.
- Colborn, T., Dumanoski, D., &Meyers,J.P.(1997). Our Stolen Future: How we are threatening our fertility, intelligence, and survival. New York: Plume.
- Johnson,B.J. (1999). Impact of Hazardous Waste on Human Health. New York: Lewis Publishers.
- Last, J, M. (1998). Human Health in a changing world In Public Health and Human Ecology, pp.395-425. New Delhi: Prentice Hall International Inc.
- Lodha, R.M. (Ed.). (1993). Environmental Ruin: The crisis of Survival. New Delhi : Indus Publishing Company
- Mandal, A.S. (2009). Strategies and policies deteriorate occupational health situation in India: A review based on social determinant framework. Indian Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 13 (3): 113-120.
- Mosley, S. Encyclopaedia of Life Support system. Environmental history of air pollution and protection.
- Parkes, M., Panelli, R.,& Weinstein, Ph. (2003). Covering paradigms for environmental health theory and practice. Environmental Health Perspectives 111(5): 669-675.
- Ruston, L. (2003). Health hazards and waste management. British Medical Bulletin 68: 183-197.
- Sinha. R.K. (2006). Development and Environment: The 20th century debate that continues till 21st Century in Development, Environment, Human Health, and Sustainability, pp-3-27. Jaipur: Pointer Publications.
Required Viewing
- An Inconvenient Truth (Al Gore movie)
- Erin Brockovich, &
- A civil Action
Assessment Design:
The students will be assessed on the basis of field report (2 days field-work in Delhi) and end-term examination.
| Sl.No | Assessment | Date/period in which Assessment will take place | Weightage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Field Report | 1st week of February | 50% |
| 2 | End term examination | 1st week of March | 50% |