Essentials of Environmental Health

Environmental threats are occurring on a worldwide scale. Dramatic pictures of the devastating effects of natural disasters lead the nightly news. Stories of chemical spills and contaminated groundwater, deforestation and suburban sprawl, depleted fisheries and exploding human population, litter the pages of the newspapers daily. National and international policymakers are concerned about the potential impact on the health of the world s population and on the global environment and, as a result, much progress has been made in informing the public and introducing regulations for the control of these hazards. As the first in the Essential Public Health series, Essentials of Environmental Health is a clear and comprehensive study of the major topics of environmental health including: Background of the field and tools of the trade (environmental epidemiology, environmental toxicology, and environmental policy and regulation). Environmental diseases (microbial agents, ionizing and non-ionizing radiation). Applications and domains of environmental health (water and air quality, food safety, waste disposal, and occupational health). In a straightforward, non-technical approach, the author has included many examples and illustrations of environmental health issues. Perfect for the beginning student as well as the experienced health professional, each chapter concludes with study questions and exercises to engage the reader in further study.