IEH - 2- environmental epidemiology

The outcome variable in epidemiologic studies is

usually a specific disease, cause of mortality, or health condition.

Epidemiology is important to the study of environmental health problems because:

-Many exposures and health effects associated with the environment occur at the population level -The epidemiologic methods of natural experiments and observational techniques are appropriate -The study designs used in epidemiologic research can be applied directly to the study of environmental health issues and - Epidemiology aids in the development of hypotheses and the study of causal relationships.

The quantification of risks

-estimation - assesment -evaluation

Epidemiology aids the environmental health field through

1. concern with populations 2. use of observational data 3. methodology for study designs 4. descriptive and analytic studies

Analytic

Aims to gain knowledge on the quality and the amount of influence that determinants have on the occurrence of disease. Relate the variables and the effect they have on the outcome.

what does an Environmental Epidemiologists do?

Analyze research data that may reveal patterns and associations with respect to the occurrence of adverse and other health outcomes.

By using epidemiology it may be possible to

Connect environmental hazards such as air pollution or toxic chemicals with cancer and other adverse health conditions

Descriptive

Describes occurrence of disease(or of its determinants) within a population. Describes the variables only.

Epidemiology is one of the core disciplines used to examine the associations between

Environmental hazards and health outcomes

3. Methodology for Study Designs

Epidemiologic research studies the frequency of disease occurrence in the population or to link disease outcomes to specific exposures. The field of Environmental Epidemiology uses characteristic study designs: Cross-sectional, ecologic, case-control, and cohort.

Two types of variables

Exposure and outcome

Pandemic

Global

Indemic

Local (uae)

Epidemiology

One of the fundamental disciplines used in the study of environmental health

Demi

People

Two terms prevalence and incidence, which can be stated as frequencies or raw numbers of cases.

Prevalence - high number of people Incidence - low number of people

Numbers and strategy to solve the problem

Public health epidemiology

Epidemic

Region

2. Use of Observational Data

Studies of the population's health by epidemiology is primarily an observational science that takes advantage of naturally occurring situations in order to study the occurrence of disease. Experimental methods because of ethical issues, such as potential dangers to subjects (humans) may be prohibited. Trying new drugs and vaccines

1. Concern with Populations a unique characteristic of epidemiology is that it is

Studies the entire population ( population medicine)

Ology

Study

Epidemiologic studies are applied to

The control of health problems on population

Epidemiology is concerned with

The study of the distribution and determinants of health and diseases, morbidity, injuries, disability, and mortality in populations.

Epi

Upon

Two classes of epidemiologic studies

descriptive and analytic

A number of quantitative terms, useful in Environmental Epidemiology, have been developed to characterize

the occurrence of disease, morbidity, and mortality in populations.

The term environmental epidemiology refers to

the study of diseases and health conditions (occurring in the population) that are linked to environmental factors.

The exposure variables in epidemiologic research include contact with

toxic substances, potential carcinogens