Chemicals and Health from Coursera

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Syllabus

Week 1: Welcome & Introduction

Start off this week with the peer assessment (we know, we know. . .how can we have an assessment before the course even starts, right?). We simply hope to gauge your initial understanding of the topics that we’ll cover (so grade easy). Then we get into a quick overview of the course, a discussion of chemicals & how we are exposed (in three parts) and an introduction to chemical production & regulation. The module ends with a fun homework assignment: watch an eight-minute video and discuss amongst yourselves (and with us too).

Week 2 - Toxicology: What do chemicals do in our bodies?

Now that you have a sense of what a chemical is, and how we are exposed to them, we dive into the science of how chemicals impact our health, starting with toxicology. But before you dive into the study of poisons, please review, evaluate, and grade at least four of your classmates' submissions from last week. After you listen to the lectures by Professor Trush, take the ten-question/multiple-choice quiz that covers weeks 1 & 2. Feel free to go back and use the lectures to help you answer the questions.

Week 3 - Biomonitoring: How do we measure these chemicals in our bodies and why?

Start by watching a two-minute video and a five-minute news report. Post your reactions not only to the video and audio files, but also to your peers’ thoughts! Next you’ll hear from a CDC scientist about the US’ National Biomonitoring Program, then you’ll hear how that program translates to the local level. Be sure to keep in mind the relationship of communities to their government! This week is pretty light – so enjoy!

Week 4 - Health effects of chemicals: How do we figure out how chemicals affect our health?

Finally we get to one of the main questions presented in this course - how do scientists assess the impact of chemicals on our health? You’ll hear from a physician who specializes in environmental & occupational medicine and epidemiology. Then you’ll hear how policymakers use the knowledge that we do have (about chemicals & health) to assess risk and drive policy. Once you’ve viewed the two lectures, another ten-question/multiple-choice quiz will assess how much information you absorbed from weeks 3 and 4. Feel free to go back and use the lectures to help you answer the questions.

Week 5 - Chemicals Policy: What do we do about chemicals & health?

So far we’ve covered: how chemicals get into our bodies and how we measure them, what our bodies do with them and what they do to our bodies, and how that ultimately impacts our health. Now we turn to policy and how society addresses the impact of chemicals on health. We will hear from a non-profit group that works to change policies such as laws & regulations related to this area. Then we’ll hear how such changes have impacted our health and environment historically, looking specifically at air quality regulation in the US. After you view the lectures in Module 5, there is a second peer-reviewed writing assessment that aims to gauge your shift in understanding the complex relationship between chemicals and health (again grade each other generously).

Week 6: Case Studies

At this point you may be wondering: so how do all these pieces fit together? From chemicals in our natural world to production on a large scale, through exposure to health effects and policy . . . this module provides real world examples of how the general public, scientists, industry, governments and non-profit groups come together to effect change. Specifically, we’ll hear about tobacco, contaminated food, drinking water, nanotechnology & worker health. At some point this week (either before, after or in-between listening to the case studies), you’ll need to review, evaluate, and grade at least four of your classmates' submissions from last week. The final lecture offers a summary & conclusion, hopefully providing ideas for next steps for those of you interested in learning or doing more related to chemicals & health. Please let us know how we did and how we can improve!

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Suitable for non-sciency professionals curious about the health and environmental impact of chemicals

Ideally offered for anyone living in the United States due to the particular focus on US policies and practices

Toxicology and chemical measurements are complex topics, making it unsuitable for learners without a science background

Reviews summary

Informed decisions on chemicals and health

Learners say this course provides a positive overview of the impact of chemicals on our health and the environment. The course is well received with reviews indicating that the lectures are clear and informative. While the course is challenging, learners felt that they gained a lot of knowledge and skills. The interactive assignments, such as case studies and peer reviews, aid in learning and critical thinking development. While some learners critiqued the length of the videos, the expertise of the instructors and the practical nature of the course were well received.

Clear and simple language makes the course accessible to learners of all backgrounds.

"The course is good at all, i learn something new and another point of view abou chemical. especially about the relation between chemical and health"

"The first course and certificate I took from Coursera. It will contribute to me and my profession, progress in the profession will be enormous. Lessons, content, lecturers It was great in one word. I am very happy. Thank you very much to everyone."

"This is a very good course especially on the field concerning nutrition, chemistry, exposure assessment, and for general knowledge."

Assignments such as case studies, peer-reviews, and discussions foster deep learning, critical thinking, and knowledge retention.

"I have learnt many things that I have not learnt these years"

"This course help me to better understand what chemicals are and how to deal with them"

"This course is good for a general understanding. But is discusses public health labs and government policies of USA. So the course might be somewhat irrelevant to non-Americans."

"The professors were very competent and straightforward, first of all. Lastly, the course was worth doing since it made me understand what chemicals really are and how they intertwine with health and well-being."

Engaging lectures from experts, informative case studies, timely presentations, practical lessons, and current research keep learning interesting.

"This course has strongly deepened my knowledge on toxicology and the study of chemicals. I am so glad that I have taken this course!"

"This course was full of amazing information. great video lectures, case studies, research, Great professors."

"This course is very useful and interesting. It tells me a lot on toxicology and different environmental assessments, making me to learn more."

A wide variety of knowledgeable instructors, all experts in their fields, deliver engaging and informative lectures. This lends credibility to the material.

"I loved this course, it thought me about the risks are outside our houses or inside of them."

"This course is really good. The lectures are precise and nicely explained. From this course I gained knowledge about toxicity of chemicals, impact of chemicals to human health etc."

"All the videos had experts explaining the complexities associated with chemicals at all levels eloquently and wonderfully compiled information."

The course focuses heavily on public health labs and government policies specific to the USA, which may be less relevant to learners in other countries.

"Course is good for a general understanding. But is discusses public health labs and government policies of USA. So the course might be somewhat irrelevant to non-Americans."

Peer grading can be unreliable, with some learners receiving lower scores even when their answers meet the rubric.

"I might have to shift to public health after attending this course ;-)I like that the subjects really fit "beginners"; how it tried to explain the information as simple as possible as I could just imagine those without background in hard science to comprehend some details. The lecturers were all credible and gave their best to explain topics in the most comprehensive way. My 1 missing star goes to the kinda' outdated information presented in most of the discussions. Some go back as far as 2000s. The course might need some refreshing or revision to be updated."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Chemicals and Health with these activities:

Review basic chemistry concepts relevant to toxicology, such as chemical bonding, molecular structure, and reactivity.

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Refreshing basic chemistry concepts will strengthen your understanding of chemical toxicology.

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Review high school chemistry notes, textbooks, or online resources.
Focus on topics like chemical bonding, molecular structure, and chemical reactivity.
Solve practice problems to test your understanding.

Compile and organize key terms, concepts, and equations related to chemical toxicology.

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Compiling and organizing key terms will help you retain information and prepare for assessments.

Browse courses on Toxicology

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Review course materials, textbooks, and lecture notes.
Identify and list down essential terms, concepts, and equations.
Organize them into logical categories or topics.

Watch video tutorials on the mechanisms of chemical toxicity and their effects on human health.

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Watching video tutorials will complement lectures and provide a visual understanding of toxicity mechanisms.

Browse courses on Toxicology

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Search for video tutorials on chemical toxicity mechanisms and health effects on platforms like YouTube or Coursera.
Select reputable videos created by experts in the field.
Watch the videos and make notes on key concepts.
Pause the videos if needed to research unfamiliar terms or concepts.

Five other activities

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Survey a vicinity for detectable sources of air pollution

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Surveying your surroundings for sources of air pollution will help you contextualize the sources of chemical pollution in your environment.

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Identify possible sources of air pollution in your residential area, such as factories, power plants, or highways.
Use an air quality sensor to measure the levels of air pollutants in different locations.
Record your findings and compare them to air quality standards.

Complete practice problems involving the calculation of exposure to chemicals through different routes

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Completing practice problems will strengthen your understanding of exposure to chemicals through inhalation, ingestion, dermal absorption.

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Review course materials on chemical exposure routes and relevant formulas.
Find practice problems or worksheets online or in textbooks.
Solve the practice problems and check your answers.

Review a book on the history of chemical regulation and its impact on public health

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Reading 'Silent Spring' will provide historical context and insights into the impact of chemical regulation on public health.

View Something About the Sky on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of the book 'Silent Spring' by Rachel Carson.
Read the book and take notes on key points.
Reflect on the book's arguments and implications.

Create a visual representation of the chemical structure of a toxic substance and explain its health effects

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Creating a visual representation of a toxic substance will enhance your comprehension of its chemical structure and health effects.

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Research a toxic substance and gather information about its chemical structure and health effects.
Use a molecular visualization software to create a 3D model of the chemical structure.
Annotate the model with labels and explanations of the different atoms, bonds, and functional groups.
Create a poster or infographic that presents your findings.

Design and conduct an experiment to measure the concentration of a chemical pollutant in a water sample

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Designing and conducting an experiment will provide you with hands-on experience in measuring chemical pollutants in a water sample.

Browse courses on Water Pollution

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Identify a water source that you suspect may be contaminated with a chemical pollutant.
Design an experiment to measure the concentration of the pollutant in the water.
Collect a water sample and perform the experiment.
Analyze the results of your experiment and draw conclusions about the concentration of the pollutant in the water.
Write a report summarizing your findings.

Career center

Learners who complete Chemicals and Health will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Chemical Engineer

Chemical Engineers apply the principles of chemistry to solve technical problems. They design and construct plants and equipment to manufacture chemicals, pharmaceuticals, food, and other products. A deep understanding of chemicals such as the one learned in this course is critical to the success of a Chemical Engineer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chemical Engineer

Environmental Scientist

Environmental Scientists study the environment and how human activities affect it. They develop and implement solutions to environmental problems, such as pollution and climate change. Since chemicals can have a significant impact on the environment, this course would provide a strong foundation for an Environmental Scientist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Scientist

Toxicologist

Toxicologists study the effects of chemicals on living organisms. They develop and conduct tests to assess the safety of chemicals and to understand how they can cause harm. This course would provide a strong foundation for a Toxicologist, as it covers the health effects of chemicals and how they are measured.

See salaries and explore the career path for Toxicologist

Epidemiologist

Epidemiologists study the patterns and causes of disease in populations. They use this information to develop strategies to prevent and control disease. This course would be helpful for an Epidemiologist, as it covers the health effects of chemicals and how they are measured.

See salaries and explore the career path for Epidemiologist

Public Health Nurse

Public Health Nurses provide care and support to individuals and communities to improve their health. They may work in a variety of settings, such as schools, clinics, or community centers. This course would be helpful for a Public Health Nurse, as it covers the health effects of chemicals and how they are measured.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public Health Nurse

Environmental Lawyer

Environmental Lawyers specialize in the legal aspects of environmental protection. They may work for government agencies, non-profit organizations, or private companies. This course would be helpful for an Environmental Lawyer, as it covers the policies and regulations related to chemicals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Lawyer

Science Writer

Science Writers communicate complex scientific information to the public. They may write for newspapers, magazines, websites, or other media outlets. This course would be helpful for a Science Writer, as it provides a strong foundation in the science of chemicals and their health effects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Science Writer

Policy Analyst

Policy Analysts research and analyze public policy issues. They develop and recommend policy solutions to address a variety of problems, such as environmental pollution. This course would be helpful for a Policy Analyst, as it covers the policies and regulations related to chemicals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Policy Analyst

Lobbyist

Lobbyists represent the interests of their clients before government officials. They may work for businesses, non-profit organizations, or other groups. This course would be helpful for a Lobbyist, as it covers the policies and regulations related to chemicals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Lobbyist

Community Organizer

Community Organizers work with communities to identify and address their needs. They may organize campaigns, develop programs, or provide support to local residents. This course would be helpful for a Community Organizer, as it covers the health effects of chemicals and how they impact communities.

See salaries and explore the career path for Community Organizer

Health Educator

Health Educators provide education and support to individuals and communities to help them make healthy choices. They may work in a variety of settings, such as schools, clinics, or community centers. This course would be helpful for a Health Educator, as it covers the health effects of chemicals and how they can be prevented.

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Risk Assessor

Risk Assessors evaluate the potential risks of chemicals and other hazards to human health and the environment. They may work for government agencies, private companies, or non-profit organizations. This course would be helpful for a Risk Assessor, as it covers the toxicology of chemicals and how they are measured.

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Chemist

Chemists study the properties and reactions of chemicals. They may work in a variety of settings, such as research laboratories, universities, or manufacturing plants. This course would provide a strong foundation for a Chemist, as it covers the chemistry of chemicals and their health effects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chemist

Biologist

Biologists study the structure, function, and behavior of living organisms. They may work in a variety of settings, such as research laboratories, universities, or environmental agencies. This course would provide a strong foundation for a Biologist, as it covers the health effects of chemicals and how they are measured.

See salaries and explore the career path for Biologist

Safety Inspector

Safety Inspectors ensure that workplaces and products meet safety regulations. They may work for government agencies, private companies, or insurance companies. This course would be helpful for a Safety Inspector, as it covers the policies and regulations related to chemicals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Safety Inspector