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Cuyamaca College
Environmental Technology Program

ENVT 130 Course Outline

Health Effects of Hazardous Materials

Units: 3 units (3 hours lecture)
Prerequisite: None.
Recommended: ENVT 100 and High School Biology

Catalog Description: This course covers the acute and chronic health effects produced by exposure to chemical, physical and biological agents. Emphasis will be on those hazardous materials commonly associated with industrial operations, waste disposal, and remediation sites. Topics will include routes of entry, toxic effects, risk evaluation, permissible exposure limits, medical surveillance, control methods for reducing exposure and use of material safety data sheet to develop strategies to reduce worker exposure.

Unit I: Types of Environmental Health Hazards

  1. Chemical
    1. Solids
    2. Liquids
    3. Gases
    4. Vapors
    5. Dusts
    6. Fumes
    7. Fibers
    8. Mists
  2. Physical Hazards
    1. Noise
    2. Temperature Extremes
    3. Ionizing Radiation
    4. Non-Ionizing Radiation
    5. Vibration
    6. VDT
  3. Biological Hazards
    1. Bacteria
    2. Viruses

Unit II: Exposure & Entry Routes

  1. Local
  2. Systemic
  3. Ingestion
  4. Skin
    1. Skin Diseases
    2. Puncture
    3. Contact
    4. Systemic
  5. Inhalation
    1. Respiratory Hazards
    2. Types of Airborne Contaminants

Unit III: Sources Of Toxic Information

  1. MSDS
  2. NIOSH
  3. HESIS
  4. Others

Unit IV: Chemical Absorption Routes

  1. Distribution
  2. Metabolism
  3. xcretion

Unit V: Dose-Response Relation

  1. Toxicity
  2. Hazard
  3. Biological Variation
  4. Threshold Concepts
    1. LD50 & LC50
    2. TLV
  5. Potential Non-Threshold Effects

Unit VI: Duration of Exposure

  1. Acute
  2. Subchronic
  3. Chronic

Unit VII: Action Of Toxic Substances

  1. Types of Reactions
    1. Enzyme Inhibitor
    2. Blocking Agents (Antagonists)
    3. Physical Effects
  2. Types of Interactions
    1. Synergism
    2. Potentiation

Unit VIII: Effects of Exposure to Air Contaminants

  1. Local Effects
    1. Irritants
    2. Necrosis
    3. Pneunomoconsis
  2. Systemic Effects
    1. Headache
    2. Nausea
    3. Narcosis
  3. Asphyxiants
    1. Simple Asphyxiants
    2. Chemical Asphyxiants

Unit IX: Regulations & Standards

  1. OSHA - Federal & California
  2. TOSCA
  3. NIOSH Standards

Unit X: Exposure Guidelines & Limits

  1. TLV
    1. TWA
    2. STEL
    3. CEIL
  2. PEL
  3. Mixtures & Combined Effects
  4. Carcinogens
  5. Physical Stress

Unit XI: Monitoring of Harmful Agents

  1. Sensory Awareness
    1. Odor
    2. Taste
    3. Irritation
  2. Air Sampling Instruments
    1. Field Instruments
    2. Lab Analysis of Samples

Unit XII: Control Methods

  1. Knowledge
    1. Labeling
    2. MSDS
  2. Engineering Controls
    1. Substitution
    2. Process Change
    3. Equipment Enclosure (Isolation)
  3. Ventilation
    1. Local Exhaust Ventilation
    2. General (Dilution)
  4. Personal Protective Equipment - PPE
    1. Respirators
    2. Clothing
    3. Barrier Creams
    4. Levels of Protective
  5. Administrative

Unit XIII: Medical Monitoring

  1. Urine Tests
  2. Blood Analysis
  3. Hair & Nails Analysis
  4. Biological Exposure Indices (BEI's)

Unit XIV: Risk Evaluation

  1. Definitions
  2. Components
    1. Hazard Identification
    2. Dose-Response Evaluation
    3. Risk Characterization
  3. Total Dose Absorbed
    1. Direct Ingestion Through Drinking
    2. Inhalation of Contaminants
    3. Skin Absorption From Water
    4. Ingestion of Contaminated Food
    5. Skin Absorption From Contaminated Soil

Unit XV: Survey of Common Toxic Substances

  1. Gases
  2. Corrosives
  3. Metals
  4. Air Pollutants
  5. Volatile Organics
  6. Semi-Volatile Organics
  7. Pesticides
  8. Asbestos

Last update 05/12/98 by Cuyamaca Web Team