Chemicals in the Environment: Toxicology and Public Health (BE.104J)
As taught in: Spring 2005

Oil floating on the River Irwell near the Manchester UK city center. (Photo courtesy of Matt Cox.)
Instructors:
Prof. James Sherley
Dr. Laura Green
Prof. Steven Tannenbaum
MIT Course Number:
20.104J / 1.081J / ESD.053J
Level:
Course Features
Course Description
This course addresses the challenges of defining a relationship between exposure to environmental chemicals and human disease. Course topics include epidemiological approaches to understanding disease causation; biostatistical methods; evaluation of human exposure to chemicals, and their internal distribution, metabolism, reactions with cellular components, and biological effects; and qualitative and quantitative health risk assessment methods used in the U.S. as bases for regulatory decision-making. Throughout the term, students consider case studies of local and national interest.