Chemicals in the Environment: Toxicology and Public Health (BE.104J)
Lecture Notes
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LEC # |
TOPICS |
INSTRUCTORS |
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1 |
Prof. James Sherley |
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2 |
Watch film A Civil Action |
Prof. James Sherley |
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3 |
From the Real World to Hollywood and Back Again (PDF) |
Dr. Laura Green |
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4 |
Epidemiology: Persons, Places, and Time (PDF) |
Prof. James Sherley |
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5 |
Epidemiology: Test Development and Relative Risk (PDF) |
Prof. James Sherley |
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6 |
Prof. James Sherley |
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7 |
Biostatistics: Distribution and the Mean Confidence Intervals (PDF) |
Prof. James Sherley |
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8 |
Biostatistics: Detecting Differences and Correlations (PDF) |
Prof. James Sherley |
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9 |
Biostatistics: Poisson Analyses and Power (PDF) |
Prof. James Sherley |
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10 |
Environetics: Cause and Effect (PDF) |
Prof. James Sherley |
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11 |
Environetics: Study Design - Retrospective versus Prospective |
Prof. James Sherley |
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12 |
Environetics: Putting it all together - Evaluating Studies (PDF) |
Prof. James Sherley |
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13 |
Quiz #1: Epidemiology-Biostatistics |
Prof. James Sherley |
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14 |
Evaluating Environmental Causes of Mesothelioma (PDF) |
Prof. James Sherley |
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15 |
Quantitative Risk Assessment 1 |
Dr. Laura Green |
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16 |
Quantitative Risk Assessment 2 (PDF) |
Dr. Laura Green |
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17 |
Toxicology 1 |
Prof. Steven Tannenbaum |
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18 |
Toxicology 2 |
Prof. Steven Tannenbaum |
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19 |
Toxicology 3 |
Prof. Steven Tannenbaum |
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20 |
Toxicology 4 |
Prof. Steven Tannenbaum |
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21 |
Toxicology 5 |
Prof. Steven Tannenbaum |
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22 |
Quantitative Risk Assessment 3 (PDF) |
Dr. Laura Green |
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23 |
Quantitative Risk Assessment 4 |
Dr. Laura Green |
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24 |
Quiz #2: QRA-Toxicology |
Dr. Laura Green |
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25 |
Classroom Presentations of Team Projects |
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26 |
Classroom Presentations of Team Projects (cont.) |
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Assignments
Students are assigned several problem sets and a paper reviewing the course text The Lady Tasting Tea. During the 2nd half of the term, students will also be working on a major team project.
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PROBLEM SETS |
SOLUTIONS |
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Problem Set 1 (PDF) |
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Problem Set 2 (PDF) |
(PDF) |
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Problem Set 3 (PDF) |
(PDF) |
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Problem Set 4 (PDF) |
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Problem Set 5 (PDF) |
(PDF) |
Lady Tasting Tea Paper
During the first half of the term, students are required to read The Lady Tasting Tea: How Statistics Revolutionized Science in the Twentieth Century, by David Salsburg. This book provides a historical introduction to statistical and environetics principles that will be the focus of the first half of the course. Students are expected to read the entire book. The purpose of this reading is to introduce students to the field of statistics and to prepare them for the concepts and language of uncertainty, which permeates statistical thought.
A 10-page essay (10-12 pt font; 1.5-line spaced; 1-inch margins) is due at the beginning of class on Lecture 12. The essay must contain the following:
- 1.A brief synopsis and critique of the book (4-5 pages).
- 2.At least one well developed example of how statistical methods discussed in the book could be applied to a current case of suspected health effects causation by an environmental agent, food additive, or pharmaceutical (5-6 pages).
The topic(s) selected for #2 above may not overlap with the topic for a student's team project.
Following are examples of the Lady Tasting Tea paper, presented courtesy of the respective authors, used with permission.
Paper by Sueann Lee (PDF)
Paper by Jessica Hagelstein (PDF)
Paper by Erin Shea (PDF)
Exams
There will be two quizzes during the term. The second quiz will only cover material presented after the first quiz. Quizzes will be given in-class during the regular lecture period as noted in the schedule. Quiz #1 is open book. The format of Quiz #2 will be determined by instructors. There is no final examination.
Quiz 1 with solutions (PDF)
Study Materials
Following are three quizzes from previous terms.
Practice Quiz 1 (PDF)
Practice Quiz 2 (PDF)
Practice Quiz 3 (PDF)