ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ENGINEERING AND HYGIENE

Module GENERAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

Knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course, students will acquire basic knowledge of epidemiology and of the general principles of disease prevention, including primordial, primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary prevention applied to infectious and multifactorial diseases. Students will also gain knowledge of the relationships between environment and health, with particular reference to the main classes of contaminants present in living and working environments and in different environmental matrices. Furthermore, the scientific principles underlying the mechanisms of action of pollutants on human health will be addressed, with particular attention to gene–environment interactions and to the fundamentals of health risk assessment and estimation.

Applying knowledge and understanding
Students will be able to apply the acquired knowledge to identify and describe the main environmental and occupational risk factors, recognizing the principal types of contaminants present in different environmental matrices. They will also be able to understand and describe the main stages of the health risk assessment process and interpret data and information derived from environmental and health monitoring activities within the framework of prevention and control activities carried out by public health services.

Making judgements
Students will develop the ability to critically evaluate information related to health risks deriving from environmental and occupational exposures, interpreting epidemiological data and results from environmental monitoring. These skills will enable them to formulate preliminary assessments regarding the potential health effects of contaminating agents and the effectiveness of strategies for risk prevention and control.

Communication skills
Students will be able to use appropriate scientific terminology to describe health determinants, environmental risk factors, and the main strategies for prevention and control. They will also be able to communicate clearly and accurately information related to environmental risks and preventive measures in professional contexts and in interactions with institutions and the public.

Learning skills
By the end of the course, students will have acquired the conceptual tools necessary to independently deepen their knowledge of environmental hygiene, health risk prevention, and environmental and occupational risk assessment, developing the ability to update their knowledge through consultation of scientific literature and institutional sources in the field of public health and prevention.

Lectures with the help of video projections of slides in MS PowerPoint presentation format.

If the teaching is given in a mixed or remote mode, the necessary changes with respect to what was previously stated may be introduced, in order to respect the program envisaged and reported in the syllabus.

Definitions and objectives of Hygiene and Public Health.

Health education.

Health promotion.

The concept of health according to the World Health Organization.

The health of the population and its determinants.

General principles of prevention: primordial, primary, secondary, tertiary, quaternary prevention.

Definition, objectives and tasks of Epidemiology.

Descriptive epidemiological measures: ratios, proportions, rates, incidence and prevalence.

Epidemiological measures of risk: absolute risk, relative risk, odds ratio, differential risk, attributable risk in the exposed and in the population.

General epidemiology of infectious diseases: general concepts, epidemiological model of infectious diseases. Sources of infection, routes of elimination and routes of penetration of pathogenic microorganisms, transmission of infectious diseases. Trend of infectious diseases in the community.

Prevention of infectious diseases: notification of infectious diseases, diagnostic assessment, epidemiological investigation, default measures (isolation, quarantine), health surveillance. Sterilization and disinfection by physical and chemical means. Outlines of pest control. Immune prophylaxis: vaccine prophylaxis and seroprophylaxis.

Food hygiene. Food security and health of populations. Epidemiology of foodborne diseases. Food contaminants.

General epidemiology and prevention of multifactorial diseases (chronic-degenerative or non-communicable): general concepts, epidemiological model, risk and protective factors, prevention of the main chronic-degenerative diseases. The Global Burden of Disease Study (mortality and life expectancy, disability).

Hints of health organization.

Risk analysis

Main pollutants of the air matrix, indoor environment, sources of exposure and health risks

Main pollutants of the air matrix, outdoor environment, sources of exposure and health risks

Noise, vibrations and non-ionizing radiation.

Main pollutants of the water matrix, sources of exposure and health risks

Main pollutants of the soil matrix, sources of exposure and health risks

Solid waste and liquid waste

Gene-environment interactions

1)    Ricciardi W, Boccia S. Igiene. Medicina preventiva. Sanità pubblica. Idelson-Gnocchi, 2021

2)    GILLI G. Professione igienista. Manuale dell’Igiene ambientale e territoriale. Casa editrice Ambrosiana. 2014

The assessment consists of a structured written test with 13 multiple-choice questions covering the course content, administered via the Exam.net digital platform.

Each of the first 12 questions has one correct answer and is worth 2.5 points, for a maximum of 30 points. The 13th question is used exclusively for the possible award of honors (cum laude) and is considered only if the student achieves full marks in the first 12 questions.

The test is designed to assess students’ knowledge and understanding of the main concepts of hygiene, epidemiology, and environmental health, as well as their ability to apply these concepts to the identification and evaluation of environmental and occupational risk factors. It also evaluates the ability to interpret data related to environmental exposure, risk assessment processes, and prevention and control strategies.

An oral examination may be required at the instructor’s discretion.

Grading Criteria

The final grade is expressed on a 30-point scale and is based on the number of correct answers in the first 12 questions (2.5 points each).

A score of 30/30 is awarded for 12 correct answers. Lower grades are assigned proportionally based on the number of correct responses.

A minimum of 8 correct answers (18/30) is required to pass the exam. Higher scores reflect a progressively stronger level of knowledge (e.g., 10 correct answers = 25/30; 11 correct answers = 28/30, after rounding).

The final grade directly reflects the level of mastery of the course content, particularly with regard to the understanding of environmental health determinants and the application of prevention and risk assessment principles.

Honors (cum laude) may be awarded to students who achieve 30/30 and correctly answer the 13th question.

Levels of prevention

Health determinants

Risk measures

Frequency measurements

Reservoir and source of infection

Vehicle and carrier

Risk analysis

Air pollution

Water potability requirements