Aim and Content

Aim:

To obtain detailed knowledge on chemical exposure assessment in the work environment and associated health effects.

Contents:

• Overview of air pollution in the working atmosphere
• Physical and chemical properties of chemical hazards
• Risk assessment; terminology, principles and methods
• Sampling strategies, methods and analysis of gases, vapours and aerosols in the workplace atmosphere
• Occupational hygiene standards and limit values
• Regulations on classification and labelling of chemicals
• Excursions and field exercises with exposure measurements in the industry
• Calculation, interpretation and presentation of results from field excercises
• Report writing in occupational hygiene
• Dermal exposure and related health effects
• General industrial toxicology
• Biological measurements in blood, urine and exhaled air
• Effects of inhaled materials on the lung and other target organs
• Lung function measurements
• Occupational cancer
• Toxic responses of the nervous system
• Toxic effects of metals
• Statistical analysis of measurement data
• Analysis of determinants of chemical exposure
• Exposure data in epidemiological studies
• Case studies with industry examples

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge

At the end of the course, the students shall be able to:

• outline the main chemical hazards in the industry
• describe the physical/chemical properties of chemical hazards such as aerosols, fibres, gases and vapours
• explain body uptake routes and uptake mechanisms for chemicals
• describe biomonitoring of hydrocarbons and metals
• describe the toxicological mechanisms and occupational diseases in different organ systems associated with exposures to organic solvents, pesticides, inorganic gases, toxic metals and inorganic aerosols
• explain results from lung function measurements
• describe the details of risk assessment methods
• recognize and explain different methods for air sampling and analysis of aerosols, fibers, gases and vapours in the workplace atmosphere
• define occupational exposure limit values
• explain how to analyse and evaluate results from sampling of chemical hazards by statistical methods
• describe how to use exposure measurement data in epidemiological studies

Skills

At the end of the course, the students shall be able to:

• anticipate, recognize and evaluate chemical risk factors in the industry
• select and use appropriate methods and strategies for air sampling and biomonitoring of chemical hazards
• compute air concentrations of contaminants
• examine and evaluate sampling and analytical errors
• give feedback (report and presentation) to the industry after exposure assessment
• write a scientific report on the results from exposure assessment/measurement
• conduct a detailed risk assessment of chemical hazards
• search for relevant literature within toxicology, occupational diseases, chemical hazards and exposure assessment

General competence

• integrate knowledge from different disciplines
• promote positive interaction and collaborative relationships between the different actors within occupational health
• a scientific way of thinking and a critical approach to research results
• written and oral communication and dissemination

Course offered (semester)

Spring

Course Unit Level

Master

Pre-requirements

Students admitted to a Master`s degree Programme may join this course. A good Bachelor`s degree in Medicine, Dentistry, Health Sciences or Natural Sciences. Good knowledge of English.

Teaching Methods

The course lasts six weeks and comprises lectures (52 hours), two field works in the industry, group work, student presentations and critical analysis of relevant scientific articles.

The two field works carried out in different industries are essential parts of the course, with work load distributed throughout the course. The field works include preparatory theoretical and practical work, literature review, workplace visits, industrial process description, data collection/exposure measurements, data analysis, two reports/assignments and presentation of results and conclusions for discussion in the research group.

Compulsory Requirements

Field exercise including group work and assignment.

Assessment methods

Written exam (3h) and student presentation

2 internal examiners.

Grading Scale

Grading scale A-F