Air Pollution – a Global Threat to our Health

University of Copenhagen

About this Course

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We all have to breathe to live. But the air we breathe is polluted both outdoors and indoors. Each year, this pollution costs 7 million lives across the globe – and a lot of suffering. 1 in 8 deaths is due to air pollution. This course will provide you with an introduction to the most recent research in the field of health effects of air pollution as well as a broader understanding of sources and spread of air pollution and what we should do about it.
What is air pollution? What are the sources? How and where are we exposed outdoors and indoors? What happens in the body? Which diseases are the result? Who are the most vulnerable? How can we assess the effects of air pollution? And what should we do to reach the Sustainable Development Goal to “substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution”? These are some of the important questions we will address in the course.

During the course you will meet researchers and experts from the University of Copenhagen and the Technical University of Denmark. They work with different aspects of air pollution and health: toxicology, exposure assessment, epidemiology, engineering and health impact assessment. It is a global responsibility to combat the health impacts of air pollution, and this fight can only be won through new knowledge and global collaboration. 

We hope you will join us in the course and equip yourself to take part in this global and individual health challenge.

Learner Career Outcomes

40%

started a new career after completing these courses

40%

got a tangible career benefit from this course

17%

got a pay increase or promotion

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Beginner Level

Approx. 12 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Chinese (Simplified), Italian, Portuguese (Brazilian), Vietnamese, Korean, German, Russian, Turkish, English, Spanish

Instructors

Instructor rating

4.7/5 (277 Ratings)

Learner Career Outcomes

40%

started a new career after completing these courses

40%

got a tangible career benefit from this course

17%

got a pay increase or promotion

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Beginner Level

Approx. 12 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Chinese (Simplified), Italian, Portuguese (Brazilian), Vietnamese, Korean, German, Russian, Turkish, English, Spanish

Offered by

University of Copenhagen

The University of Copenhagen is the oldest University in Denmark - founded in 1479, and with over 38,000 students and more than 9,000 employees. The purpose of the University is to conduct research and provide education to the highest academic level. Based in Denmark's capital city it is one of the top research institutions in Europe.

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating98%(1,510 ratings)

Week

Week 1

5 hours to complete

The air we breathe

The air we breathe is full of particles and gases. Some occur naturally, but many are the result of human activities. This first module will look into what air pollution is, where it comes from and what it does to our lungs and the rest of our body.

5 hours to complete

4 videos (Total 25 min), 4 readings, 3 quizzes

4 videos

Steffen Loft: Introduction1m

Peter Møller: Sources and Composition of Air Pollution7m

Peter Moller: What Happens in the Lungs?7m

Peter Moller: What Happens in the Rest of the Body?7m

4 readings

UN Sustainable Development Goals30m

Want to know more? Air pollution sources1h

Want to know more? Counseling patients using the Air Quality Health Index25m

Want to know more? Emerging hazards and improved understanding of risk45m

3 practice exercises

Sources and Composition of Air Pollution30m

What Happens in the Lungs?30m

What Happens in the Rest of the Body?30m

Week

Week 2

4 hours to complete

Outdoor air pollution

Outdoor air pollution affects all of us – no matter where we are on the Globe. But there are big differences in air pollution levels from one country to another, from rural to urban areas, from city to city, and even from one side of the street to the other. Though all people are affected, some people are more vulnerable to the damaging health effects of air pollution than others. This module will explain about how we can study health effects of exposure to outdoor air pollution in diverse population groups. We will also look at what we can do to fight outdoor pollution – and cope with it.

4 hours to complete

4 videos (Total 31 min), 1 reading, 4 quizzes

4 videos

Zorana J. Andersen: Epidemiological Principles of Air Pollution7m

Zorana J. Andersen: Vulnerable Groups8m

Zorana J. Andersen: The Global Burden7m

Steffen Loft: What Can We Do about Outdoor Air Pollution?8m

1 reading

WHO: Urban Health30m

4 practice exercises

Epidemiological Principles of Air Pollution30m

Vulnerable Groups30m

The Global Burden30m

What Can We Do about Outdoor Air Pollution?30m

Week

Week 3

3 hours to complete

Indoor air pollution

Most people spend most of their time indoors. The building envelope traps and accumulates pollution from both indoor and outdoor sources. This module will explain about health effects of indoor use of solid fuel as a particularly important source in large parts of the world, as well as of other sources of indoor air pollution. You will also learn about what you can do to improve the air quality in your home.

3 hours to complete

2 videos (Total 21 min), 2 readings, 2 quizzes

2 videos

Steffen Loft: Solid Fuel in Households8m

Steffen Loft: Tight Buildings12m

2 readings

WHO: Indoor Air Pollution30m

EPA: Fundamentals of Indoor Air Quality in Buildings30m

2 practice exercises

Solid Fuel in Households30m

Tight Buildings30m

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Will I earn university credit for completing the Course?
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Air Pollution – a Global Threat to our Health