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.
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.
Peter Møller: Sources and Composition of Air Pollution•8 minutes
Peter Moller: What Happens in the Lungs?•7 minutes
Peter Moller: What Happens in the Rest of the Body?•8 minutes
4 readings•Total 160 minutes
UN Sustainable Development Goals•30 minutes
Want to know more? Air pollution sources•60 minutes
Want to know more? Counseling patients using the Air Quality Health Index•25 minutes
Want to know more? Emerging hazards and improved understanding of risk•45 minutes
3 assignments•Total 90 minutes
Sources and Composition of Air Pollution•30 minutes
What Happens in the Lungs?•30 minutes
What Happens in the Rest of the Body?•30 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 45 minutes
Delhi – Sources and Solutions•45 minutes
Outdoor air pollution
Module 2•4 hours to complete
Module details
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.
Zorana J. Andersen: Epidemiological Principles of Air Pollution•8 minutes
Zorana J. Andersen: Vulnerable Groups•8 minutes
Zorana J. Andersen: The Global Burden•7 minutes
Steffen Loft: What Can We Do about Outdoor Air Pollution?•8 minutes
1 reading•Total 30 minutes
WHO: Urban Health•30 minutes
4 assignments•Total 120 minutes
Epidemiological Principles of Air Pollution•30 minutes
Vulnerable Groups•30 minutes
The Global Burden•30 minutes
What Can We Do about Outdoor Air Pollution?•30 minutes
2 discussion prompts•Total 75 minutes
What is the burden of air pollution in your country?•45 minutes
What to do in your city?•30 minutes
Indoor air pollution
Module 3•3 hours to complete
Module details
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.
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.
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MU
5·
Reviewed on Apr 19, 2020
thanks sir and madam for giving the awareness about air pollution especially in the east Asian countries like india ,much more interested in studying related courses in the further days....
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CH
5·
Reviewed on Jun 5, 2020
Informative lesson that describes health effects of poor indoor air quality and provides items to consider to improve your own indoor spaces to promote health.
A
AB
5·
Reviewed on Sep 14, 2020
It's an excellent course in which you can know some facts and ideas about what is the great effect of pollution to all of us. That's why we should help one another to save our planet.
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