Epidemiology noun, biol the study of the distribution, effects and causes of diseases in populations, and the means by which they may be treated or prevented, not only including infectious diseases, but also conditions such as heart disease and cancer. epidemiological adj. epidemiologist noun. Etymology: 19c.
Source: Chambers (2013)
Environmental Epidemiology is the study of the effect on human health of physical, biologic, and chemical factors in the external environment, broadly conceived. By examining specific populations or communities exposed to different ambient environments, it seeks to clarify the relationship between physical, biologic or chemical factors and human health.
Source: Committee on Environmental Epidemiology and Toxicology (1991)
Such factors may include:
Air quality
Water quality
Soil properties
Food quality
These factors may be either natural or man-made, and may change according to patterns of:
Climate or weather
Traffic
Industry
Agriculture
Altitude
Geology
Exposure to these environmental factors often varies over space. Patterns of disease also often vary over space. In this course we look at methods for analysing spatial patterns of disease, and how to assess associations with environmental exposures.