The impact of the environment on human health is of growing concern to the public, politicians and public health practitioners. Epidemiology offers a way of investigating and measuring potential hazards, from local sources of pollution to global climate changes. It allows real effects to be distinguished from chance associations. This book describes the methods available for public health practitioners to enable investigations to be carried out and how findings should be interpreted to ensure that the most appropriate policies are adopted. The book examines: • Air pollution • Clusters of cases of ill-health • Radiation and hazardous waste • Water and health • Climate change

Table of Contents:
PART I: CLUSTERS Chapter 1 Investigation of a putative disease cluster Chapter 2 Geographical analysis of an industrial hazard Chapter 3 Analysis and interpretation of a single site cluster PART II: AIR POLLUTION Chapter 4 Air pollution - time series studies Chapter 5 Air pollution - geographical studies PART III: RADIATION AND HAZARDOUS WASTE Chapter 6 Ionizing radiation Chapter 7 Non-ionizing radiation Chapter 8 Hazardous waste and congenital anomalies PART IV: WATER AND HEALTH Chapter 9 Water and health - A world water crisis? Chapter 10 Water and health - waste water use in agriculture PART V: CLIMATE CHANGE Chapter 11 Climate change 1 - principles Chapter 12 Climate change 2 - extreme weather events Chapter 13 Climate change 3 - vector-borne disease PART VI: EPIDEMIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE Chapter 14 Reviewing epidemiological evidence Chapter 15 Emerging trends Chapter 16 Reference articles Appendix 1 Clustering around a point source Appendix 2 Health guidelines for use of wastewater in agriculture and aquaculture Appendix 3 Epidemiological formulae Glossary Index