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 Contributors: Mike Ahern, Ben Armstrong, Araceli Busby, Pat Doyle, Shakoor Hajat, Sari Kovats, Paul Wilkinson.

Table of Contents:
Overview Section 1: Clusters Investigation of a putative disease cluster Geographical analysis of an industrial hazard Analysis and interpretation of a single site cluster Section 2: Air pollution Air pollution - time series studies Air pollution - geographical studies Section 3: Radiation and hazardous waste Ionizing radiation Non-ionizing radiation Hazardous waste and congenital anomalies Section 4: Water and health Water and health - A world water crisis? Water and health - waste water use in agriculture Section 5: Climate change Climate change 1 - principles Climate change 2 - extreme weather events Climate change 3 - vector-borne disease Section 6: Epidemiological evidence Reviewing epidemiological evidence Emerging trends Reference articles Clustering around a point source Health guidelines for use of wastewater in agriculture and aquaculture Epidemiological formulae Glossary Index