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The hazard identification step of environmental risk assessment is meant to answer the question, “Is exposure X a cause of human health outcome Y?” Answering this question involves evaluation of a body of research, often including conflicting results. In this course, students will discuss and practice evidence evaluation, using different types of evidence (human epidemiology, animal experiments, mechanistic data), and various methods for evidence synthesis (systematic review, meta-analysis) and evaluation (e.g., risk-of-bias tools). Determination of an overall weight-of-evidence for a particular hazard will also be discussed. Through case studies, students will consider strengths and limitations of evidence, the types of biases that may be present, and how differences in interpretation may occur.

College/Department: Dornsife School of Public Health
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit