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Chemicals and Health

A concise and accessible introduction to how everyday chemicals interact with our health—great for newcomers to public health and risk analysis.

access

Lifetime

level

Beginner

certificate

Certificate of completion

language

English

What will you learn in Chemicals and Health Course

  • Understand how chemicals in our environment and everyday products enter our bodies and influence our health.

  • Learn the basics of toxicology—how chemicals behave in the body and how they may impact your well-being.

  • Explore biomonitoring: find out how health professionals track chemical exposure in humans using lab methods.

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  • Learn ways we assess the health risks of chemicals and use that knowledge to shape public health policy.

  • Dive into real-world scenarios through case studies—like tobacco smoke, arsenic in food, drinking water safety, and worker exposure in nanotechnology.

Program Overview

Module 1: Welcome & Introduction

⌛ 2 hours

  • Topics: Course overview. What chemicals are and how we’re exposed. Chemical production and regulation.

  • Hands-on: Peer assessment to gauge your starting understanding. Watch videos and review readings.

Module 2: Toxicology — What do chemicals do in our bodies?

⌛ 1 hour

  • Topics: Mechanisms of toxicology, toxicokinetics, and toxicodynamics.

  • Hands-on: Take the quiz covering content from Modules 1 and 2.

Module 3: Biomonitoring — How do we measure chemicals in our bodies and why?

⌛ 47 minutes

  • Topics: CDC’s biomonitoring efforts and local laboratory data on chemical exposure.

  • Hands-on: Watch videos and participate in a discussion prompt.

Module 4: Health Effects of Chemicals — How do we figure out their impact?

⌛ 1 hour

  • Topics: How scientists assess health effects. The role of risk assessment in decision-making.

  • Hands-on: Watch lectures and complete a quiz on Modules 3 and 4.

Module 5: Chemicals Policy — What do we do about chemicals & health?

⌛ 2 hours

  • Topics: Evolution of the Toxic Substances Control Act. Air quality regulations.

  • Hands-on: Peer-reviewed writing assignment to reflect on chemical policy.

Module 6: Case Studies

⌛ 1 hour

  • Topics: Real-world examples—tobacco smoke, arsenic in food, water safety, nanotechnology, worker health. Course wrap-up.

  • Hands-on: Watch engaging case study videos and complete the course.

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Job Outlook

  • Ideal for those entering public health, environmental health, or health policy fields, with a focus on chemical exposure and risk management.

  • Useful for early-career toxicologists, chemists, or forensic scientists who want a stronger understanding of how chemicals affect health.

  • Helpful for professionals involved in policy-making, community health programs, or health regulation.

9.8Expert Score
Highly Recommendedx
A clear and approachable beginner course that gives you a solid overview of how chemicals impact health—from exposure and measurement to policy and real-life cases.
Value
9.5
Price
9.3
Skills
9.8
Information
9.7
PROS
  • Short yet comprehensive: 6 modules, about 10 hours total, manageable at ~1 week of effort.
  • Beginner-friendly, with no prerequisite experience needed.
  • High satisfaction: average rating of 4.7/5 from over 1,300 learners, with 98% recommending it.
CONS
  • Primarily an introductory course—advanced learners may find it too basic.
  • Focuses on foundational tools and examples mostly from the U.S.—you may need more regional or advanced insights depending on your goal.

Specification: Chemicals and Health

access

Lifetime

level

Beginner

certificate

Certificate of completion

language

English

Course | Career Focused Learning Platform
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