Transformation of occupational hygiene in to exposure science; Adjusting training and learning programs to meet 21st century needs

摘要

Despite the similarity between the definitions of exposure science and occupational hygiene (OH), apparently the latter field of expertise operates somewhat isolated from the first. Since in occupational settings mostly the exposure emanates from near-field sources, it is expected that OH would focus on understanding the underlying emission, transmission and immission processes to control exposures. Unfortunately, triggered by South African regulations, OH practitioners focus more on exposure and compliance measurements rather than exposure control. Moreover, risk assessment is in most cases to limited to a simple comparison of the exposure level with the occupational exposure limit. Consequently, Teaching & Learning programmes for OH should play an important role to provide OHs with a more holistic view with regard to exposure and risks , e.g. the exposome perspective. Recently, the School of Public Health of the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg launched its MSc Exposure Science programme targeted on OHs and Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs). It is 2.5 years part-time course-research programme aiming to prepare OHs and EHPs meeting 21st-century demands with regard to risk assessment and -management. The central part of the course part of the programme consists of knowledge, understanding and applying the principles of exposure science. Students are taught in source-receptor approaches to understand occupational, consumer and residential exposures and associated health-risks. In addition to core courses such as exposure and risk assessment methods, stressor-induced heath-outcomes, supportive courses are amongst others, computational exposure assessment, transmission and transformation of stressors and selection and implementation of exposure controls. To emphasize and demonstrate the need for understanding the processes resulting in exposure, the research component will be focused on the development of tailor-made effective and efficient exposure control interventions.