Role of Epidemiology in Environmental Health Research

The application of epidemiology to the study of environmental exposures is key to validating the models used in predicting hazards and can characterize the actual and potential health effects of certain exposures. Epidemiology in environmental health research is inherently interdisciplinary that encompasses classical epidemiology, molecular biology, social epidemiology, behavioral science, health disparities, environmental justice, and toxicology. By examining specific populations or communities exposed to different environmental factors, environmental epidemiology seeks to clarify the relationship between the various components of such an environment on human health. Generally, biomarkers can also be studied in animal models to inform environmental epidemiology studies. Exposures occur months or even years before health conditions become apparent, and linking exposure to disease becomes complex. Biomarkers can facilitate this link by measuring residues and indicators of past exposures or their transient or persistent biological effects on the body.