Medical aspects of the hazardous waste problem

Journal Article · Wed Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1982 · Am. J. Forensic Med. Pathol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00000433-198212000-00012· OSTI ID:5739688

Ozonoff, D

Although no one knows exactly how much toxic material continues to be released into our environment, most observers believe the amount is substantial. In the last few years, in the state of Massachusetts alone, 22 communities have had their municipal water supplies seriously compromised by chemical contamination, causing alarm and dismay among water users. Nation-wide, public concern has reached the point that in some opinion polls, hazardous waste ranks second only behind inflation as a cause of serious worry. Despite widespread anxiety, shared by public health officials, few studies have shown conclusive evidence of health consequences from toxic materials in the environment. Even in the case of such gross contamination as in the Love Canal area of Niagara Falls, New York, health effects have been difficult to establish. This is partly due to intrusion of the adversary process in cases where liability is involved; it is also a result, however, of inherent technical problems that plague any determination of health hazard. This paper reviews some of these problems, considers some current risk assessment approaches, and touches on medicolegal and regulatory aspects of the hazardous waste problem.

• Research Organization: Environmental Health Section, Boston University School of Public Health, Massachusetts
• OSTI ID: 5739688
• Journal Information: Am. J. Forensic Med. Pathol.; (United States), Vol. 3:4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
HEALTH HAZARDS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WATER POLLUTION
CONTAMINATION
DRINKING WATER
LEGAL ASPECTS
RISK ASSESSMENT
HAZARDS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WATER
560306* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Man- (-1987)
570000 - Health & Safety