What Medical Conditions Are Caused by Environmental Contamination?

May 26, 2020

Environmental contamination affects more than just the natural environment.  Pollution can have devastating health effects on individuals exposed to toxins in their daily lives. Recognizing the most common medical conditions resulting from environmental contamination is an important step in holding polluters responsible for the harm they cause. Some of the most frequently occurring medical conditions which can develop after exposure to toxins includes cancer, heart problems, and brain tumors.

What Cancers Are Caused by Environmental Contamination?

One of the most widely reported health consequences linked to environmental contamination is the development of cancer. Mesothelioma is an asbestos-related disease and one of the most severe medical conditions that can be caused by pollution, it is a rare form of cancer in the outer lining of the lungs. Each year, almost 3,000 Americans are diagnosed with this deadly disease, which can take years to manifest after the initial exposure to asbestos.

Risks of developing skin cancers, including melanoma, increases with prolonged sun exposure, but also with exposure to environmental pollution. Scientists believe when airborne pollutants deplete the protective ozone layer, individuals are exposed to greater amounts of damaging ultraviolet radiation. Direct skin exposure to other pollutants, including polyaromatic hydrocarbons, such as DMBA, also may lead to the development of some types of skin cancer.

Exposure to miniscule particulate pollutants have been traced to the development of liver cancer, the toxins stimulate the growth of hepatic tumors and low-grade inflammation in some exposure victims. Other types of cancers which can result from environmental contamination include leukemia and cancer of the lung or colon.

Can Environmental Contamination Cause Heart-Related Conditions?

Pollution can contribute to cardiovascular conditions. According to research conducted by the American Heart Association, air pollution is connected to an increased risk of heart disease and fatal cardiovascular disease. Particulate matter pollution can be especially dangerous to individuals who may develop atherosclerosis, triggering acute heart attacks.

What Can Cause Brain Tumors?

Research indicates individuals exposed to certain airborne pollutants face an increased risk of developing brain tumors. Tumors can be cancerous or otherwise harmful to normal brain functioning. The presence of a brain tumor is not the only effect caused by environmental contamination. Many individuals exposed to toxins experience other brain-related deficits, including memory loss, brain inflammation, and cognitive functioning problems.

Other medical conditions related to environmental contamination include hepatitis A, emphysema, and other respiratory illnesses.

How Can you Obtain Compensation?

Individuals suffering from a medical condition resulting from environmental contamination often face additional financial stresses. The costs of ongoing medical treatment, prescription drugs, occupational or physical therapy, and lost wages can be overwhelming for families. Filing a civil lawsuit against those companies responsible for releasing toxic materials into the environment, including the manufacturers, distributors, and marketers of contaminated products, can result in an award of damages.

Millsboro Environmental Lawyers at Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A. Help Victims Obtain Compensation for Illnesses Caused by Environmental Contamination

If you have developed a serious medical condition after being exposed to environmental contamination, we can help you. Our Millsboro environmental lawyers at Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A. help obtain compensation for toxic exposure victims. Contact us online or call us at 302-656-5445 for a free consultation today. Located in Wilmington and Millsboro, Delaware, we serve clients throughout Dover, New Castle County, and Sussex County.