Public Health Aspects of Toxic Chemical Disposal Sites

Upton, Arthur C.; Kneip, T.J.; Toniolo, Paolo

doi:10.1146/annurev.pu.10.050189.000245

Cited by 41 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 28 publications

(42 reference statements)

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“…A cross-sectional study (9) reported an increased prevalence of seizures, learning problems, hyperactivity, eye irritation, skin rashes, abdominal pain, and incontinence in children living close to the Love Canal site compared to controls from other areas, as reported by the parents of the children. It has been noted in previous reviews (1,25) waste problem, when media and public interest were high, and people were being evacuated. This makes it likely that the results were biased by differential reporting of health problems.…”

Section: Epidemiologic Studies On Health Effects Of Landfill Sitesmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…Single-site studies have examined a vast range of possible health outcomes, often without a specific disease hypothesis being proposed a priori. Such "fishing expeditions" are thought to be of less scientific value than studies that start with a clear hypothesis (1). Including these fishing expeditions in evaluating the consistency of findings across multiple studies is important nevertheless when assessing evidence for health risks.…”

Section: Epidemiologic Studies On Health Effects Of Landfill Sitesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Studies on the health effects of landfill sites have been carried out mainly in North America and existing reviews focus entirely on this literature (1,2). Recent publications of large studies both in and outside North America warrant an update of evidence presented in previous reviews.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Health effects of residence near hazardous waste landfill sites: a review of epidemiologic literature.

Vrijheid

2000

Environ Health Perspect

230

110

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This review evaluates current epidemiologic literature on health effects in relation to residence near landfill sites. Increases in risk of adverse health effects (low birth weight, birth defects, certain types of cancers) have been reported near individual landfill sites and in some multisite studies, and although biases and confounding factors cannot be excluded as explanations for these findings, they may indicate real risks associated with residence near certain landfill sites. A general weakness in the reviewed studies is the lack of direct exposure measurement. An increased prevalence of self-reported health symptoms such as fatigue, sleepiness, and headaches among residents near waste sites has consistently been reported in more than 10 of the reviewed papers. It is difficult to conclude whether these symptoms are an effect of direct toxicologic action of chemicals present in waste sites, an effect of stress and fears related to the waste site, or an effect of reporting bias. Although a substantial number of studies have been conducted, risks to health from landfill sites are hard to quantify. There is insufficient exposure information and effects of low-level environmental exposure in the general population are by their nature difficult to establish. More interdisciplinary research can improve levels of knowledge on risks to human health of waste disposal in landfill sites. Research needs include epidemiologic and toxicologic studies on individual chemicals and chemical mixtures, well-designed single-and multisite landfill studies, development of biomarkers, and research on risk perception and sociologic determinants of ill health.

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Section: Epidemiologic Studies On Health Effects Of Landfill Sitesmentioning

confidence: 95%

Section: Epidemiologic Studies On Health Effects Of Landfill Sitesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Health effects of residence near hazardous waste landfill sites: a review of epidemiologic literature.

Vrijheid

2000

Environ Health Perspect

230

110

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“…("Perspectives," 1990, p. 17) Hazardous chemicals and their disposal present a major environmental challenge to society. According to Sandra Lee of the Environmental Protection Agency (cited in Upton, Kneip, & Toniolo, 1989), there are approximately 30,000 toxic chemical waste disposal sites that may pose a threat to public health in the United States, and the number is still growing . In their review on the public health aspects of toxic chemical disposal sites, Upton et al concluded that the sites are a source of potential risk to the health of a large segment of the population.…”

Section: Risk Assessment and Risk Perceptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are people acting irrationally? Understanding public concerns about environmental threats.

Wandersman¹,

Hallman²

1993

American Psychologist

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News stories about environmental events illustrate public concerns about environmental policy and regulations. Increasingly, public perceptions of risk and fear of cancer are influencing the development of public policy regarding the environment. Policymakers have often regarded these public concerns as irrational. The purpose of this article is to describe how psychological research can be used to understand the public's concerns about environmental threats and to discuss the "irrationality" of these concerns. Examples are drawn from research on perceived risk and fear of cancer, and roles are suggested for psychology and psychologists in informing environmental policymaking.

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“…media (41). In addition, the routes of exposure likely to occur for the gaseous or particle laden contaminants distributed across and within an unremediated area.…”

Section: Hazardous Waste Measurements: An Examplementioning

confidence: 99%

Measurement methods for human exposure analysis.

Lioy

1995

Environ Health Perspect

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The general methods used to complete measurements of human exposures are identified and illustrations are provided for the cases of indirect and direct methods used for exposure analysis. The application of the techniques for external measurements of exposure, microenvironmental and personal monitors, are placed in the context of the need to test hypotheses concerning the biological effects of concern. The linkage of external measurements to measurements made in biological fluids is explored for a suite of contaminants. This information is placed in the context of the scientific framework used to conduct exposure assessment. Examples are taken from research on volatile organics and for a large scale problem: hazardous waste sites. -Environ Health Perspect 103(Suppl 3): 35-44 (1995)

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Public Health Aspects of Toxic Chemical Disposal Sites

Cited by 41 publications

References 28 publications

Health effects of residence near hazardous waste landfill sites: a review of epidemiologic literature.

Health effects of residence near hazardous waste landfill sites: a review of epidemiologic literature.

Are people acting irrationally? Understanding public concerns about environmental threats.

Measurement methods for human exposure analysis.

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