Reviews: A Tale of Two (or More) Toxicities: Toxic Exposures: Contested Illnesses and the Environmental Health Movement

The environmental justice movement addresses the fact that people of color and those living in poverty face disproportionately greater environmental risks than the general public because their communities are often targeted to host hazardous facilities, such as landfill sites and industrial plants. In 1991, the first People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit adopted seventeen principles of environmental justice. They are available at: http://www.ejrc.cau.edu/princej.html

See: http://www.hefn.org/

Available at: http://www.who.int/quantifying_ehimpacts/publications/preventingdisease/en/index.html

Landrigan P. Schechter C. Lipton J. Fahs M. , and Schwartz J. . (2002). Environmental Pollutants and Disease in America's Children: Estimates of morbidity, mortality and costs for lead poisoning, asthma, cancer and developmental disabilities. Environmental Health Perspectives 110 (7): 721–228.

Davies K. . (2005). How Much Do Environmental Diseases and Disabilities Cost? Northwest Public Health WF 5–1.

Davies K. . (2006). The Economic Costs of Environmental Diseases and Disabilities. Rachel's Democracy and Health News. Issue 836 (Jan 5, 2006).

See also: Davies K. . (2006). Economic Costs of Childhood Diseases and Disabilities Attributable to Environmental Contaminants in Washington State, USA. EcoHealth 3: 86–94.

In contrast, the Canadian Cancer Society has taken a very strong position on environmental carcinogens stating on its website that “Canadians should not be exposed to cancer-causing substances at home, at work, or in their environment. Wherever possible, exposure to substances that cause cancer should be identified and eliminated by substituting safer alternatives. When elimination is not possible, exposure should be reduced to the lowest possible levels.” See: http://www.cancer.ca/Canada-wide/Prevention/Specific%20environmental%20contaminants.aspx?sc_lang=en