According to a recent study, as many as nine million people every year are killed around the world as a result of environmental pollution. The total cost to the global economy as a result of this pollution is estimated to be around $4.6 trillion per year, resulting from health care costs and other expenses caused by unmitigated pollution. While Africa is the hardest hit region in the world, there are still many places in America where people are sickened and killed by pollution every year.
What is Environmental Pollution?
Environmental pollution refers to any situation where the air, water, or land has been contaminated by substances that have toxic or dangerous effects. These include things such as smoke from factories, which often contain toxic chemicals that are harmful for people to breathe, as well as toxic runoff from industrial processes. In addition to the harm this often causes to animals and plants, human beings may be directly harmed by exposure to these toxins.
How Does Environmental Pollution Hurt People?
The number of ways that environmental pollution can hurt people are as varied as the number of pollutants that exist. For example, many types of pollutants are carcinogenic, meaning they can cause cancer in people who are exposed to them. Meanwhile, air pollution is often particularly toxic for the lungs, causing asthma and other breathing problems in people exposed to them, while water pollution can slowly poison people when they drink or bathe in contaminated water.
What Kinds of Environmental Pollution Are Most Deadly?
While the study notes that some types of contaminants have been significantly lessened, two particular types of pollution are noted as being especially problematic in the past few years: air pollution and heavy metal poisoning. The increase in deaths related to air pollution is the result of increasing industrialization, which exposes more people to toxic fumes from industrial plants. Meanwhile, the heavy metal toxicity comes from industrial processes that poison the water and ground with lead, mercury, and other similarly dangerous substances. Even when they do not kill people, heavy metals can leave victims (especially children) with long-term health problems that may follow them for the rest of their lives.
What Should You Do If You Have Been Hurt By Pollution?
If you live in an area that suffers from environmental pollution of any type, you may be able to seek compensation from those responsible. However, to understand what options you have available to you, it is best to consult with a lawyer that has experience handling environmental contamination cases. They can go over your case with you, and help you to create a legal strategy to help you get the justice you deserve.
Williams Cedar is a law firm dedicated to helping clients with personal injury, environmental law, and civil rights cases. We specialize in assisting clients who have been injured due to exposure to environmental toxins, including veterans and their loved ones. If you need legal assistance due to toxic exposure or other related matters, please give us a call at our New Jersey and Pennsylvania offices at (215) 557-0099, or visit our contact page.