Cancer, the Environment, and Environmental Justice
December 19, 2007 by Brian Butler , John Morelli , Brian Butler | Filed under: Literature Review,The EM Role in Environmental Justice
Tyson, Fredrick, et al. “Cancer, the Environment, and Environmental Justice.” 6th Biennial Symposium on Minorities, the Medically Underserved & Cancer. 83 (1998): 1784-1792. Sept. 30, 2007.Most people want to live long and healthy and with today’s healthcare and technology people can easily achieve this goal, however there are some populations who are at a disadvantage. These populations, such has ethnic and minority groups, statistically suffer from higher mortality rates earlier in life. There is evidence that this may have a significant relationship to their exposure to pollution in the home and workplace. The article begins with a history of environmental justice and its key players. It explains the success of the environmental justice movement and the research initiative that has been prompted based on the discrepancies of whether or not injustice occurs. Along with determining the health impacts from external environmental exposures, the authors describe the relationship of these health problems to genetic predisposition and susceptibility. The article continues to assess regulatory plans and the development of current health policies. Advocacy and community perspectives are then examined to determine how communities are coping with the occurrence of disease and cancer within the community. Finally, based on the information and research brought forth, the authors conclude the presence of higher cancer rates in areas where chronic exposure to pollutants is present. The authors present a good representation of the health defects caused by environmental burdens and its subsequent domination in disadvantaged populations. They suggest positive interactions and partnerships among key players in environmental justice; this includes protection groups, health care professionals, researchers, and federal agencies.