Public health issues occur in every country and can affect any social class or any walk of life. Whether it be dangerous toxins that float around because of waste being put in unprotected or unauthorized, or things we bring on ourselves such as obesity, numerous things can affect the health of an entire population. One event that has had dangerous implications on society is the Love Canal near a community in Niagara Falls, New York which has had serious repercussions for the people living there. First, we will break down what the Love Canal is exactly and what happened there to make it dangerous, as well as future implications it could have. Then we will look at the five different toxins, and what each of their impacts are on the environment and on the people, that would breathe them in or interact with them near the Love Canal. The Love Canal is a major public health issue that has had a negative impact on our …show more content…
In the United States, benzene is one of the most used chemicals in terms of product manufacturing. Benzene is common in everyday life; however, extreme exposure creates long term health concerns. Per the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Benzene works by causing cells not to work correctly. For example, it can cause bone marrow not to produce enough red blood cells, which can lead to anemia. Also, it can damage the immune system by changing blood levels of antibodies and causing the loss of white blood cells.” (CDC, 2013) The extend of benzene poisoning depends on length of exposure, preexisting medical conditions, route, and amount. At the Love Canal, there was over 6,900 tons of chlorobenzenes buried. Acute effects due to benzene found at the Love Canal included narcosis and skin irritation. Along with acute effects, chronic effects were acute leukemia, aplastic anemia, pancytopenia, chronic lymphatic leukemia, and