What Health Hazards Are Associated In Living Near A Waste Landfill Site?

People living a few kilometers away from a sanitary landfill have their health on the line since being around garbage can harm a person's body. A recent research said that lung diseases are common in areas like this.

According to Science Daily, a study published on the International Journal of Epidemiology disclosed that people who live about five kilometers away from a landfill are at risk of getting ailments related to garbage. Authors from Italy studied the possible health effects of nine landfills in the region of Laizon during the period of 1996 to 2008.

Pollutants causing deaths

The researchers found out that there was a big link between the pollutants emitted from landfills and the number of people dying due to lung cancer and other respiratory diseases. The victims in this case are mostly children with the study recording more than 18,000 deaths.

"The evidence on the health of those living near landfills is still controversial," said co-author Francesca Mataloni. "Most of the published studies only use aggregate health data and do not adjust for social-economic status. We have used a residential cohort approach to attempt to overcome these limitations."

Toxins released in landfills, as per SixWise, can cause different types of cancer like bladder, brain and even leukemia. The environment is also very risky for children and pregnant mothers.

Unhealthy for kids

It was added that the young ones are exposed to unsanitary drinking water. They may also have frequent visits to the hospital because of respiratory diseases and infections. State University of New York Institute for Health and the Environment director Dr. David Carpenter said there is also a high number of asthma cases in areas near landfills.

In addition, Daily Mail explained that babies who are born in areas near these dangerous landfill sites are more prone to having spinal problems and gut disorders which would require surgery. The toxic substances coming out from these sites surely hamper a healthy growth for kids.