Abstract

The negative impact of hazardous waste on public health is a growing global problem. Exposure to toxic waste is associated with numerous serious physical health problems, compromised intellectual development, mental illness and reduced personal well-being. This comprehensive analysis summarizes current epidemiological findings on the relationship of hazardous waste exposure to a wide range of physical illnesses and it also explores the pathways through which random exposure to toxic substances affects intellectual development in children and adults' mental health and perceived quality of life. The relationships are interpreted through the lens of sustainable societal development and environmental health. Regional differences and similarities of the physical and mental health consequences of toxic waste exposure are discussed using studies from the United States, Europe, Africa, and Latin America.