The world is full of potential dangers that we are often unaware of. Sometimes, things that seem like errant health complaints can actually be the result of exposure to what are called environmental toxins. These include a variety of unpleasant substances that we come into contact with in the course of our daily lives. From tainted drinking water at one’s place of employment causing gastrointestinal issues, or a leaky furnace causing a homeowner headaches, environmental toxins are a real threat.
What Is Environmental Illness?
Environmental illness is a blanket term that refers to any number of different health complaints with roots in exposure to an environmental toxin. Environmental illness can range from mild to severe and exposure can occur in the home, on the job, or even regionally. While many environmental illnesses are more irritating than dangerous, there is potential of severe, long-term health risks associated with continued exposure to certain environmental toxins.
What Are the Symptoms?
The symptoms of this can be very widely varied. From things like headaches and rashes, to more serious issues like paralysis and respiratory problems, the potential symptoms from environmental illness are incredibly varied. Some of the most common causes of environmental illness, black mold and unsafe water, display symptoms similar to those of common illnesses. If you and those in your household suffer from chronic allergies, you should have your home inspected for mold. Chronic flu-like symptoms could indicate the presence of unclean drinking water, according to an expert from Brothers Plumbing Ltd. If you suspect your drinking water may be unsafe, have it tested immediately—contaminated water could lead to serious health complications.
Who Is At Risk?
Anyone can potentially be at risk for an environmental illness. Those whose jobs or homes leave them exposed to any number of well-known environmental contaminants will be at an increased risk for an environmental illness. Workers in mines, heavy industry, who are exposed to chemicals, and more, will be at a much higher risk of health problems that result from long-term exposure to environmental toxins.
Long-Term Implications
We all know of “black lung” and other types of diseases that notoriously effect those from certain industries and vocations, the number of different dangerous chemicals we are exposed to has dramatically increased in recent years, and the long-term effects of some of these chemicals, like asbestos, have only become well known after workers began to suffer from the related health problems.
Whether it be exposure on the job or in the home, long-term exposure to dangerous environmental toxins can cause a wide variety of potentially negative health effects. Being aware of the potential dangers, risk factors, and symptoms, can better help one protect themselves from potential dangers, or even identify the root cause of a lingering health complaint. Environmental illness is a general term for health complaints associated with exposure to certain environmental toxins, and taking heed of the information provided here is a way to stay in the best of health possible.
