Environmental pathology, the field that deals with the disease caused by exposure to harmful external agents and deficiencies of vital substances, includes all nutritional, infectious, chemical, and physical causes of illness.

Nearly a century ago a few physicians cultivated an interest in diseases that seemed to have strict geographical boundaries ; as a result, a discipline called “geographic pathology” was created.

Geographic pathology was concerned with diseases endemic to certain areas of the world, notably parasitic and infectious diseases that seemed unique to those locales.

A minor component dealt with nutritional disease and a separate discipline covered forensic medicine.

With the discovery that chemical agents are mediators of a variety of tissue changes, and with the recognition that many of these causative agents are environmental contaminants, a component called “occupational disease” was added to the roster.

Finally, disease due to contaminants in the broadest sense was included to constitute the field of “environmental pathology”.

In comparison to all other environmental hazards, the mortality and morbidity rate is extremely high in cases of voluntary intake of tobacco smoke, alcohol (ethanol , ethyl alcohol), and illicit psychoactive drugs.

Almost every type of physician is likely to have extensive experience with diseases related to the intake of these substances.

Radiation, air pollution, and industrial exposures are relatively minor dangers compared to the problems that people willingly bring upon themselves.

Environmental Pathology- Smoking: click here

Cigarette smoking and Cardiovascular Disease : click here

Cigarette smoking and Cancer : click here

Non-Neoplastic Diseases in Smokers : click here

Cigarette Smoking and diseases in Women : click here

IMAGE: Cancer: 1. Lips, tongue and oral cavity ; 2. Larynx ; 3. Lung ; 4. Esophagus ; 5. Pancreas ; 6. Kidney ; 7. Bladder

Non-neoplastic diseases: A. Stroke ; B. Chronic bronchitis and emphysema ; C. Coronary artery atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction ; D. Peptic Ulcer ; E. Decreased birth weight, increased perinatal mortality (eg. abruptio placenta)

Environmental Pathology- Alcoholism (Mechanism of Tissue Injury): click here

Complication of Chronic Alcoholism: click here

IMAGE: Complications of drug addiction:
1. Brain - Overdose ; Withdrawal. 2. Pulmonary - Narcotic lung ; Talc granulomas. 3. Local - Abscesses ; Cellulitis ; Ulcers ; Thrombosed veins. 4. Renal - Glomerulopathy. 5, 6 & 7 - Infections - Bacterial endocarditis ; Viral hepatitis ; AIDS .

Environmental Pathology- Drug Abuse: click here

Environmental Pathology - Iatrogenic Drug Injury: click here

Iatrogenic Drug Injury - Oral contraceptives: click here

Environmental Pathology - Effect of Chemicals: click here

Toxic effect of volatile organic solvents and vapors: click here

Toxic effect of agricultural chemicals: click here

Environmental Pathology - Toxic effect of Metal: click here

Lead Intoxication - click here

IMAGE: Complications of lead intoxication:

A: Lead line (gingival margin) ; B: Encephalopathy (children) ; C: Anemia (decreased erythropoiesis and hemolysis) ; D: Basophilic stippling of RBCs ; E: Renal tubular acidosis (Fanconi's syndrome) ; F: Intestinal (lead) colic. G: Peripheral neuropathy with wrist and foot drop (adults) ;H: Epiphyseal lead deposits (children)

Mercury Exposure - click here

Pneumoconiosis

Asbestosis

Environmental Pathology - Physical Agents : click here

Environmental Pathology-Thermal Regulatory Dysfunction: click

Environmental Pathology - Hypothermia: click here

Environmental Pathology - Hyperthermia: click here

Environmental Pathology- Electrical Burns: click here

Environmental Pathology- Altitude Related Illnesses: click here

Environmental Pathology - Physical Injuries: click here

1. Leukemia - Atom bomb ; Radiologists ; Radiation for ankylosing spondylitis. 2. Breast - Atom bomb ; Local radiation (diagnostic, therapeutic). 3. Angiosarcoma of Liver - Thorium dioxide. 4. Thyroid - Thymic radiation ; Atom bomb. 5. Lung - Uranium miners.6. Skin - Radiologists (fluroscopy). 7.Osteogenic Sarcoma - Radium dial painters.

Environmental Pathology - Radiation : click here

Whole-Body Irradiation: click here

Localized Radiation Injury Associated with Radiotherapy: click here

Radiation and Cancer: click here

Cutaneous lesions after exposure to Radiation: click here