Superfund Sites and Skin Disease

The "Superfund" program was established in 1980 to manage the cleanup of hazardous waste sites across the United States. Proximity to these sites has been associated with an increased risk of autoimmune, inflammatory, and neoplastic skin conditions. Climate change poses a growing threat as warming temperatures and natural disasters threaten to destabilize waste sites. Vulnerable populations such as low-income and minority groups are more likely to live near a Superfund site, highlighting the environmental health disparities linked to pollutants and toxic exposures. Further research is warranted to better understand the mechanistic role that environmental toxins play in cutaneous disease development.