Proving individual illness from pollution is nearly impossible even in clear-cut cases

Evidence

Such statistics can only be considered suggestive; even under the most clear-cut and infamous circumstances, such as Love Canal or veterans’ exposure to Agent Orange, it is extraordinarily difficult to conclusively connect the disease of any one individual to a specific chemical or contaminant. Still, given how many Chamorros can reel off long lists of relatives afflicted by cancer, it is easy to understand why so many are concerned about environmental damage on tropical islands—especially since, with the exception of the military’s presence, these islands have largely remained untouched by industrial pollution. — David Vine, Base Nation_ How U.S. Military Bases…, 425

Categorization

• SHARE: For someone who works on toxic tort or environmental law, this claim about the evidentiary difficulty even at Love Canal is a strong summarizing point.
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — David Vine, Base Nation_ How U.S. Military Bases…, 425
• XREF: connects to: Treating symptoms without addressing underlying causes cannot restore a system. — Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom,…, 293