This topic - environmentally acquired inheritance - is discussed in this book and I am sure in many, many others. Very good read.
http://www.amazon.com/Survival-Sickest-Medical-Maverick-Discovers/dp/0060889659
The author has a blog, here: http://www.survivalofthesickestthebook.com/blog/
Interesting, thanks. Looks like the author as been ignoring his blog - last entry July 2010.