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More copies of this ISBNThis title in other editionsThe Body Toxic: How the Hazardous Chemistry of Everyday Things Threatens Our Health and Well-Beingby Nena Baker
Awards2009 Gold Nautilus Award
Staff Pick
Listen up, America, because this is a wake-up call. The Body Toxic sheds light on the toxic threats we encounter daily in toys, clothes, cosmetics, cookware, and more. The harmful effects of everyday products on our health are staggering, and Baker's eye-opening report is essential reading. Synopses & ReviewsPublisher Comments:We are running a collective chemical fever that we cannot break. Everyone everywhere now carries a dizzying array of chemical contaminants, the by-products of modern industry and innovation that contribute to a host of developmental deficits and health problems in ways just now being understood. These toxic substances, unknown to our grandparents, accumulate in our fat, bones, blood, and organs as a consequence of womb-to-tomb exposure to industrial substances as common as the products that contain them. Almost everything we encounter — from soap to soup cans and computers to clothing — contributes to a chemical load unique to each of us. Scientists studying the phenomenon refer to it as “chemical body burden,” and in The Body Toxic, the investigative journalist Nena Baker explores the many factors that have given rise to this condition — from manufacturing breakthroughs to policy decisions to political pressure to the demands of popular culture. While chemical advances have helped raise our standard of living, making our lives easier and safer in many ways, there are costs to these conveniences that chemical companies would rather consumers never knew about. Baker draws back the curtain on this untold impact and assesses where we go from here.
Review:"This is a chilling look at the questionable safety of nearly everything we store food in, drink from, wear, walk on, rest on and drive. Chemicals used to make everything from water-repellant jackets and flame retardants to unbreakable plastics used for food storage are building up in our bodies and the environment with possible far-reaching consequences, says journalist Baker. She focuses on 'endocrine disruptors' that alter hormone levels, even in fetuses. Individual chapters consider the weed killer atrazine; phthalates found in many cosmetics; and perfluorooctanoic acid, used in nonstick and stain-repellant coatings. Lab studies have linked these chemicals to cancer, diabetes, obesity and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, among other problems. Baker blasts both Democrats and Republicans in Congress for the 'toothless' Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976, which leaves testing and reporting results to the manufacturer. But the companies rely on skilled public relations firms to attack scientists who raise safety concerns. The current pro-business administration also takes some licks from Baker. Although she offers suggestions for reducing exposure to these chemicals, 'No place — and no one — is immune.'" Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)
Review:“Baker is neither obsessive nor alarmist. She calmly presents two decades worth of critical research into the science and industries behind leading chemical culprits such as phthalates, pesticides, and PFOAs. In an appendix, she outlines the reasonable, manageable steps she's taken to detox her own home, body, and lifestyle.” Plenty
Review:"Baker has written an illuminating, consumer-oriented book that sifts through some of the latest findings about the dangers of everyday chemicals.... Throughout The Body Toxic, Baker gives consumers information to help them make 'informed decisions,' and she includes a list of a dozen steps she has taken to minimize her exposure to toxic chemicals." Seth Shulman, The Washington Post
Synopsis:We are running a collective chemical fever that we cannot break. Everyone everywhere now carries a dizzying array of chemical contaminants, the by-products of modern industry and innovation that contribute to a host of developmental deficits and health problems in ways just now being understood. These toxic substances, unknown to our grandparents, accumulate in our fat, bones, blood, and organs as a consequence of womb to tomb exposure to industrial substances as common as the products that contain them. Almost everything we encounter — from soap to soup cans and computers to clothing — contributes to a chemical load unique to each of us. Scientists studying the phenomenon refer to it as “chemical body burden,” and in The Body Toxic, the investigative journalist Nena Baker explores the many factors that have given rise to this condition. Synopsis:We are running a collective chemical fever that we cannot break. Everyone everywhere now carries a dizzying array of chemical contaminants, the by-products of modern industry and innovation, that contribute to a host of developmental deficits and health problems in ways just now being understood. These toxic substances, unknown to our grandparents, accumulate in our fat, bones, blood, and organs as a consequence of womb-to-tomb exposure to industrial substances as common as the products that contain them. Almost everything we encounter--from soap to soup cans, computers to clothing--contributes to a chemical load unique to each of us. Scientists studying the phenomenon refer to it as chemical body burden, and in The Body Toxic, the investigative journalist Nena Baker explores the many factors that have given rise to this condition. Nena Baker is a former staff writer for The Arizona Republic, The Oregonian, and United Press International. Her award-winning investigation of Nike's Indonesian factories led to numerous improvements for workers.
A Plenty Magazine Top 10 Green Book of the Year We are running a collective chemical fever that we cannot break. Everyone everywhere now carries a dizzying array of chemical contaminants, the by-products of modern industry and innovation that contribute to a host of developmental deficits and health problems in ways just now being understood. These toxic substances, unknown to our grandparents, accumulate in our fat, bones, blood, and organs as a consequence of womb-to-tomb exposure to industrial substances as common as the products that contain them. Almost everything we encounter--from soap to soup cans and computers to clothing--contributes to a chemical load unique to each of us. Scientists studying the phenomenon refer to it as chemical body burden, and in The Body Toxic, the investigative journalist Nena Baker explores the many factors that have given rise to this condition--from manufacturing breakthroughs to policy decisions to political pressure to the demands of popular culture. While chemical advances have helped raise our standard of living, making our lives easier and safer in many ways, there are costs to these conveniences that chemical companies would rather consumers never knew about. Baker draws back the curtain on this untold impact and assesses where we go from here. This important book will make it impossible to ignore the inconvenient truths about products we use everyday. Be prepared to be amazed at what is known and not known about thousands of chemicals that are used in our clothes, our homes, our pizza boxes, and just about everything else.--Diana Zuckerman, Ph.D., President, National Research Center for Women & Families In Body Toxic, Baker begins with a visit to Commonweal, a Marin County environmental health institute, to explore some biomonitoring studies, which ascertain the numbers and types of foreign chemicals in humans. She then explores the implications of humans harboring so many substances, including increased risk of 'cancers of the breast, testicles, and brain; lowered sperm count; early puberty; endometriosis and other defects of the female reproductive system; diabetes; obesity; attention deficit disorder; asthma; and autism.' It's a frightening list, and Baker acknowledges that the scientific evidence for each of the links between specific chemicals and diseases varies; 'what's extraordinary is that we know so little about the risks posed by their inherent toxic properties.' Citing a disaster such as the Bhopal, India, toxic release in 1984, she continues, 'Unless something goes terribly wrong, we barely note the activities beneath the smokestacks at more than 13,300 chemical plants around the United States.' The bulk of Baker's book contains case studies of various chemicals pesticides, phthalates in cosmetics, Bisphenol A in plastics, PBDE flame retardants and more. Her profile of UC Berkeley biologist Tyrone Hayes is particularly engaging, for he is not only a star researcher and teacher but also an impassioned advocate who was opposed by the chemical industry after his work on pesticides showed scary impacts on frogs.--Steve Heilig, San Francisco Chronicle Illuminating . . . Throughout The Body Toxic, Baker gives consumers information to help them make 'informed decisions.'--Seth Shulman, The Washington Post Book World Powerful . . . An eye-opening expose.--John Marshall, Seattle Post-Intelligencer Baker is neither obsessive nor alarmist. She calmly presents two decades' worth of critical research into the science and industries behind leading chemical culprits such as phthalates, pesticides, and PFOAs. In an appendix, she outlines the reasonable, manageable steps she's taken to detox her own home, body, and lifestyle.--Plenty This is it: The book that finally chronicles the chemical invaders tainting us and the environment . . . Any one of the chapters focusing on particular toxins (in weed killers, beauty products, cookware and computers) deserves an outraged movement.--E, The Environmental Magazine Nena Baker . . . gets her blood tested and finds out she's positive for more than three dozen toxic substances--including DDT (banned 36 years ago). This opens her investigation into our country's long history of better living through chemistry, and the price we're paying now.--O, The Oprah Magazine I admit this is a scary book with lots of reasons for alarm. But it is an important one because Baker's is one of the growing number of voices shouting for reform and environmental cleanup. Baker does offer hope in the form of things they are doing in Europe to mitigate the damage. Moreover she also has a number of suggestions for avoiding, or limiting, our exposure to the more toxic chemicals we know about.--Donna Chavez, SheKnows Congress recently handed a partial win to parents and consumer advocates who want to ban About the AuthorNena Baker is a former staff writer for The Arizona Republic and the Oregonian. Her award-winning investigation of Nike's Indonesian factories led to numerous improvements for workers. www.thebodytoxic.com What Our Readers Are SayingAdd a comment for a chance to win!Average customer rating based on 1 comment:
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