Synopses & Reviews
Over the last thirty years, we have seen an increase in rates of cancer, neurodegenerative disease, reproductive disorders, and diabetes, particularly in developed countries. At the same time, since the end of World War II approximately 100,000 synthetic chemical molecules have invaded our environment—and our food chain. In
Our Daily Poison, award-winning journalist and documentary filmmaker Marie-Monique Robin investigates the links between these two concerning trends, revealing how corporate interests and our ignorance about these invisible poisons may be costing us our lives.
The result of a rigorous two-year-long investigation that took Robin across three continents (North America, Europe, and Asia), Our Daily Poison documents the many ways in which we encounter a shocking array of chemicals in our everyday lives—from the pesticides that blanket our crops to the additives and plastics that contaminate our food—and their effects on our bodies over time. Gathering as evidence scientific studies, testimonies of international regulatory agencies, and interviews with farm workers suffering from acute chronic poisoning, Robin makes a compelling case for outrage and action.
Review
Praise for the French edition of
Our Daily Poison:
"Its great strength lies in Robins thoroughness and precision, the shocking interplay of data and figures."
Les Inrockuptibles
"Robin tenaciously dissects the system by which our meals have become fatal."
TéléObs
Praise for The World According to Monsanto:
"No one who cares for their freedom and health can afford to ignore this very important book."
Vandana Shiva, author of Earth Democracy and Stolen Harvest
"A truly eye-opening view of how American business-as-usual really works."
Daily Kos
"An alarming and uncompromising investigation."
Le Monde
"Robins outrage is well supported by wide-ranging scientific evidence . . . even lay readers are prodded to wise up and increase their awareness of what has become a serious threat."
Kirkus Reviews
"Terrifying. . . [Robin] conducts her investigation with an Olympian calm and reveals deep structural problems."
LExpress
Review
Praise for Our Daily Poison:
"Terrifying.
[Robin] conducts her investigation with an Olympian calm and reveals deep structural problems."
LExpress
Praise for The World According to Monsanto:
"No one who cares for their freedom and health can afford to ignore this very important book."
Vandana Shiva, author of Earth Democracy and Stolen Harvest
"A truly eye-opening view of how American business-as-usual really works."
Daily Kos
"An alarming and uncompromising investigation."
Le Monde
Synopsis
The past thirty years have seen a dramatic increase in cancer rates, neurodegenerative and reproductive disorders, and diabetes, particularly in developed countries. Since the end of World War II, approximately one hundred thousand synthetic chemical molecules have invaded our environment—and our food chain. In
Our Daily Poison, award–winning journalist and documentary filmmaker Marie–Monique Robin investigates the links between these two trends, revealing how a toxic mix of corporate interests and public ignorance about invisible poisons may be costing us our lives.
The result of a rigorous two–year–long investigation that took Robin across three continents, Our Daily Poison documents the shocking array of chemicals in our every–day lives and their effects on our bodies over time. Moving beyond the substances, Robin also dissects the byzantine, entirely inadequate evaluation and approval systems for chemical products, highlighting the fallacy of the acceptable daily intake” and other regulatory standards for harmful substances.
Our Daily Poison also exposes the chemical industrys lobbying efforts to keep highly toxic products on the market. Drawing on scientific studies, the testimony of international regulatory agencies, and a range of in–depth interviews—from farm workers suffering from acute chronic poisoning to FDA and WHO representatives and to the scientists who develop these compounds—Robin makes a gripping and compelling case for outrage and action.
About the Author
Marie-Monique Robin is an award-winning French journalist and filmmaker. She received the 1995 Albert Londres Prize, awarded to investigative journalists in France. She is the director and producer of over thirty documentaries and investigative reports filmed in Latin America, Africa, Europe, and Asia. She lives outside Paris.
Allison Schein and
Lara Vergnaud hold Master's degrees in French-English Literary Translation from New York University. Both translators live in New York City.