ContamiNation

Informationen zum Autor McKay Jenkins holds degrees from Amherst College, Columbia's Graduate School of Journalism, and Princeton, where he received a Ph.D. in English. He is the author of The Last Ridge , The White Death , and Bloody Falls of the Coppermine . A professor of English, journalism, and environmental humanities at the University of Delaware, Jenkins lives with his wife and two children in Baltimore. Klappentext An investigation into the dangers of the chemicals present in our daily lives! along with practical advice for reducing these toxins in our bodies and homes! from acclaimed journalist McKay Jenkins. A few years ago! journalism professor McKay Jenkins went in for a routine medical exam. What doctors found was not routine at all: a tumor! the size of a navel orange! was lurking in his abdomen. When Jenkins returned to the hospital to have the tumor removed! he was visited by a couple of researchers with clipboards. They had some questions for him. Odd questions. How much exposure had he had to toxic chemicals and other contaminants? Asbestos dust? Vinyl chlorine? Pesticides? A million questions! all about seemingly obscure chemicals. Jenkins! an exercise nut and an enviro-conscious! organic-garden kind of guy! suddenly realized he'd spent his life marinating in toxic stuff! from his wall-to-wall carpeting! to his dryer sheets! to his drinking water. And from the moment he left the hospital! he resolved to discover the truth about chemicals and the "healthy" levels of exposure we encounter each day as Americans. Jenkins spent the next two years digging! exploring five frontiers of toxic exposure-the body! the home! the drinking water! the lawn! and the local box store-and asking how we allowed ourselves to get to this point. He soon learned that the giants of the chemical industry operate virtually unchecked! and a parent has almost no way of finding out what the toy her child is putting in his or her mouth is made of. Most important! though! Jenkins wanted to know what we can do to turn things around. Though toxins may be present in products we all use every day-from ant spray! perfume! and grass seed to shower curtains and! yes! baby shampoo-there are ways to lessen our exposure. ContamiNation is an eye-opening report from the front lines of consumer advocacy. Zusammenfassung An investigation into the dangers of the chemicals present in our daily lives! along with practical advice for reducing these toxins in our bodies and homes! from acclaimed journalist McKay Jenkins. A few years ago! journalism professor McKay Jenkins went in for a routine medical exam. What doctors found was not routine at all: a tumor! the size of a navel orange! was lurking in his abdomen. When Jenkins returned to the hospital to have the tumor removed! he was visited by a couple of researchers with clipboards. They had some questions for him. Odd questions. How much exposure had he had to toxic chemicals and other contaminants? Asbestos dust? Vinyl chlorine? Pesticides? A million questions! all about seemingly obscure chemicals. Jenkins! an exercise nut and an enviro-conscious! organic-garden kind of guy! suddenly realized he'd spent his life marinating in toxic stuff! from his wall-to-wall carpeting! to his dryer sheets! to his drinking water. And from the moment he left the hospital! he resolved to discover the truth about chemicals and the healthy levels of exposure we encounter each day as Americans. Jenkins spent the next two years digging! exploring five frontiers of toxic exposurethe body! the home! the drinking water! the lawn! and the local box storeand asking how we allowed ourselves to get to this point. He soon learned that the giants of the chemical industry operate virtually unchecked! and a parent has almost no way of finding out what the toy her child is putting in his or her mouth is made of. Most...

Auteur

McKay Jenkins holds degrees from Amherst College, Columbia’s Graduate School of Journalism, and Princeton, where he received a Ph.D. in English. He is the author of The Last Ridge, The White Death, and Bloody Falls of the Coppermine. A professor of English, journalism, and environmental humanities at the University of Delaware, Jenkins lives with his wife and two children in Baltimore.

Texte du rabat

An investigation into the dangers of the chemicals present in our daily lives, along with practical advice for reducing these toxins in our bodies and homes, from acclaimed journalist McKay Jenkins.

A few years ago, journalism professor McKay Jenkins went in for a routine medical exam. What doctors found was not routine at all: a tumor, the size of a navel orange, was lurking in his abdomen. When Jenkins returned to the hospital to have the tumor removed, he was visited by a couple of researchers with clipboards. They had some questions for him. Odd questions. How much exposure had he had to toxic chemicals and other contaminants? Asbestos dust? Vinyl chlorine? Pesticides? A million questions, all about seemingly obscure chemicals. Jenkins, an exercise nut and an enviro-conscious, organic-garden kind of guy, suddenly realized he'd spent his life marinating in toxic stuff, from his wall-to-wall carpeting, to his dryer sheets, to his drinking water. And from the moment he left the hospital, he resolved to discover the truth about chemicals and the "healthy" levels of exposure we encounter each day as Americans.

Jenkins spent the next two years digging, exploring five frontiers of toxic exposure-the body, the home, the drinking water, the lawn, and the local box store-and asking how we allowed ourselves to get to this point. He soon learned that the giants of the chemical industry operate virtually unchecked, and a parent has almost no way of finding out what the toy her child is putting in his or her mouth is made of. Most important, though, Jenkins wanted to know what we can do to turn things around. Though toxins may be present in products we all use every day-from ant spray, perfume, and grass seed to shower curtains and, yes, baby shampoo-there are ways to lessen our exposure. ContamiNation is an eye-opening report from the front lines of consumer advocacy.

Échantillon de lecture

**PRAISE FOR
ContamiNation

“A Silent Spring for the human body.”

—Richard Preston, author of The Hot Zone

“Jam-packed with information and not only an invaluable resource for those interested in protecting their loved ones, but a sound investment and a book that will pay health dividends for a lifetime.”

—Robyn O’Brien, author of The Unhealthy Truth and founder of AllergyKids Foundation

“In this wonderfully readable journey of a book, McKay Jenkins illuminates not only the science of everyday toxic compounds but the best ways to manage them in everyday life. Read it and keep it. You’ll be glad you did.”

—Deborah Blum, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The Poisoner’s Handbook

“McKay Jenkins allows the discovery of a tumor in his left hip to lead him—and us—into the world of failed chemical regulations in a story of unflinching courage combined with hardheaded research. It’s chock-full of suspense . . . and footnotes, too.”

—Sandra Steingraber, author of Living Downstream

“In this serious exposé that is surprisingly entertaining and positive, Jenkins uncovers the ubiquity and danger of [everyday] chemicals and offers some solutions, both personal and political.”

—Publishers Weekly, starred review

ALSO BY McKAY JENKINS

Bloody Falls of the Coppermine

The Last Ridge

The White Death

The Peter Matthiessen Reader (editor)

The South in Black and White

Prologue

On a crisp fall afternoon a couple of years ago, I went in for a routine two-year checkup with my int…