Publishers Weekly
09/05/2022
Journalist Simon (Plight of the Living Dead) reveals in this alarming study how microplastics have invaded Earth’s ecosystems and the human body. The tiny particles of eroding plastic originate in such ubiquitous objects as cars, clothes, and product packaging, and can be found everywhere “from the depths of the Mariana Trench to the tippy top of Mount Everest and every place in between.” Simon explains the process of plastic erosion, noting, for instance, that a single load of laundry flushes “between 91,000 and 138,000 microfibers” into wastewater treatment facilities, and how container ships shed microplastics into the ocean that contaminate seafood intended for human consumption. A major health concern, Simon writes, stems from the from endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in plastics that “make hormones go haywire, even in low concentrations.” Simon offers some solid solutions such as microfiber filters on washing machines, the use of more sustainable materials in clothing manufacturing, and in general reducing society’s dependence on plastic (after all, he notes, “the microplastic crisis is the macroplastic crisis”). This is a lucid, distressing look at a growing environmental concern. Agent: David Fugate, LaunchBooks Literary. (Oct.)
The Verona Press
"From the bottom of the ocean to the heights of Mount Everest, the author somehow manages to tell the story of this pervasive poison with engaging storytelling and powerful visual imagery. A single-use plastic bag will never look the same."
San Francisco Chronicle
Journalist Matt Simon’s urgent new book A Poison Like No Other: How Microplastics Corrupted Our Planet and Our Bodies is classified as environmental science but could comfortably be labeled as horror… densely reported; nearly every sentence is a harrowing, footnoted stat... isn’t necessarily a fun read. But it is unforgettable.
Rebecca Altman
"Keeping up with the new science on microplastics is a full-time job for specialists. Thank goodness for Simon, who helps the rest of us understand the state of the science and what’s at stake. This is a growing problem, and this book is a timely snapshot taken at a critical moment in the history of plastic pollution."
Danielle Venton
"Fascinating dive into a ubiquitous but under-the-radar pollutant. This book will change how you look at everything: your baby’s toys, your favorite pants, and climate change policy. Throughout, Simon's jaunty writing will keep a wry smile on your face."
Megan Molteni
"An authoritative, unflinching account of how plastics built the modern world, then contaminated every corner of it. Simon is a sharp guide to the science of this slow-moving, often invisible catastrophe, the consequences of which are only just now beginning to be understood. This book disturbs, provokes, and delights. It is an urgent read."
Treehugger - Lloyd Alter
"Essential...shocking...Reading this book will fundamentally change your own relationship with plastic."
Washington Independent Review of Books
"Looks at how [plastics] all went wrong...It’s an important book but a hard one to read..."
Booklist
Informed, utterly blindsiding account.
Booklist (starred review)
Informed, utterly blindsiding account.”
Kirkus Reviews
2022-08-23
A science journalist for Wired issues an urgent call to action aimed at curbing the introduction of microplastics into the environment.
As Simon explains, microplastics are pieces of plastic smaller than 5 mm, approximately the size of a pencil eraser, and they can be found everywhere, from the depths of the oceans to the highest mountaintop. From our first sip of to-go coffee in the morning to our drive home from work in the evening, we are continually dumping microplastics into the environment and, ultimately, into our bodies. Microplastics can contain up to 10,000 different chemicals, and many of these chemicals can pose potential health risks. According to one study, preparing baby formula in plastic bottles disinfected with steam can expose “an infant to an additional 660,000 microplastics by the time they’re a year old.” When plastics break down in the environment, the pieces get smaller and smaller but never truly disappear. Scientists are in the early stages of exploring this issue, so the full extent of the problem is not yet known. However, according to the studies Simon presents, ingredients in plastics have been linked to various illnesses and conditions, including depression, sexual dysfunction, and cancer, among others. Further, Simon contends, plastic pollution is an often overlooked contributor to climate change. Throughout the book, the author presents evidence obtained from his travels with research scientists studying the negative effects of microplastics. The evidence is clear: The oceans are growing more infested with microplastics, and they have become a fundamental component of the air we breathe. Microplastics also show up at all points in the food chain, and humans “are at the very end of that chain.” Even though “all the pieces of plastic great and small are out there for good,” writes the author, “we can at least turn down the tap.”
A convincing treatment of a subject that will remain relevant for years to come.
