Toxic Nation: The Fight to Save Our Communities from Chemical Contamination

by Fred Setterberg, Lonny Shavelson

Overview

A riveting account of the devastating effects of chemical contamination on people in dozens of communities across America. Examines the political, economic, medical and environmental sides of the toxic contamination issue. Documents the growth of a grassroots movement to demonstrate how communities can take steps to effectively change their lives. Includes fifty photographs.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780471575450
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	08/30/1993
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	6.46(w) x 9.61(h) x 1.18(d)

About the Author

Fred Setterberg and Lonny Shavelson are the authors of Toxic Nation: The Fight to Save Our Communities from Chemical Contamination, published by Wiley.

Table of Contents

Into the Heart of Toxic America.

&‘grave;The Whole Neighborhood Was Stunned''.

Poisonous Doubts.

The Mothers' Crusade.

&‘grave;Who Do You Wave Your Sword At?''.

A Chemistry Lesson for Yellow Creek, Kentucky.

Sally Teets and the Small-Town Toxic Rebels.

&‘grave;It's Like a Murder Mystery: We've Eliminated the Butler—But Who Did It?''.

The Struggle for Certainty: Science Runs Up Against Its Limits in Toxic Towns.

Love's Uncertain Chemistry: The Tragedy and Romance of Environmental Illness in the West Texas Desert.

&‘grave;Around Here, You're Either on One Side or the Other!''.

Who Do You Trust?: The Riddles of Environmental Racism in Emelle, Alabama.

&‘grave;Tonight Feels Something Like the Fall of Saigon''.

The Virtues of Messy Democracy and Uncertain Science.

Notes.

National Organizations.

Selected Bibliography.

Index.

Editorial Reviews

This is a timely account of the ``powerful grassroots anti-toxics rebellion'' under way in many communities. Drawing on interviews in more than 24 states, freelance journalist Setterberg and physician/photojournalist Shavelson describe how people--mainly minority and working-class women enraged over threats to their children's health--are taking action to stop local toxic dumping. The authors found otherwise apolitical people in Amish, Mexican American, African American and other neighborhoods, uniting ``compassion and grace'' with realpolitik to raise questions about the still-unproven health effects of some 65,000 synthetic chemicals. The book probes environmental degradation, the social injustice of ``environmental racism'' and the human anguish of families convinced that local toxic dumps are responsible for diseases and deaths whose causes scientists cannot pinpoint. This vivid reportage on ``American democracy at its messy best'' cries out for national attention. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly