E-book
Dodging the toxic bullet how to protect yourself from everyday environmental health hazards
Record details
- ISBN: 9781553656210 (electronic bk.)
- ISBN: 1553656210 (electronic bk.)
-
Physical Description:
electronic resource
remote
1 online resource (214 p.) - Publisher: Vancouver [B.C.] : Greystone Books, c2010
Content descriptions
| General Note: | Co-published by the David Suzuki Foundation. |
| Bibliography, etc. Note: | Includes bibliographical references and index. |
| Formatted Contents Note: | Environmental health 101 -- The outdoor air we breathe -- The indoor air we breathe -- The food we eat -- The water we drink -- The things we buy and use -- The physical hazards we face -- Advocate for a healthy environment -- Healthy planet, healthy people. |
| System Details Note: | Requires OverDrive Media Console |
| Source of Description Note: | Description based on print version record. |
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| Genre: | EBOOK. Electronic books. |
Other Formats and Editions
Electronic resources
- ForeWord Magazine Reviews : ForeWord Magazine Reviews 2010 March/April
"Each day the average person slathers on nine personal care products that can contain more than 120 different chemicals": body lotion, shampoo, cosmetics, perfume, powder, hair spray, and deodorant. "While the concentrations of these chemicals are generally low, their effects on health can be significant," David R. Boyd writes in Dodging the Toxic Bullet. More than a guide on how to avoid everyday toxins, this book advocates for a healthy planet and the well-being of all people, including those without the means to protect themselves. The author, a practitioner and teacher of environmental law, believes there need to be "stronger laws to protect present and future generations."For Boyd, protecting one's health from environmental hazards boils down to three critical steps: be aware of the environmental hazards you are likely to encounter and ignore those that pose either little or no risk; eliminate sources of hazards; and limit your exposure. This includes the air you breathe, the food you eat, the water you drink, the things you buy or use, and the physical hazards you face. Each chapter ends with a useful wrap-up and offers a few simple actions that can diminish the risks posed by a toxic environment, whether on a personal basis or at a global level.For instance, he suggests avoiding seven harmful substances commonly found in things people buy and use: lead, mercury, vinyl (also known as PVC), phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs). He points out that lead "poses a threat in consumer products, including toys, crystal glassware, costume jewelry, hair dyes, mini-blinds, and make-up." He recommends eating meals "rich in calcium, iron, and Vitamin C to help block the absorption and storage of lead in your body." In a chapter on promoting a healthier environment, he calls for a "triple-E approach" which requires more effective, efficient, and equitable government politics and major changes to business practices to safeguard environmental health. Although the advice can be obvious ("Live in a healthy home") or simplistic ("Protect yourself from wildfires"), it is sincere and meant as a practical way to protect readers from "the invisible epidemic": disease and illness caused by environmental hazards that may be rarely sensed, but which are everywhere. © 2010 ForeWord Reviews. All Rights Reserved. - Library Journal Reviews : LJ Reviews 2010 April #1
As an environmental lawyer, professor, and author, Boyd is acutely aware of the environmental hazards brought about by our comfortable lifestyles. Here, he identifies the chemicals, toxins, and infectious agents found in the air we breathe, the food and water we consume, and the gadgets, products, and machinery we use, and he outlines the steps we can take to limit exposure and protect our health. Comparing environmental safety standards in Canada, the United States, Australia, and Europe, he points to areas that need improvement. Boyd stresses that every person has the right to live in a healthy environment and urges all citizens to get informed, speak up, confront the polluters, advocate for a clean environment, and fight for government policies and business practices that promote a clean and sustainable world. VERDICT Boyd's powerful, well-documented book will shake readers out their of complacency and empower them to take action against environmental hazards.âIrwin Weintraub, Brooklyn Coll. Lib., NY
[Page 91]. Copyright 2010 Reed Business Information.
