RENT TEXTBOOKS

by: Jenkins, McKay

ISBN: 9781400068036 | 1400068037

Do you know what chemicals are in your shampoo? How about your cosmetics? Do you know what#x19;s in the plastic water bottles you drink from, or the weed killer in your garage, or your children#x19;s pajamas? If you#x19;re like most of us, the answer is probably no. But you also probably figured that most of these products were safe, and that someone-the manufacturers, the government-was looking out for you. The truth might surprise you. After experiencing a health scare of his own, journalist McKay Jenkins set out to discover the truth about toxic chemicals, our alarming levels of exposure, and our government#x19;s utter failure to regulate them effectively. The result of his two-year journey, What#x19;s Gotten into Us?, is a deep, remarkable, and empowering investigation into the threats-biological and environmental-that chemicals now present in our daily lives. It reveals how dangerous, and how common, toxins are in the most ordinary things, and in the most familiar of places: " Our water:Thanks to suburban sprawl and agricultural runoff, 97 percent of our nation#x19;s rivers and streams are now contaminated with everything from herbicides to pharmaceutical drugs. " Our bodies:High levels of hormone-disrupting chemicals from cosmetics, flame-retardants from clothing and furniture, even long-banned substances like DDT and lead, are consistently showing up in human blood samples. " Our homes:Many toxins lurk beneath our sinks and in our basements, of course, but did you know that they#x19;re also found in wall-to-wall carpeting, plywood, and fabric softeners? " Our yards:Pesticides, fungicides, even common fertilizers-there are enormous, unseen costs to our national obsession with green, weed-free lawns. What#x19;s Gotten Into Us?is much more than a wake-up call. It offers numerous practical ways for us to regain some control over our lives, to make our own personal worlds a little less toxic. Inside, you#x19;ll find ideas to help you make informed decisions about the products you buy, and to disentangle yourself from unhealthy products you don#x19;t need-so that you and your family can start living healthier lives now, and in the years to come. Because, as this book shows, what you don#x19;t know canhurt you. From the Hardcover edition.