New Book: The Polluters - The Making of Our Chemically Altered Environment by Benjamin Ross and Steven Amter

The Polluters
The Making of Our Chemically Altered Environment
by Benjamin Ross and Steven Amter


ISBN13: 9780199930968
ISBN10: 0199930961
Paperback, 240 pages

Description

The chemical pollution that irrevocably damages today's environment is, although many would like us to believe otherwise, the legacy of conscious choices made long ago. During the years before and just after World War II, discoveries like leaded gasoline and DDT came to market, creating new hazards even as the expansion and mechanization of industry exacerbated old ones. Dangers still felt today--smog, pesticides, lead, chromium, chlorinated solvents, asbestos, even global warming--were already recognized by chemists, engineers, doctors, and business managers of that era. A few courageous individuals spoke out without compromise, but still more ignored scientific truth in pursuit of money and prestige.

The Polluters reveals at last the crucial decisions that allowed environmental issues to be trumped by political agendas. It spotlights the leaders of the chemical industry and describes how they applied their economic and political power to prevent the creation of an effective system of environmental regulation. Research was slanted, unwelcome discoveries were suppressed, and friendly experts were placed in positions of influence, as science was subverted to serve the interests of business. The story of The Polluters is one that needs to be told, an unflinching depiction of the onslaught of chemical pollution and the chemical industry's unwillingness to face up to its devastating effects.

Features

• Traces back the roots of current environmental problems and shows they were understood far earlier than most people believe and industry will admit
• Demonstrates that many crucial decisions that allowed pollution were not caused by lack of knowledge or mistakes, but were the outcome of political conflicts in which economic interests prevailed
• Reveals new documents showing that industries knew of toxic hazards long before the public

For more info: http://www.oup.com/us/catalog/general/subject/Chemistry/EnvironmentalChemistry/?view=usa&ci=9780199930968