Review – Poisoned for Profit

Poisoned for Profit: How Toxins Make Our Children Chronically Ill, Philip and Alice Shabecoff, 2010, ISBN 9781603582568

Have you ever wondered why there seems to be an epidemic of serious childhood diseases, such as cancer, asthma, and birth defects, in the United States? It has a lot to do with the huge increase, over the last 50 years, in toxic chemicals being dumped into the environment. This book gives the details.

There are a number of cities across the country, ranging from Dickson, Tennessee, to Pittsfield, Massachusetts, to Toms River, New Jersey, that are experiencing a much higher than normal number of serious childhood illnesses. As it happens, each city also contains a large industrial plant that handles a large number of toxic chemicals. Are all diseases “isolated cases” or “just one of those things”?

The authors say that the CEOs of the major chemical companies are not evil people who deliberately want to poison innocent children, but that profits are the most important thing. It is very difficult to prove absolutely that a particular case of asthma or cancer, for example, was caused by chemicals from a particular industrial plant, although the circumstantial evidence is quite strong. Chemical companies use that uncertainty to delay paying fines or cleanup costs.

Paid scientists are willing to say what the chemical companies want them to say. The evidence is inconclusive and more study is needed (read: delayed). Washington is no help. Through lobbying and campaign contributions, it has been made clear to members of Congress that bills to add new regulations must be watered down or defeated. Only a few of the thousands of chemicals in the environment have been tested. Those tests have been very short-term and have looked at adult exposure to chemicals. The level of toxicity for children and fetuses is much lower.

What can a father do? If you plan to have children in the future, adopt a healthy lifestyle. Get adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals, starting today (men and women). If you already have kids, let them play outside and open the windows in your house for at least a few minutes a day (to let any built-up toxins out). Stay away from pesticides and dry cleaning, buy organic food as much as possible, buy furniture and flooring made from solid wood instead of particle board, which is treated with formaldehyde. There are also many websites to visit with safer alternatives to everyday items.

This book easily reaches the level of Wow. It is very easy to read and is quite eye-opening for all parents and parents-to-be. This is highly recommended.