Slow Death Book Report

Introduction:

We used think that toxic pollution was external when chemicals are discharged into the atmosphere or when waste are dumped into water we failed to realize that toxic chemicals are invading our bodies externally and internally through the use of everyday household items. Slow Death by Rubber Duck is a groundbreaking book written by two Canadian Leading Environmentalists Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie and Sarah Dopp who through self-experimentation showed us how dangerous everyday household items are polluting our bodies. These two environmentalists meticulously measured the chemical levels in their body before and after the experiment. Their toxic experiment was to explore chemicals such as phthalates, PFOA and PCBs, Teflon, BPA,

Since most people are unaware of the toxicity of some household items, it poses a problem for people who are uneducated about the toxicity in everyday household products. Kids are the most vulnerable to chemicals such as BPA and phthalates since they are still in their developmental stages. For instance in the Chapter 2 titled “Rubber Duck Wars”, the authors experiment with phthalates and detail how they are found in children’s toys which could easily land in their mouths causing these chemicals to enter their bodies. This is a very scary issue for most parents out there. The authors quoted Dr. Lynn Goldman, an EPA Specialist who stated that “children are most at risk to the effects of toxic chemicals in our food, water, and air. They consume more on a body weight basis than do adults, they breathe more rapidly and therefore inhale more potentially polluted air; they crawl around poking in dusty corners and stick everything they find in their mouths. But these activities simply explain how kids have greater levels of exposure. The most critical issues facing babies and children are that their developing bodies and brains cannot tolerate chemicals in the same way that adults can” (Smith, Lourie, & Dopp, 2009, p. xii)

Even though children are the ones at the most risk of this toxic pollution, we are all at risk because it is very hard to eliminate these household items that

“Chemicals used to make nonstick cookware and stain-resistant fabrics are spreading around the world and turning up in surprising places, everywhere from wildlife and drinking water supplies to human blood. Now, a team of researchers has found these suspected carcinogens in samples of human milk from nursing mothers in Massachusetts” (University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2008)

It is very obvious that regulating these big companies who produce these toxins is the way to go in eliminating this problem. Public Health Interventions such as setting up policy that requires companies to put warning labels that warns consumers of these harmful chemicals so that consumers such as pregnant women can avoid using them prevent birth defects or health issues. Another intervention can also be to establish a policy that prohibits companies from using harmful chemicals when manufacturing products such as toys and clothing for kids that are deemed as carcinogens.