McKay Jenkins
Whatâ€™s Gotten into Us? ,is a deep, remarkable, and empowering investigation into the threatsâ€”biological and environmentalâ€”that chemicals now present in our daily lives.,Â ,Do you know what chemicals are in your shampoo? How about your cosmetics? Do you know whatâ€™s in the plastic water bottles you drink from, or the weed killer in your garage, or your childrenâ€™s pajamas? If youâ€™re like most of us, the answer is probably no. But you also probably figured that most of these products were safe, and that someoneâ€”the manufacturers, the governmentâ€”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 governmentâ€™s utter failure to regulate them effectively. ,Whatâ€™s Gotten into Us? ,reveals how dangerous, and how common, toxins are in the most ordinary things, and in the most familiar of places:,Â ,â€¢ Our water:, Thanks to suburban sprawl and agricultural runoff, 97 percent of our nationâ€™s rivers and streams are now contaminated with everything from herbicides to pharmaceutical drugs. ,â€¢ 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.,â€¢ Our homes:, Many toxins lurk beneath our sinks and in our basements, of course, but did you know that theyâ€™re also found in wall-to-wall carpeting, plywood, and fabric softeners? ,â€¢ Our yards:, Pesticides, fungicides, even common fertilizersâ€”there are enormous, unseen costs to our national obsession with green, weed-free lawns. ,Â ,Whatâ€™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, youâ€™ll find ideas to help you make informed decisions about the products you buy, and to disentangle yourself from unhealthy products you donâ€™t needâ€”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 donâ€™t know ,can, hurt you.
Health,Nonfiction,Environment,Science,Self Help,Environment,Sustainability,Science,Biology,Medical
What's Gotten into Us?: Staying Healthy in a Toxic World