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The Body Toxic – How the Hazardous Chemistry of Everyday Things Threatens Our Health and Well-being

Nena Baker
PNorth Point Press (2008)
ISBN 97816031361971
Reviewed by Kam Aures for RebeccasReads (8/09)

“The Body Toxic – How the Hazardous Chemistry of Everyday Things Threatens Our Health and Well-being” is an extremely eye-opening book.  “In the United States, our chemical neighborhood includes more than eighty thousand industrial substances registered for commercial purposes with the EPA.  About ten thousand of these chemicals are widely used in everything from clothing, carpeting, household cleaners, and computers to furniture, food, food containers, paint, cookware, and cosmetics.  But the vast majority of them have not been tested for potential toxic effects because the U.S. Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) of 1976 does not require it." (p.15-16)  This one paragraph of the book alone should raise red flags and cause concern in anyone reading.

The author, Nena Baker, had her own blood tested and found that it had traces of at least 3 dozen toxic chemicals in it.  Two of the chemicals in her blood had been banned over 30 years ago when she was in her teenage years. 

Chemicals are in everything and there really isn’t anyway that you can completely avoid exposure to all of them as they are in the air you breathe and in products all around you.  Baker does provide some tips, however, on how you can avoid some of them and minimize your exposure to others. 

I found “The Body Toxic- How the Hazardous Chemistry of Everyday Things Threatens Our Health and Well-being” to be a very scary and disturbing book, but a necessary one.  I am definitely going to pay more attention to what is in the items that I buy and try to limit my exposure to certain chemicals.  Baker’s writing is very thorough and will certainly hold your attention.  I highly recommend this book! 

 


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