Slow Death by Rubber Duck Erin Evers 2nd hr

The book that I choose to read for the reaction paper for these nine weeks is called Slow Death by Rubber Duck by Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie. I found this book to be a bit boring but it had a lot of information on some of the deadly chemicals in the every day things that we use and wouldnt expect to be carrying these chemicals. I will admit, what first drew me to this book were the cover and the title. I found it interesting because being an environmental book, I assumed that the title meant that rubber ducks are killing us, but as I read the book, I got to learn about the other materials that can actually be killing us without us even knowing. Not only does this book inform about the dangerous toxins we use, it also gives out information and guidelines to help us become more aware and active about the chemicals that it talks about. The authors conclude the book by summarizing the two main arguments: "Our choices as consumers really do have a profound, and very rapid effect on the pollution levels in our bodies", and that "even making the elimination of toxic chemicals from your body the single purpose of your day, you can't succeed completely". (p. 256) I found these two quotes to be quite shocking and kind of scary. I did not like to read that there are definitely toxins that we get as consumers, and that theses toxins are having effect on our bodies. The authors then say that the population of activists who are against toxic chemicals entering their body can't end their efforts at themselves, there needs to be widespread concern and action to the government to win complete and long-term reductions or widespread elimination of these toxins. This made me feel like I actually wanted to do something about the toxins I was learning about. I thought that the government should have some kind of concern on a subject that can

Harm so many people. But then I realized, OH yeah, it is our government after all. The first chapter begins with how Ken Cook, from the Environmental Working Group(EWG), got the idea of testing pollution levels inside peoples bodies rather than the pollution level in the external environment which have been tested widely before. Cook came up with this idea because he needed a supportive argument against the chemical industrys question: Well yeah, it the pollution may be in the air, it may be in the water, but, honestly, are people really being exposed in a significant way? This question has been holding back the pollution debate on how chemicals are dangerous to humans. There was this concern with the 1970s United States Environmental Defense Fund ad about breast milk with pesticides intoxication and a passage from Our Stolen Future, both messages are about chemicals contaminating our human bodies. Ken Cook and Pete Meyers were the first ones to donate blood and urine to test for pollutants and test their theory. The test resulted in the discovery that it is possible to measure pollution levels inside people. The EWGs strategy is really advanced because they are not only testing for a large number of chemicals at once, but also participants allow their identities to be revealed. These test results would bring the pollution debate forward. The chapter ends with the description of the authors experiment on how people are exposed to these pollutants within their everyday activities. The goal of their experiments was to discover where the chemicals proven to be dangerous to the body come from, what types of products are responsible for it, if the toxins are avoidable, and if controlling negative chemicals will result in an improvement of pollution levels. In the experiment, they exposed themselves heavily to various things that are susceptible to carry pollutants such as

microwave food, coffee from a polycarbonate cup, air purifier, and other products. A few days prior to the test, both authors avoid using or limit their exposure to the pollutants. The 48 hours experiment occurs in an ordinary room where there are elements of everyday life. Before the test begins, they had their blood and urine sample taken. During the 2 day experiment, they gradually took urine samples. Finally after their two days of intensive exposure to the pollutants, their final blood and urine sample are taken and sent to Axys Analytical Services in British Columbia to be analyzed. I thought this was very interesting that they had thought of this testing idea. It made me think of the utilities such as the microwave that I use everyday, and it made me wonder if I was being affected by them. The next part of the book talks about one of the authors, Smith, and his story of his family. He explains about some of the exposure chemicals such as Phthalates that he had found out his family and him were being exposed to. Phthalates are actually a chemical that is used to prolong the aroma of perfume. Phthalates are also known to be found in other hygiene products. He also gave some insight on different chemicals used for products we use such as: Peurofluorochemicals, which are ingredients that are used to make kitchenware nonstick utensils. They actually have PFC toxins that are harmful to our health. Then there are Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers which are found in home electronics. Another chemical that they talk about is Mercury. Smith and Lourie suggest in this case eating fewer large fish and just eating the smaller ones. Apparently Mercury travels up the food chain and eventually gets back up to us. Along with the chemicals I briefly explained, they also talk about a few more chemicals including ones such as: Triclosan, found in antibacterial, Pesticides,

Of course, and Bisphenol A that has actually been taken off the shelves when it was found in baby products. Unfortunately, even when consumers know of and try to make smarter choices, there can be no way to completely free themselves of a chemical that has been integrated into everyday life. Finally, the author explains that the ordinary people, when joined together for a common cause, have the ability to start and make change despite giant obstacles and efforts to stop them. In the case of phthalates, concerned consumers in the United States have proven possible victory over the institution. Rick Smith continues the book with more about his personal familys experience with unknown deadly toxins. He talks about an extensive warning label on his infant sons pajamas telling about its flame resistance then goes on to tell the early history of flame resistant measures dating back to 86 B.C.E. where alum soaked wood survived the Battle of Piraeus. In 1820 Gay-Lussac, commissioned by King Louis XVIII was credited with the scientific basis of fire retardency with ammonium salts of sulphuric ,hydrochloric and phosphoric acids. Bromine was soon after discovered in French saltwater marshes .Bromine, which is closely related to chlorine, fluorine, and iodine and known together as the halogen elements, when mixed in a certain way can prevent fire from latching onto new oxygen atoms which will then smolder rather than spread. Of about 175 flame-retardant chemicals used at present, many of the most used and controversial are brominates. Smith then goes more deeply into the Bromine industry and comes back to his sons pajamas at the end. After thorough research and asking some experts they and he suggest against wearing pajamas that have any kind of flame retardants. With any luck, he will not only change the flame retarding substances we use from bromine based to phosphorous based as the trend seems to be showing, but phosphorous based chemicals wont be harmful to us, at least in the case with

Bromine. I thought this part was extremely interesting just because it dated back and I got to read about information that went as far back as 86 B.C. That was really interesting to me to see how that connected all the way back to pajamas. In the next few chapters Smith and Lourie go into detail about more of the chemical I mentioned before, and the objects that have these chemicals in them. They talk about DDT, which I was familiar with because of Silent Springs. I was glad that I actually knew about what they were talking about because of previously reading about them in Silent Spring. In some of the final chapters of slow death by Rubber Duck, the authors talk about how mothers know best. It discusses how concerned mothers made a huge impact on Bisphenol A, which is a chemical that drastically affects the health of children. In November of 2007,environmental activists organized the first ever Baby Rally which was a demonstration of children, created for the purpose of convincing politicians to take actions towards BPA and take the debate about this chemical on the next level. BPA (Bisphenol A) is a hormone-disrupting chemical that is used to make plastic bottles and food containers. Baby bottles became the highlight of the campaign. Though organizers were worried that not enough people will show up at the event, many mothers came to the demonstration with their children. As both experts and parents, few spokespersons gave a speech expressing their concern about their kids health. Dr. Pete Meyers, coauthor of Our Stolen Future, noted that there is a serious link between BPA and diseases such as breast or prostate cancer, diabetes, infertility and even learning disabilities. The demonstration was followed by a meeting with Premier and Minister of environment, Dalton McGuinty. Surprisingly for the activists, the meeting didnt repeat the usual pattern and actually led to the commitment to take the issue into serious consideration on behave of Ontario government; moms and their newborns made a significant impression on the politicians. This part was kind of surprising to

me because it was a case where people wanted the governments attention and actually got it. I was very impressed with the mothers outcome and thought it was interesting to see that the government decided to take some action. Well, my five pages are done, and although I did not get to expound on each and every chapter in slow death by Rubber Duck, I got to explain a little bit on the efforts of Smith and Lourie. I believe what they wrote about is really important and was interesting to learn about.