Toxins are a common and widespread problem that is even more inconvenient and has even more personal impact than global warming. Rick smith and bruce lourie, authors of slow death by rubber duck duration. Before we talk about nontoxic alternatives, here is a brief description of the seven chemicals they tested. When i think about toxic pollution, i usually think about smokefilled skies and dirty lakes, not toothpaste. While researching their new book, slow death by rubber duck, they consciously exposed themselves to everyday products food, cleaners, soap and. Dec 09, 2010 rick smith and bruce lourie, authors of slow death by rubber duck duration. Its message has stayed with and influenced me on a daily basis since i read it a few years ago.
Slow death by rubber duck this page contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on the affiliate link and buy an item, ill receive commissions. The landmark book about the toxicity of everyday life, updated, revised and reissued for its 10th anniversary, along with the experiments from smith and louries second book, toxin toxout. I purchased slow death by rubber duck from the authors at the green living show in toronto on april 26. Slow death by rubber duck by rick smith and bruce lourie. Plastic everywhere including in you the real food channel. Another good book about environmental toxins is the hundredyear lie i enjoyed both, but found slow death by rubber duck far more entertaining and more useful in terms of mitigating the impact of these chemicals in our daily lives. Ultimately hopeful, slow death by rubber duck empowers readers with ideas for protecting themselves and their families and changing things for the better.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Smith tells guy raz that writing the book was like conducting an adult science fair. Each chapter offers the history, impacteffects, and possible future of an assortment of ubiquitous chemicals that have been introduced to an unwitting public not only in the u. Slow death by rubber duck s real achievement is in documenting how chemical giants stay a step ahead of regulators, and those revelations make the book a fascinating and frightening read. Dec 03, 2015 rick smith and bruce lourie, authors of slow death by rubber duck duration. Rick smiths slow death by rubber duck is a very compelling read. Pdf slow death by rubber duck download full pdf book. How the toxicity of everyday life affects our health is the landmark book about the toxicity of everyday life and is now updated, revised and reissued for its 10th anniversary, along with the experiments from rick smith and bruce lourie s second book, toxin toxout. Apr 06, 2010 another good book about environmental toxins is the hundredyear lie i enjoyed both, but found slow death by rubber duck far more entertaining and more useful in terms of mitigating the impact of these chemicals in our daily lives.
If you are concerned about the level of toxins in your body and want to understand the hidden threats already in your home, you must read this book. It was written by rick smith, who is the executive director at environmental defence and one of canadas leading environmentalists, and bruce lourie, who is the president and chair of the environmental defence board of directors, with help from sarah dopp, a veteran grassroots. This bookthe testimony of their experiencealso exposes the extent to which we are poisoned every day of our lives, from the simple household dust that is polluting our blood to the toxins in our urine that. Canadian legislative changes to put the kibosh on toxic baby bottles and, after a prolonged drought, a new u. May 21, 2009 while researching their new book, slow death by rubber duck, they consciously exposed themselves to everyday products food, cleaners, soap and shampoos and measured the levels of chemicals that. Slow death by rubber duck how the toxic chemistry of everyday. Jan 01, 2009 slow death by rubber duck is a entertaining take on why we need to care about the chemicals that we use and are around on a day in, day out basis. Jan 16, 2012 what i dislike about slow death by rubber duck the book engaged in fearmongering and drama, and took a long time to get to the point.
Funny, thoughtprovoking, and incredibly disturbing, slow death by rubber duck reveals that just the living of daily life creates a chemical soup inside each of us. Sarah dopp this bookthe testimony of the authors experienceexposes the extent to which we are poisoned every day of our lives, from the simple household dust that is polluting our blood to the toxins in. This bookthe testimony of their experienceexposes the extent to which we are poisoned every day of our lives. The new 10th anniversary edition of the book slow death by rubber duck examines health impacts and calls for stronger regulations against. Flameretardant chemicals from electronics and household dust polluting our blood. Although perhaps worth its inaccuracies given its attentiongrabbing power, the book s titleslow death by rubber duckstrikes me as somewhat unfortunate. Tells the story of corporate giants who manufacture these toxins, the government officials who let it happen and the effects on people across the globe. We have all become guinea pigs in a vast and uncontrolled experiment. While reading it, i found myself nervously moving off the overstuffed sofa and scotchgardsaturated dining room chairs while i realized that my nowpast love of tuna sushi led to the early. Slow death by rubber duck one of the very best books ever written about the toxins in every day products. How the toxicity of everyday life affects our health is the landmark book about the toxicity of everyday life and is now.
Pollution is no longer just about belching smokestacks and ugly sewer pipes now, its personal. Slow death by rubber duck by rick smith and bruce lourie 336 pages. As if in a zombie movie, the book slow death by rubber duck. Slow death by rubber duck is a new book that came out in may 2009. Slow death by rubber duck is a entertaining take on why we need to care about the chemicals that we use and are around on a day in, day out basis. Review by erica phipps published in children, youth and environments vol. For example, in a rant about why triclosan was used in a garden hose, one author quotes. Entertaining, detailed, easy to follow and practical. Table of contents foreword by theo colborn, coauthor of our stolen future acknowledgments introduction one. The book is slow death by rubber duck by rick smith and bruce lourie. Slow death by rubber ducks real achievement is in documenting how chemical giants stay a step ahead of regulators, and those revelations make the book a. Slow death by rubber duck goes beyond scare tactics to solutions that we can. The first thing is that according to the book slow death by rubber duck. Funny, thoughtprovoking, and incredibly disturbing, slo.
Slow death by rubber duck how the toxicity of everyday life affects our health book. While reading it, i found myself nervously moving off the overstuffed sofa and scotchgardsaturated dining room chairs while i realized that my nowpast love of tuna sushi led to the early symptoms of mercury poisoning. The secret danger of everyday things by rick smith, bruce lourie and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Oz the authors of slow death by rubber duck ran toxic chemical experiments on themselves. The updated edition of slow death by rubber duck also includes experiments from smith and louries 20 book toxin toxout, and chronicles conversations with activists, government officials, and experts as well as people who have experienced health impacts to paint a picture of the average consumers everyday exposure to chemicals. Slow death by rubber duck oc public libraries overdrive.
The topic leaves most people feeling a mix of overwhelm, anger and hopelessness. Slow death by rubber duck how the toxic chemistry of. For one week, they hung out in a rented apartment inhaling and ingesting a variety of toxic chemicals that are in. The secret danger of everyday things kindle edition by smith, rick, lourie, bruce. Its a thoughtful look at how pollution has shifted over the years from something tangible and transparent industrial pollutants as the cause of acid rain to something abstract and nuanced bpas. And most importantly how to easily and systematically get corporatepeddled poisons out of your life. Slow death by rubber duck book sheds light on everyday. The secret danger of everyday things blame asthma, autism, adhd, obesity, reproductive problems, parkinsons, and alzheimers on chemicals.
In plain language, the authors showcase information in an easy to understand way that is accessible to all. Slow death by rubber duck, the book that resulted from their experience, exposes the extent to which we are poisoned every day of our lives. He has been a leader of the campaign to get bisphenol a, phtalates and. Jun 22, 2018 the authors of the book slow death by rubber duck. The secret danger of everyday things, wild and crazy canadian sciencepolicy geeks smith and lourie write about the slightly horrific, and sometimes hilarious, experiment they conducted on themselves. Slow death by rubber duck tells the other end of this storyhow ordinary household products we consume here in the u. Their book about the adventure is called slow death by rubber duck. In 2009, a book transformed the way we see our frying. How the toxic chemistry of everyday life affects our health. You can hardly pick up a newspaper these days without reading about the dangers of this manmade compound. If our kids bath toys were indeed made of rubber, a natural substance, we would have less to worry about. Slow death by rubber duck the secret danger of everyday things.
May 10, 2010 slow death by rubber duck, is a new book written by rick smith and bruce lourie and it details the toxins found in our homes, how they make their way inside our bodies and the very real impact they have on our health. Toxins in our urine caused by leaching from plastics and runofthemill shampoos, toothpastes and deodorant. This page contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on the affiliate link and buy an item, ill receive commissions. Its a thoughtful look at how pollution has shifted. Open this book and youll never look at a rubber duck the same way again. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading slow death by rubber duck. Guest blogger anastasia khoo is a former greenpeace employee. For one week, they hung out in a rented apartment inhaling and ingesting a variety of toxic chemicals that are in everyday household products. Parents and concerned citizens will have to read this book. At this moment in history, the image conjured up by the word pollution is just as properly an innocent rubber duck as it is a giant smoke stack. A look at the chemicals surrounding us thats hardhitting. Slow death by rubber duck book ottawa public library.
There were so many things i thought were interesting in this book. The landmark book about the toxicity of everyday life, updated, revised and re issued for its 10th anniversary, along with the experiments from smith and louries. Slow death by rubber duck exposes the extent to which we are being poisoned every day of our lives, both in our homes and our workplaces. Slow death by rubber ducks real achievement is in documenting how chemical giants stay a step ahead of regulators, and those revelations make the book a fascinating and frightening read.
Counterpoint its been a bad few years for bisphenol a, the chemical commonly known as bpa. How the toxicity of everyday life affects our health is the landmark book about the toxicity of everyday life and is now updated, revised and reissued for its 10th anniversary, along with the experiments from rick smith and bruce louries second book,toxin toxout. Slow death by rubber duck moreton bay libraries overdrive. Slow death by rubber duck, the secret danger of everyday things is one the ultimate environmental lifestyle experiments. Im going to call it the best environmental and health book of 2019. What i dislike about slow death by rubber duck the book engaged in fearmongering and drama, and took a long time to get to the point.
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