NADD - An association for persons with developmental disabilities and mental health needs

From the NADD Bulletin Volume XII Number 3

Book Review: Poisoned Profits: The Toxic Assault on Our Children

Review by Lori L. Finn, M.A., M.Phil, BCBA, The League Treatment

Poisoned Profits: The Toxic Assault on Our Children

By Philip Shabecoff and Alice Shabecoff

Random House

http://atrandom.com

ISBN: 978-1-4000-6430-4

Copyright 2008

Hardcover, 353 pages, $26.00

Nonfiction

Poisoned Profits: The Toxic Assault on Our Children is a passionate and powerful account of the many issues surrounding the use of harmful industrial chemicals in the environment. In this book, Philip and Alice Shabecoff describe the devastating effects that environmental toxins can have on children and fetuses. They argue that chemicals present in the environment are a danger to the health and well-being of humans, animals, and the overall environment, and that children are particularly vulnerable. Exposure to these pervasive chemicals is unavoidable, as they are present in our air, food, and water.

We and our children are exposed to toxins invisibly, stealthily, without our knowledge. Trillions of pounds or tens of thousands of toxic chemicals pour into the environment and into the products in our homes, workplaces, and schools, and their number is growing daily. There is no place to hide . . . (p. 17)

The authors maintain that the United States is unable to sufficiently regulate the use of these chemicals due to current laws and policies that are ineffective, and, as such, reform is essential. They implore parents, healthcare providers, scientists, and community members to demand change.

Philip Shabecoff was the chief environmental correspondent at the New York Times for 14 years, and he is also the founder and publisher of Greenwire, an online environmental news magazine. Alice Shabecoff is a freelance journalist and was the executive director of the National Consumers League and the Community Information Exchange. Their background is apparent by their facile use of scientific terminology in a manner that is easily read and understood by a layperson.

The book is organized as a crime drama, with the victims being the children exposed to environmental toxins. Each chapter takes the reader further through their case, from inquest to justice. A multitude of shocking events and disturbing pieces of evidence are presented in the form of anecdotes, quotes from professionals and family members, and findings of relevant studies. The book begins with the tragedy of Dickson, Tennessee, a town with groundwater contaminated by pollutants from a nearby landfill. The authors describe the individual, heartbreaking stories of children from this community who were afflicted with various birth defects and cancer.

The authors accuse industrial corporations, lobbyists, lawyers, legislators, and government officials of committing this "crime without criminal intent" (p.15). One recurrent theme is the difficult nature of obtaining definitive proof of the cause of these illnesses and defects. Multiple factors such as chemistry, genetics, type/amount of exposure, combinations of chemical exposure, lifestyle, and the limitations of research design can obfuscate the results of scientific inquiry. "Often, as in the case of Dickson, the scientific evidence is cloudy" (p. 15). Ineffective U.S. regulations of industrial chemicals further complicate the issue, as discussed in the comprehensive "Evidence" chapter. The authors explain that regulations are weak and favor the corporations, not the consumer. Unlike pharmaceuticals, chemicals are considered to be "innocent until proven guilty" (p. 242).

The staggering amount of disturbing information in the chapter entitled "Scene of the Crime" is enough to make your blood run cold. The authors take the reader through a typical day, naming harmful chemicals in objects and ordinary products that a child is likely to encounter in each room of the home, at school, and outside. I found it particularly helpful that they included both name brands that contain toxic chemicals and those that do not. They also discussed pollutants in air and water, as well as the dangers of food additives. This chapter ends on a hopeful note, with an emphasis on changes that have already been made, such as alternatives to harmful chemicals and food additives. "These shifts in consumer, commercial, and industrial response are bellwethers. They indicate that the worst scenario is not inevitable and that parents have the power to move these advances further and further" (p. 94).

The chapter entitled, "Forensics" was clear and informative. Like the preceding chapters, it was filled with an exorbitant amount of information on chemicals and their effects on children. The authors describe research to support the importance of dose, timing, and pathway of exposure when studying the effects of chemicals. They also discuss the limitations of traditional epidemiological research as well as explain some more modern methods of study, including biomonitoring and microarray technology. Despite these modern methods, the authors lament that the scientific community does not easily recognize evidence as proof. They suggest that we consider the evidence presented as "actionable proof."

After our years of research for this book . . .we strongly conclude that a sufficient weight of evidence is attainable and actionable 'proof' is available. In general, if there's solid and consistent experimental evidence, that should be enough to say something does harm. (p. 119).

It is in the next few chapters that the Shabecoff's name names. Some of the perpetrators include such corporations as GE, Monsanto, Dow, and DuPont. The main co-conspirators, according to the authors, are George W. Bush and his administration, the state of Texas, and the military. The authors conclude with optimistic suggestions for the future. They emphasize the need for political action, advocacy, and corporate responsibility. They suggest that the American people can change and become educated about these issues. They state that parents can make lifestyle changes to minimize exposure to certain toxins. They recommend voting wisely. They promote regulation based on the Precautionary Principle. "We can demand that even in the absence of conclusive scientific proof, hazardous substances be withheld or withdrawn from the market whenever there is substantial evidence of serious or irreversible threats to health" (p. 241).

Philip and Alice Shabecoff present their case thoroughly and logically throughout the book. They write as convincing prosecutors. But in reality, prosecutors do not always seek the truth. At times, they may seek only to win their case. As such, they cite evidence in support of their case. What I find missing in this book is the defense attorney. Concrete scientific evidence is included throughout the book, but it is peppered with anecdotal evidence and even quotes from family members to support the authors' conclusions. While repeatedly mentioning the difficulty in proving causation, the authors also tell stories about children with birth defects who live near a toxic landfill and quote parents who say they know that the chemicals caused their child's illness. This adds an emotional and personal element, but it can also easily sway a reader to make that jump to causality. There is cursory mention of studies that found conflicting results and arguments presented by those with differing views, but those are largely discounted as flawed, unreasonable, archaic, or based on greed. I worry that much of the book is written from a far-left perspective and may subsequently turn off a more moderate reader. These issues are too significant to our future, and the reaction of a reader may have far-reaching implications, either positive or negative. As such, I would prefer a more balanced approach so that both sides can come together to solve these serious problems.

Overall, I found this book to be a valuable addition to the literature on environmental health. It is interesting, well-organized, and well-written. It provides the layman with a good introduction to the issues, and it points to possible solutions. In addition, the appendices provide suggestions that parents, in particular, will find helpful, including practical tips on reducing exposure to toxins and additional reading material.

For additional information, contact Lori Finn at lfinn@leaguetreatment.org.

The NADD Environmental Health Project, funded by the John Merck Fund, provides professionals, families, and the general public with relevant information concerning toxic agents and their affects on neuro-development. For further information visit www.thenadd.org and click on "Environmental Health Project," or contact Ed Seliger, Project Coordinator, at eseliger@thenadd.org.