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Silent Snow: The Slow Poisoning of the Arctic
An award-winning US environmental journalist traveled to the Arctic to investigate why its inhabitants are heavily impacted by pollution (e.g., high PCB levels in mothers' milk), despite the region's image as one of the last pristine places. Blending scientific data and personal observations à la Rachel Carson, Cone explores the evidence for its contamination by industrialized nations' toxins. The book concludes with an Inuit legend about their traditional lifestyle (pictured) that offers clues to averting the most dire predictions. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
256 pages, Hardcover
First published November 30, 1978
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213 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
September 10, 2015
Overall, I felt like this was a very good book. I thought it was a brilliant way to educate readers on an important issue: the growing pollution problem in the Arctic circle. It was enjoyable that it incorporated some of the author's experiences while she was performing research for the book and not just the dry facts. This allows the reader to understand Marla Cone better and not just see her as some environmental journalist. One can now think of her as an explorer on a journey to corners of the world most people will never get the chance to see. Due to the fact that every author has a different writing style, I can't fault Cone because I don't enjoy her way of writing. The sentences tend to be always on the long side with a lot of seemingly unnecessary details. As you get further into the book, you realize that she does tend to repeat herself a lot. I can see how in some cases this may be beneficial especially because there are a lot of science and factual components that may be confusing to some. The repetition and sentence structure made it difficult to understand at times though. It just seemed weighed down by some passages. The thing that this book does the best is enlightening the reader on a very common issue that isn't widely known. Being an environmental science major in high school I know how detrimental pollution can be. One thing I never realized is how far it can spread. Silent Snow goes into depth on how pollution can get from point A to the Arctic circle. This is just very alarming to discover. If this book were to grow in popularity, then it may spark more people to be concerned for the environment.
June 10, 2010
As someone who currently lives in the Arctic, I was very impressed with this book. Several years ago when I was pregnant with my first child, I saw a poster at my OB's office warning pregnant and nursing women to limit or restrict their intake of wild-caught seafood due to toxins. It didn't make sense to me in an area that is mostly wild and unpopulated that pollution would be such a problem. I live in Alaska and occasionally eat salmon and other seafood, so I have been interested in finding out more about why our food has higher concentrations of persistent organic pollutants than more urban areas and what these pollutants do to people and animals.
The author, Marla Cone, is an environmental reporter who worked for the L.A. Times for 15 years and also taught at Berkeley. What I was expecting from the book was perhaps to simply distill some information from various science and medical journals on this topic, perhaps include a few interviews. Instead, I was amazed that this California woman had spent years researching this book in large part by traveling to isolated native populations and experiencing the Arctic (through funds from a Pew Fellow Program). I know it's a shock to people from warm climates when they visit even Southeast Alaska where I live. I always laugh in summer when I'm wearing short sleeves and I see tourists dressed in coats, gloves and stocking caps. She didn't just stop in for a visit either, she went out on the ice with native fishermen, whalers, hunters and ate with them, participated in how they lived. She interviewed both native people who eat traditional foods like seal and whale as well as people in the scientific or medical communities in places all throughout the Arctic.
Northern Canada, Iceland, Greenland, Norway, Faroe Islands, Barrow, Aleutian Islands: One thing they all have in common is remote populations dependent on the land for food as part of their culture and way of life, and what they get from the land is more than meets the eye. Mercury, PCP, DDT and dozens of other persistent organic chemicals that are starting to get very concentrated in Arctic animals and people through the food chain.
I appreciated the author's ability to take a lot of heavy scientific information and present it in a way that is comprehensible to most people. There is no way I'm going to be delving into all those studies from journals on neurotoxicology, pediatrics, environmental science, etc. but I was grateful for the chance to learn from someone who has.
The author, Marla Cone, is an environmental reporter who worked for the L.A. Times for 15 years and also taught at Berkeley. What I was expecting from the book was perhaps to simply distill some information from various science and medical journals on this topic, perhaps include a few interviews. Instead, I was amazed that this California woman had spent years researching this book in large part by traveling to isolated native populations and experiencing the Arctic (through funds from a Pew Fellow Program). I know it's a shock to people from warm climates when they visit even Southeast Alaska where I live. I always laugh in summer when I'm wearing short sleeves and I see tourists dressed in coats, gloves and stocking caps. She didn't just stop in for a visit either, she went out on the ice with native fishermen, whalers, hunters and ate with them, participated in how they lived. She interviewed both native people who eat traditional foods like seal and whale as well as people in the scientific or medical communities in places all throughout the Arctic.
Northern Canada, Iceland, Greenland, Norway, Faroe Islands, Barrow, Aleutian Islands: One thing they all have in common is remote populations dependent on the land for food as part of their culture and way of life, and what they get from the land is more than meets the eye. Mercury, PCP, DDT and dozens of other persistent organic chemicals that are starting to get very concentrated in Arctic animals and people through the food chain.
I appreciated the author's ability to take a lot of heavy scientific information and present it in a way that is comprehensible to most people. There is no way I'm going to be delving into all those studies from journals on neurotoxicology, pediatrics, environmental science, etc. but I was grateful for the chance to learn from someone who has.
September 11, 2015
Silent snow by Marla Cone was an eye opening book. The book describes how one of the most isolated places on earth can be the most contaminated. The introduction was my favorite part of the book. It was captivating as well as informative and most importantly it didn't go too far into details. Past the introduction though it became harder and harder to want to read through the entire book with every passing chapter. Although there were a few chapters here and there that made reading the entire book worthwhile. Every chapter would be split intro segments and every segment was a slightly connected topic that would all come together by the end of the chapter. But, remembering every scientist, where their from, what they discovered, and what they did about it was a challenge. Without taking notes I would have most likely been confused by all the names. Despite my issues with the book the overall message was very important to me. Why when these isolated places that have never used a pesticide in their entire lifetimes have their breastmilk and fat filled with them? This book explains this, giving data from a multitude of experiments and sound science that has been done on the topic. Overall I would not have finished reading this book if it was not for the topic being interesting.
August 27, 2023
Most of us automatically think of the arctic as one of the last unspoiled territories on earth.
From hunting bowhead whales with the native Alaskans, to tracking polar bears in Norway, Cone reports with an insider's eye on the dangers of pollution to the native people and ecosystems;
This extraordinary scientific and personal journey of Cone’s into the lives of the people there, brings into light the fact that the arctic is unlike what is generally assumed; the arctic is home to some of the most contaminated people and animals on the planet.
What she discovered was shocking indeed. Pollutants from all over the world seemed to find their way there aided by Northbound winds,waves and the ocean's food web; that too in huge quantities. A study found out that the amount of PCBs and mercury in the breastmilk of an arctic native was much higher than that of a woman from an industrialised area. These contaminants don’t really leave the body.
These women, unintentionally, are poisoning their newborns; hindering not just their health but also their intellectual abilities.
This book sheds light on what the arctic is all about while explaining perils of industrial toxins which are taking over the region. This book will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression on every environment enthusiast out there who wants to bring about a positive change in the world
From hunting bowhead whales with the native Alaskans, to tracking polar bears in Norway, Cone reports with an insider's eye on the dangers of pollution to the native people and ecosystems;
This extraordinary scientific and personal journey of Cone’s into the lives of the people there, brings into light the fact that the arctic is unlike what is generally assumed; the arctic is home to some of the most contaminated people and animals on the planet.
What she discovered was shocking indeed. Pollutants from all over the world seemed to find their way there aided by Northbound winds,waves and the ocean's food web; that too in huge quantities. A study found out that the amount of PCBs and mercury in the breastmilk of an arctic native was much higher than that of a woman from an industrialised area. These contaminants don’t really leave the body.
These women, unintentionally, are poisoning their newborns; hindering not just their health but also their intellectual abilities.
This book sheds light on what the arctic is all about while explaining perils of industrial toxins which are taking over the region. This book will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression on every environment enthusiast out there who wants to bring about a positive change in the world
December 1, 2025
My library didn't have a copy of Silent Spring by Rachel Carson, so I read this instead, and had the impression that Carson's book was important to this book's author.
I didn't finish it, but I enjoyed what I read (which was to Chapter 4), including the focus on native inhabitants of the Arctic. The scientific information was interesting; I learned some new things and some perspectives of mine were changed. The book brings attention to several important issues.
Marla Cone is articulate and intelligent - you will not doubt that - and does justice to both journalism and science, which is not to be taken for granted. Yet, the book lost my interest. I find myself in agreeance with other reviewers who say there is some repetition and that the book moves slowly. Perhaps the same book but written in half the length would have been much stronger and much more profound.
I didn't finish it, but I enjoyed what I read (which was to Chapter 4), including the focus on native inhabitants of the Arctic. The scientific information was interesting; I learned some new things and some perspectives of mine were changed. The book brings attention to several important issues.
Marla Cone is articulate and intelligent - you will not doubt that - and does justice to both journalism and science, which is not to be taken for granted. Yet, the book lost my interest. I find myself in agreeance with other reviewers who say there is some repetition and that the book moves slowly. Perhaps the same book but written in half the length would have been much stronger and much more profound.
October 8, 2025
She does a great job exploring the deleterious effects of man-made industrial chemicals and pesticides, mainly focused on PCBs and mercury on the environment and Arctic societies from both the Inuit and other indigenous people to scientists.
There was some repetition, though, which with some edits, the book could've been shorter. Like I read the same sentence twice in different chapters. lol.
The ending was exceptionally well written.
Why are there so many people that make the world a difficult place?
There was some repetition, though, which with some edits, the book could've been shorter. Like I read the same sentence twice in different chapters. lol.
The ending was exceptionally well written.
Why are there so many people that make the world a difficult place?
September 10, 2025
I really liked the message of this work and the evidence-based narrative. It did a great job sharing testimonials from Arctic populations and healthcare providers. Really eye-opening to hear multiple perspectives on the issues the book highlights. It got a little technical at times, but explained chemistry and biology concepts extremely well.
November 28, 2022
An absolute terrifying tale written in 2005 that humans should have taken heed of things to come. The warnings have arrived and yet we as a species remain ignorant of the present threats of PFOA's today.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2024
“It seems the ocean’s chain of life is actually a fragile silk web. If you remove a strand, the whole thing unravels. And it may never be whole again.”
April 8, 2015
The book Silent Snow by Marla Cone is really interesting. She chooses a topic that is usually neglected and taken for granted by people and explains it really well. She explains every possible answer for every possible question asked by people related to the topic. The notion of highly toxic environment in North Pole is usually neglected because the stigma that North Pole has a really pure and clean environment sticks to many people in other parts of the world.
Additionally, people often just take it for granted the thing that they do every day. The industries that take place in other parts of the world which create toxic chemicals residues, or the pesticides that people use for their agriculture that usually create huge amount of pesticide run off to the rivers, are often neglected because people need it for their daily basis. They do not know the impact of these residues because the impact is not evident in the short term, but it will be in the long term. The lack of knowledge and information from both parties makes people outside the North Pole keep on using the chemicals and people in the North Pole keep on consuming the food contaminated by the chemicals. Marla Cone explains the cause and the effect in a really detailed structure. She explains not only the things that happen because of the toxic chemicals usage around the world, but also the cultural and biological cause that makes people in North Pole keeps on consuming fish and other high toxic mammals. Marla Cone also explains about the things that have been done to prevent the use of toxic chemicals such as DDT and PCBs and the issue that arises from the prevention act.
The book makes people think about the interrelation that happens in the world, that every action that people take in a certain place can cause something to people in other places both in the short term and long term. Thus, the book intrigues people to really think about what they do and what will be the impact of their actions, because what people think as a small chemical residue can cause a global impact and can become toxic in a broader scope.
The conclusion of the book is well written. Even though she explains that many new things can happen in the future, that many “new” types of toxic chemicals might arise in the future, as long as everyone does what they can do and use all of the knowledge that they possess, there is still a chance for changes. There is still hope for the future.
Additionally, people often just take it for granted the thing that they do every day. The industries that take place in other parts of the world which create toxic chemicals residues, or the pesticides that people use for their agriculture that usually create huge amount of pesticide run off to the rivers, are often neglected because people need it for their daily basis. They do not know the impact of these residues because the impact is not evident in the short term, but it will be in the long term. The lack of knowledge and information from both parties makes people outside the North Pole keep on using the chemicals and people in the North Pole keep on consuming the food contaminated by the chemicals. Marla Cone explains the cause and the effect in a really detailed structure. She explains not only the things that happen because of the toxic chemicals usage around the world, but also the cultural and biological cause that makes people in North Pole keeps on consuming fish and other high toxic mammals. Marla Cone also explains about the things that have been done to prevent the use of toxic chemicals such as DDT and PCBs and the issue that arises from the prevention act.
The book makes people think about the interrelation that happens in the world, that every action that people take in a certain place can cause something to people in other places both in the short term and long term. Thus, the book intrigues people to really think about what they do and what will be the impact of their actions, because what people think as a small chemical residue can cause a global impact and can become toxic in a broader scope.
The conclusion of the book is well written. Even though she explains that many new things can happen in the future, that many “new” types of toxic chemicals might arise in the future, as long as everyone does what they can do and use all of the knowledge that they possess, there is still a chance for changes. There is still hope for the future.
September 22, 2016
The book Silent Snow by Marla Cone, was an eye opening book for me. This book was a journal for Marla as she explored the Arctic for dangerous chemicals like PCB’s which contaminated the area. This book was written by her to help show us the modern world what we have been doing to the environment. Marla herself was surprised by how much pollution was in the Arctic which was so far away from any civilization. She added detail by detail on the people and animals that live in the zone, to the process in which the chemicals enter the ecosystem.
This book was very intriguing in its idea to help teach the people of the civilized and settled world that we still are having a huge affect on things world wide, not just in our backyards. From this book, I have learned that it's not only in the ocean that we have to worry about pollution, but we have to worry about it world wide, even where people haven't been in for centuries. Her work done and the research she helped conduct is defiantly vital to the healing of the Arctic and other ecosystems world wide. Her writing had a lot of detail but was very repetitive thought the book which was her only downfall. Other than that her, journal was very interesting and was one of the most interesting science books I have ever read.
This book was very intriguing in its idea to help teach the people of the civilized and settled world that we still are having a huge affect on things world wide, not just in our backyards. From this book, I have learned that it's not only in the ocean that we have to worry about pollution, but we have to worry about it world wide, even where people haven't been in for centuries. Her work done and the research she helped conduct is defiantly vital to the healing of the Arctic and other ecosystems world wide. Her writing had a lot of detail but was very repetitive thought the book which was her only downfall. Other than that her, journal was very interesting and was one of the most interesting science books I have ever read.
August 5, 2015
Silent Snow: The Slow Poisoning of the Artic by Marla Cone is one of those books that makes you really understand the footprint that mankind has left on this world. By showing us the extent of our actions, and the consiquences that evolved from them, this book truly strikes home. And it's not just the environment that we are hurting, but ourselves. The build-up of PCBs, DDT, and mercury has taken its toll on the people of the north, and what was once the healthiest diet on earth now comes with the cost of their children. But it's not just the people of the artic that are effected. All of us to some degree hold within us these toxic chemicals, some more than others. This book inspired me to spread the word about this pressing issue, and to inform others about the precautionary measures our society must make in order to stop the killing of the top predators (including us humans) that inhabit Earth. I highly reccomend this book to everyone, for knowledge is power, and with this knowledge comes the ability to stop these pollutants.
August 23, 2015
Living in an extremely urbanized setting, reading this book was a slap in the face. It pointed out the effects humans living and working in settings like mine, are affecting the humans and wildlife all the way in the Arctic. Cone gave great insight on both the large scale and minute scale of organochlorines. Both the local and political points of view were reviews in this book. It has a great amount of statistics and facts, but also personal stories from many people. Which is what keeps the book interesting. I will point out some chapters do overlap and repeat the same things but, that's just Cones way of making sure the reader comprehends the points she's trying to make. I'd recommend this book to everyone, everywhere. Yes, this is centered around the Arctic, but before it reaches the Arctic, these contaminates are coming from your local factory, or farm or that lake your family camps by every summer. We're all connected one way or another. This is a great read if you want to step aside from small thinking and expand your mind to the rest of the world.
September 24, 2015
Silent Snow by Marla Cone is a scientific nonfiction describing her journey, as she traveled to the Arctic to learn how chemicals such as PCBs effected the area. This book was an interesting concept because it was through the eyes of an environmental journalist, who had seen a lot in her career but was still surprised about how such a secluded area was suffering from chemicals used so far away. She was very informative about what we use the chemicals for, how they travel to the Arctic, and what happens once they get there. Also, she took an interesting take by describing what this meant for the cultures that lived there.
I really liked the idea of this book because I think learning about chemicals is very interesting, and I liked that I got to learn so much about a whole different lifestyle. I did not like the author's writing style, though. A lot of the book was very repetitive and she tended to ramble. Besides that, I learned a lot and I think her work in the Arctic was very important and the information in this book should be more well known.
I really liked the idea of this book because I think learning about chemicals is very interesting, and I liked that I got to learn so much about a whole different lifestyle. I did not like the author's writing style, though. A lot of the book was very repetitive and she tended to ramble. Besides that, I learned a lot and I think her work in the Arctic was very important and the information in this book should be more well known.
September 22, 2016
"Silent Snow:The Slow Poisoning of the Arctic" is a nonfiction book that describes the problems the
Arctic and Greenland face with PCB's and Mercury levels in their people and animals. The chemicals
travel through the wind and water into the Arctic food chain. Animals consume these chemicals at
the base of the food chain with producers but the chemicals follow the energy flow in the food chain.
Humans and polar bears, two species at the top of the food chain, are what scientists are studying for Mercury and PCB levels. The environmental scientists are trying to determine if the Greenlandic
lifestyle is healthy or harmful. In the book the author talks about how the people in Greenland live
off the land which keeps their immune systems high and gives them a strong understanding of the
environment. On the down side they consume large levels of PCB's and Mercury by hunting and
whaling for all their food. The author describes how both lifestyles (Greenlandic and American) have
there benefits and drawbacks.
Arctic and Greenland face with PCB's and Mercury levels in their people and animals. The chemicals
travel through the wind and water into the Arctic food chain. Animals consume these chemicals at
the base of the food chain with producers but the chemicals follow the energy flow in the food chain.
Humans and polar bears, two species at the top of the food chain, are what scientists are studying for Mercury and PCB levels. The environmental scientists are trying to determine if the Greenlandic
lifestyle is healthy or harmful. In the book the author talks about how the people in Greenland live
off the land which keeps their immune systems high and gives them a strong understanding of the
environment. On the down side they consume large levels of PCB's and Mercury by hunting and
whaling for all their food. The author describes how both lifestyles (Greenlandic and American) have
there benefits and drawbacks.
September 23, 2015
At first, I thought Silent Snow, by Marla was going to be a book for earthy crunchy, type people, but then I started to read and there was so much more to this book than the poisoning of the Arctic.
The researchers in this book make you realize that PCB's don't just effect the Arctic but the whole world. The PCB's have a tendency of getting trapped in the Arctic but they're all around you, according the researchers.
There is not one specific study involved in Silent Snow, so you can really get a taste for what some scientist do. One of the cooler jobs explained in this book is, the investigation of PCB's in Polar Bears. This researcher's job is to go out in a helicopter and find polar bears and tranquilize them to get blood samples to test the PCB amount.
This nonfiction book isn't a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat but it will fill your mind with a boat load of knowledge and open your eyes to the problems with PCB's going on in the world today.
The researchers in this book make you realize that PCB's don't just effect the Arctic but the whole world. The PCB's have a tendency of getting trapped in the Arctic but they're all around you, according the researchers.
There is not one specific study involved in Silent Snow, so you can really get a taste for what some scientist do. One of the cooler jobs explained in this book is, the investigation of PCB's in Polar Bears. This researcher's job is to go out in a helicopter and find polar bears and tranquilize them to get blood samples to test the PCB amount.
This nonfiction book isn't a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat but it will fill your mind with a boat load of knowledge and open your eyes to the problems with PCB's going on in the world today.
Read
September 12, 2016This book was a struggle for me to read as it focused just as much on the will and lives of the Inuit trines as the science behind the new threats to the Arctic. I found this troubling as I greatly dislike the spiritual aspect of the book only because it had no application to my studies in my field. Marla Cone's collection of stories from both scientists and Eskimos residing in the Arctic all had the theme of surviving and preserving life in the Arctic, however the debate of whether or not the Inuit people should hunt and breastfeed seems to be a foolish argument. Those who think they should stop doing these two crucial things dont realize that this is the only way to survive in the Arctic, and should read this book so they can realize this.
August 5, 2011
Great book club (i.e. wine club) pick, and a really sobering look at what 40 years of non-stop, heavy pollution has had on the delicate ecosystems in the Arctic. What I found most fascinating was the sociological impact it had on Arctic cultures, whose dependence on contaminated sea life for sustenance and continuation of cultural traditions is threatened by environmental conditions. Incredibly though provoking, especially from the public health stand point and a tragic story worth reading and learning from.
Want to read
September 14, 2015PCBs and DDTs resulted from the overspread of city polluntants, pesticides, and natural earth polluntants spreading up through the atmosphere and into the biosphere of the artic. They effect the animals and people living there. In the book, written by Marla Cone, the true facts and data were presented through textual evidence. I did indeed find the book interesting but a lot of information was repeated and I felt like I was rereading the same information, but explained in a different context every chapter.
October 20, 2007
This book raises an issue that most people never think about--what happens to all the crap we spew into the air and dump into the water? Much of it ends up in the Arctic, poisoning whales, seals, and polar bears, threatening to both wipe out greatly loved species of wildlife and ruin the livelihoods of millions of indigenous Arctic peoples.
My only complaint about this book is that Cone's writing tends to be a little repetitive. Overall, however, this is a minor flaw in an excellent book.
My only complaint about this book is that Cone's writing tends to be a little repetitive. Overall, however, this is a minor flaw in an excellent book.
August 31, 2011
It was good and I kept being astounded by the magnitude of impacts that humans have had both on the arctic ecosystems as well as humans. However the books repeated itself throughout and I would have hoped that it would just get to the point, rather than repeating the facts covered in the previous chapters. However these are facts that everyone should know about.
April 24, 2012
A challenging read simply because the subject matters presents us with problem that simultaneously highlights the inherent hubris of "progress" and humanity's impotence in correcting its greatest mistakes. Read it and be affected by it. Use it as an all too important reminder that every decision we make, individually and collectively, has consequences far beyond what we can see.
July 1, 2012
This book is excellent, but it literally had me in tears. Reading about the polar bears was especially tough going, because I couldn't help but think of the double jeopardy they face: compromised immune systems plus shrinking (read: melting) habitats. All I could picture was a shivering, exhausted polar bear on a lone tiny iceberg, adrift in in the not-so-Arctic ocean.
January 25, 2014
Respetitive but a beautifully written novel.
September 7, 2018
The saying "don't judge a book by its cover" is used a lot and can sometimes be overlooked, however when it comes to this book it should be taken seriously. When I first read this book I didn't research it much which lead to some confusion, despite thinking the book would be about a different topic I enjoyed the writing as a whole. It follows a 12 year old bay named Paul and his thoughts in day to day life. Other characters often mentioned are his geography teacher, mother, and his father Norman. As Paul changes more and more as the story progresses we see in a third person point of view how he feels and how he deals with the stress of everyday life. The pressure and suspense mounts leading to a climatic conversation with his parents that ultimately pushes Paul to a breaking point. Although the book was not what I expected upon opening the book, it took an interesting turn that kept me semi-interested while reading. The complete character development can be clouded on some of the minor characters while it is clearly displayed, and well thought out in the cases of Paul and others. In conclusion, it was a good book however it is not one of my favorite books that I have read, and i do not see myself recommending this book to others due to my personal perspective on the book.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews