What do you think?
Rate this book
Weyerhaeuser Environmental Books
The Toxic Ship: The Voyage of the Khian Sea and the Global Waste Trade
In 1986 the Khian Sea, carrying thousands of tons of incinerator ash from Philadelphia, began a two-year journey, roaming the world's oceans in search of a dumping ground. Its initial destination and then country after country refused to accept the waste. The ship ended up dumping part of its load in Haiti under false pretenses, and the remaining waste was illegally dumped in the ocean. Two shipping company officials eventually received criminal convictions.
Simone M. Müller uses the Khian Sea's voyage as a lens to elucidate the global trade in hazardous waste―the movement of material ranging from outdated consumer products and pesticides to barges filled with all sorts of toxic discards―from the 1970s to the present day, exploring the story's international nodes and detailing the downside of environmental conscientiousness among industrial nations as waste is pushed outward. Müller also highlights the significance of the trip's start in Philadelphia, a city with a significant African American population. The geographical origins shed light on environmental racism within the United States in the context of the global story of environmental justice. Activism in response to the ship's journey set an important precedent, and this book brings together the many voices that shaped the international trade in hazardous waste.
Simone M. Müller uses the Khian Sea's voyage as a lens to elucidate the global trade in hazardous waste―the movement of material ranging from outdated consumer products and pesticides to barges filled with all sorts of toxic discards―from the 1970s to the present day, exploring the story's international nodes and detailing the downside of environmental conscientiousness among industrial nations as waste is pushed outward. Müller also highlights the significance of the trip's start in Philadelphia, a city with a significant African American population. The geographical origins shed light on environmental racism within the United States in the context of the global story of environmental justice. Activism in response to the ship's journey set an important precedent, and this book brings together the many voices that shaped the international trade in hazardous waste.
266 pages, Hardcover
Published August 21, 2023
33 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 5, 2025
Really interesting analysis of waste, hazardous waste, & environmental justice
September 17, 2024
Well written and shocking information
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews