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Pick Your Poison: How Our Mad Dash to Chemical Utopia is Making Lab Rats of Us All
How the chemicals in everyday products are killing us—and what the government is not doing about it Did you know that ""nontoxic"" usually means ""never tested""? Or that many green cleaners are good for the environment but terrible for you? Chemist and activist Monona Rossol goes from under your sink to the halls of the powerful, tracing America’s love affair with chemicals that kill, explaining how much worse the problem has gotten in the last decade. Shocking and appalling and completely reckless—that’s how she describes the current prevalence of harmful chemicals in our everyday lives. Scientists have started linking our increased rates of cancer, autism, obesity, and asthma (among others) to chemical exposure and Rossol points the finger directly at the companies and executives making millions of dollars by polluting our environment and introducing toxic chemicals into our bodies. She chronicles how everyday toxins get into our bodies and accumulate over time and provides us with inspiration to make changes at the checkout lines. She also explains that Americans are not nearly as well protected by our government as we might think we are. Unlike the European Union, the United States allows chemical companies to produce toxins for use in U.S. consumer products with little to no oversight. While her tone is wry and entertaining, she’s also well informed, and her fact-filled treatise makes for absolutely terrifying reading. If you’re alarmed by the health risks of the many hazardous chemicals we encounter at home, work, and school, don’t get frightened, get informed. Read Pick Your Poison to learn the facts and find out what you can do about the daily onslaught of toxins that are making lab rats of us all.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published January 19, 2011
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163 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 5, 2018
This book contained more information about the US regulatory system than I needed as a Canadian, but it was a good jumping-off point in thinking about my health, the cleaning products I encounter daily, and how I can take control of my toxic chemical exposure.
June 11, 2016
This is a book you should definitely not judge by the cover. The title alone is cynical enough to turn away any reader without the apocalyptic sky looming in the background, but I'm afraid the damage has been done. The book came out a few years ago and it seems hardly anyone has noticed. It's too bad because the author is a good writer with an interesting background in both art and chemistry. Despite being separate disciplines, she realized the two were inextricably connected. Artists experiment with the same raw materials that chemists study in the lab. Yet the same precautions are not taken even though the risks are the same. The lack of awareness among artists and consumers regarding the potential toxicity of everyday products from art supplies to cosmetics is what inspired the writing of this book. If you've ever wondered if the markers and crayons your kids use are really nontoxic or if eco friendly products are actually safer for you or family to use, then this is a book for you.
January 21, 2013
This book is part autobiographical (certainly in the early chapters dealing with the sexual discrimination the author felt she experienced in the 1950s+) and the chapters & references to toxicity of artists materials.
The author is obviously very passionate about safety & passing on their knowledge but I think it would be improved with editing. Not 'the' book to turn to for information about toxic chemicals in our homes & business but certainly adds to an existing library.
I was interested to read her suggestion of not 'de-toxing' heavy metals because they do more damage during the elimination process than simply staying in our bones (this I need to look more into).
The author is obviously very passionate about safety & passing on their knowledge but I think it would be improved with editing. Not 'the' book to turn to for information about toxic chemicals in our homes & business but certainly adds to an existing library.
I was interested to read her suggestion of not 'de-toxing' heavy metals because they do more damage during the elimination process than simply staying in our bones (this I need to look more into).
August 17, 2018
Objective and informative, sometimes even funny. I enjoyed reading of the author's background and experience at the beginning of the book; she experienced the extreme sexism that was common back in the day, but thankfully she was stubborn and persisted. The book is a little science heavy at times but I appreciate the science being there to back up claims of toxicity. Asks the question of whether all these toxins could be causing chronic conditions like autism but doesn't try to definitely answer that question. The book mainly shows proof that almost every manmade product we use or wear is toxic. Even some natural things can be toxic. Basic soap is the only safe thing. I appreciate that the author hardly cussed at all in the book. In the last two chapters, she offers suggestions about what we can do about all the toxins in our environment.
The only flaws with the book:
1. She didn't say which 25 states have public workers exempt from federal safety inspections.
2. The author seems to trust the CDC and doesn't believe vaccines cause autism. But maybe she just hasn't heard enough stories from parents who say their kids were healthy and developing fine until a vaccine appointment, and then the child regressed into autism soon after.
My favorite quotes from the book:
"Industry's argument that the increase in cancer and chronic disease are due to our living longer is bogus. Some of the fastest rising rates of cancer and chronic disease appear in children. Actually, people in the United States have shorter life expectancies than do citizens in approximately thirty other countries. . . . The majority of the hundred thousand chemicals we find in industrial and commercial products have never even had basic testing for chronic toxicity and carcinogenic effects. Industries don't want to spend the money for these basic tests and certainly will not embark on more complex tests such as the Duke pesticide study, especially when the results would only indict the industries themselves."
"We need to fix this by owning the fact that we let the corporations and the manufacturers introduce untested chemicals and provide misleading labeling. We let this happen because we collectively have an almost religious belief in free market capitalism. We bought the theory that if government regulators get out of the way, manufacturers will be free to create good products, make more profits, and provide us with more jobs, and all of that wealth the CEOs at the top make will trickle down to us. Only now are we learning that manufacturers discovered that they can make bigger profits by shipping our jobs to China. There, cheap products are made that repeatedly need replacing, so we spend more money buying new ones and jamming our landfills full. And that trickle down from the top is not money, it's pee. We also believed the corporate propaganda. We reasoned that companies wouldn't do these evil things because it would be bad for their image, and they might be sued for making hazardous products. In fact, though, CEOs are insulated from most product-liability lawsuits, and their corporations have resources and time on their side at trial. Chronic diseases take years to manifest themselves, and a long, long time is required to prove beyond doubt that a specific chemical has caused a particular individual's disease. Animal cancer tests take two years. Reproductive tests can run even longer. And memories are short."
The only flaws with the book:
1. She didn't say which 25 states have public workers exempt from federal safety inspections.
2. The author seems to trust the CDC and doesn't believe vaccines cause autism. But maybe she just hasn't heard enough stories from parents who say their kids were healthy and developing fine until a vaccine appointment, and then the child regressed into autism soon after.
My favorite quotes from the book:
"Industry's argument that the increase in cancer and chronic disease are due to our living longer is bogus. Some of the fastest rising rates of cancer and chronic disease appear in children. Actually, people in the United States have shorter life expectancies than do citizens in approximately thirty other countries. . . . The majority of the hundred thousand chemicals we find in industrial and commercial products have never even had basic testing for chronic toxicity and carcinogenic effects. Industries don't want to spend the money for these basic tests and certainly will not embark on more complex tests such as the Duke pesticide study, especially when the results would only indict the industries themselves."
"We need to fix this by owning the fact that we let the corporations and the manufacturers introduce untested chemicals and provide misleading labeling. We let this happen because we collectively have an almost religious belief in free market capitalism. We bought the theory that if government regulators get out of the way, manufacturers will be free to create good products, make more profits, and provide us with more jobs, and all of that wealth the CEOs at the top make will trickle down to us. Only now are we learning that manufacturers discovered that they can make bigger profits by shipping our jobs to China. There, cheap products are made that repeatedly need replacing, so we spend more money buying new ones and jamming our landfills full. And that trickle down from the top is not money, it's pee. We also believed the corporate propaganda. We reasoned that companies wouldn't do these evil things because it would be bad for their image, and they might be sued for making hazardous products. In fact, though, CEOs are insulated from most product-liability lawsuits, and their corporations have resources and time on their side at trial. Chronic diseases take years to manifest themselves, and a long, long time is required to prove beyond doubt that a specific chemical has caused a particular individual's disease. Animal cancer tests take two years. Reproductive tests can run even longer. And memories are short."
November 12, 2018
Very informative and interesting book. All products contain poison, so never believe what's written on it ( non toxic etc...). Because non toxic ones contain less persentage of toxic component and consider as 'safe', which is not. Especially cleaning products and materials which children often use to play. Becides, not all labs give correct answers. You can never trust to product sellers, all they care about to sell it 😃 so be aware.
After reading this book i wanted to go and live far away from the big cities, somewhere close to nature and don't use anything that contains chamicals 😃
After reading this book i wanted to go and live far away from the big cities, somewhere close to nature and don't use anything that contains chamicals 😃
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July 3, 2023I don’t think I can rate this book. It was clearly a bombshell must-read when it was released in 2011. Twelve years later, the information is still relevant and important, but much more current research has happened and books have been written. Contains an entertaining biographical chapter for followers of the writer’s vitally important career.
August 6, 2020
Very useful and terrifying. Read the MSDS on everything!
June 26, 2022
As a practicing IH, I can vouch that this information is spot on. It's such a relief to see someone present the topic of chemical exposures in an informed, professional, and accurate manner.
Unfortunately, the book is a little dated now, as there have been some changes made to laws in recent years which address some of the author's major concerns (HazCom, as just one example). This is not necessarily a bad thing (as it gives me hope to see that some things have changed for the better), but it could misinform a modern reader how is less familiar with the regulations as they stand today.
This book would have been an easy 5 stars when published, but the outdated information drops it for the modern reader. What it could really use is an updated edition with modernized information or a whole new book addressing modern concerns.
Unfortunately, the book is a little dated now, as there have been some changes made to laws in recent years which address some of the author's major concerns (HazCom, as just one example). This is not necessarily a bad thing (as it gives me hope to see that some things have changed for the better), but it could misinform a modern reader how is less familiar with the regulations as they stand today.
This book would have been an easy 5 stars when published, but the outdated information drops it for the modern reader. What it could really use is an updated edition with modernized information or a whole new book addressing modern concerns.
March 28, 2014
As I was reading this fine book of poignant warnings, I couldn't help but hear the lyrics of Vinnie Paz: "Your government does not care about you. The people in power do not care about you."
In a nutshell: product labels lie; OSHA is hamstrung; "nontoxic" isn't not toxic; "biodegradable" isn't environmentally safe; "all natural" isn't organic; "organic" isn't Organic; the FDA is impotent; and corporate greed rules the federal roost, leaving us all as silent lab rats for the next few generations to learn from.
"We are clearly clueless about this swamp of chemicals through which we slog."
I've said this before and I'll probably say it thousand times more: we consumers have the ultimate power to change how industries behave through the simple act of CHOICE. Use it wisely ;)
In a nutshell: product labels lie; OSHA is hamstrung; "nontoxic" isn't not toxic; "biodegradable" isn't environmentally safe; "all natural" isn't organic; "organic" isn't Organic; the FDA is impotent; and corporate greed rules the federal roost, leaving us all as silent lab rats for the next few generations to learn from.
"We are clearly clueless about this swamp of chemicals through which we slog."
I've said this before and I'll probably say it thousand times more: we consumers have the ultimate power to change how industries behave through the simple act of CHOICE. Use it wisely ;)
August 24, 2014
This book is really well researched. But I found the jargon made it hard for me to understand. I have no background in chemistry or medicine so I would've appreciated a book that a layperson could read. Also the tone of this book is quite sarcastic & overwhelmingly serious. It felt like Rossol was trying to scare us to death. I can understand her frustrations but please a better bed side manner would probably have gone over better for the average reader. Also her tips at the end of the book were way too generic for my liking. Would not recommend this to anyone who doesn't have a background in the sciences.
July 7, 2013
Informative. Repetitive. A bit too technical for us non-chemists. I don't really need to know the parts per million of Hydrogen to Oxygen or whatever. This could have been 1/4 the length and I would have liked it and been just as informed. imho the book needs a re-edit and a big cut for the next edition. And I would be interested in reading some updates on this subject. Also, I was mistaken in thinking this would also have info about food additives it is all about cleaning products, which, I think, we all know are not very safe, green or not.
July 9, 2015
A quick read with a detailed and important look at what Americans should know about the chemical makeup of products on the market, how they are marketed and the science to back up safety claims. Glad I took the time to read this one and recommend it to anyone concerned with the unregulated nature of chemicals in the US market.
November 9, 2015
OMG! Have you ever thought about what's in your food or common household products and the potential health effects? This book is for you. It will open your eyes to marketing shenanigans and the potentially toxic chemicals we are unknowingly exposed to. As the topic is complex, you might need several sittings to fully absorb the content. A must read for young families!
March 30, 2011
This book helps one become conscious of the various chemicals in our foods and cleaning products that are either marketed as "new and improved" or buried in the ingredients list with esoteric names. Since the author is a chemist, a basic knowledge of chemistry is helpful.
July 15, 2012
Have you ever wondered what exactly goes into your food or to the chemical composition of common household products? This book is for you. It will forever change how you look at products deemed "Safe" and to the potentially toxic chemicals we all are unknowingly exposed to.
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September 29, 2011Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews