Inevitably Toxic: Historical Perspectives On Contamination, Exposure, And Expertise

Not a day goes by that humans arenÆt exposed to toxins in our environmentùbe it at home, in the car, or workplace. But what about those toxic places and items that arenÆt marked? Why are we warned about some toxic spacesÆ substances and not others? The essays in Inevitably Toxic consider the exposure of bodies in the United States, Canada and Japan to radiation, industrial waste, and pesticides. Research shows that appeals to uncertainty have led to social inaction even when evidence, e.g. the link between carbon emissions and global warming, stares us in the face. In some cases, influential scientists, engineers and doctors have deliberately ômanufactured doubtö and uncertainty but as the essays in this collection show, there is often no deliberate deception. We tend to think that if we canÆt see contamination and experts deem it safe, then we are okay. Yet, having knowledge about the uncertainty behind expert claims can awaken us from a false sense of security and alert us to decisions and practices that may in fact cause harm.

• | Author: Brinda Sarathy, Vivien Hamilton, Janet Farrell Brodie
• | Publisher: University Of Pittsburgh Press
• | Publication Date: Jun 18, 2019
• | Number of Pages: 280 pages
• | Language: English
• | Binding: Paperback/Science
• | ISBN-10: 0822966123
• | ISBN-13: 9780822966128