Chemicals
Course Readings
Schlosser, Eric Fast Food Nation provides information on the meat industry and chemicals in the food.
Steingraber, Sandra Living Downstream explores the role of chemicals in cancer Time Pt 1 Time Pt 2 WWII origins of petrochemical industry. She appears in Contaminated Without Consent video.
Articles
NYT 09 story about an almost ghost town in Kansas contaminated by lead mining.
Books
Mark Shapiro's new book Exposed (review) Multiple audio interviews Text interview Here's a local audio interview 2007
Angus Wright Death of Ramon Gonzales on pesticide use
Experimental Man: What One Man's Body Reveals… by David Ewing Duncan
Maps
Scorecard.org allows you to see environmental hazards by maps or Zip code ****
ToxMap shows toxic waste sites in US ***
Mapcruzin by Slug Mike Meuser ***
Other Sources
UCSC Library Toxicology Research Guide
Bhopal is one of the worst chemical accidents in history. Article by Mark Hertsgaard.
EPA Head Lisa Jackson 10/09 speech includes important reforms about chemicals. text. Also in audio (Realplayer required)
Audio
Pesticide Drift KQED Quest two part series with links (including pesticide map)
David Ewing Duncan, director of the Center for Life Science Policy at Berkeley and author of "Experimental Man." The book chronicles Duncan's discovery of how his body interacts with environmental toxins. After having his DNA scrutinized, his brain scanned, and undergoing a number of other advanced medical tests to give him a personal snapshot of his body, Duncan unveils what he's learned about the future of human health and the environment. 5/09
Genes, Environment and Health Research KQED Forum Episode 2007
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Hendrick Smith details widespread pollution of America's waterways in the PBS Frontline documentary Poisoned Waters. Audio interview April 20, 2009.
Audio of panel discussion of California's new Green Chemistry initiative. 12/08 See also here and 12/18
Mark Shapiro's new book Exposed (review) Multiple audio interviews Text interview Here's a local audio interview 2007
Websites
Pesticides overview from Encyclopedia of Earth
CA Department of Toxic Substances
Toxicological profiles (Look up chemicals and what they do.
New CA law helps us protect ourselves
Sierra Club Useful Sierra Club site
Children's Environmental Health Network
Eco-USA Superfund sites, organizations
Natural Resources Defense Council
Pesticide Action Network has specific info on California
Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition has info on electronics industry.
Video
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Hendrick Smith details widespread pollution of America's waterways in the PBS Frontline documentary Poisoned Waters. [Audio interview April 20, 2009.
Contaminated Without Consent 16 minutes. Includes Steingraber, and emphasis on kids, who have the highest levels of some chemicals.
Human Rights in the Age of Environmental Devastation and Climate Chaos looks at chemicals and their effects. First Aired: 3/16/2009 55 minutes. Chief of the Cardiology Division of the Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Richmond, California Jeffrey Ritterman explores the consequences of climate change and environmental destruction on our health. (#15577)
Erin Brockovitch DVD211
Blue Vinyl Link
Rachel Carson's Silent Spring VT2457 Excellent introduction to Carson.
Texas Gold: Carolyn M. Scott 2005 21 min.
Fourth-generation fisherwoman Diane Wilson leads a one-woman crusade against Dow and other petrochemical plants, which create 17% of America’s pollution from her Texas town of 1,352. These factories have turned Seadrift from a traditional fishing port into a massive chemical cocktail that poisons the surrounding air, earth and waters—, sardonically dubbed Texas Gold.
Trade Secrets: This documentary exposes the 40 year history of the American chemical industry's supression of information regarding the threats to public health by synthetic chemicals being introduced into the environment at all levels. Addresses the danger to public health by the continued use of approximately 9000 of the 15,000 mass produced chemical substances that have never undergone toxicological study in the United States. Followed by a panel discussion moderated by Moyers including industry spokesmen, environmental, and medical experts. VT7877 120 min.
Toxic Bust 2005 40 mins. Blending fiction and documentary, Toxic Bust weaves the story of a fictitious woman who finds a lump in her breast, together with real-life stories of breast cancer survivors who trace the cause to the chemicals in their environment. The film focuses on three hot spots in America: San Francisco’s Hunter’s Point where the poor live in a toxic stew, and surprisingly Cape Cod and Silicon Valley. Though a warning to all, Toxic Bust reveals that middle-class Boomers who have grown up on lawn pesticides, household cleansers and dry cleaning are vulnerable to toxins and breast cancer. Megan Siler, the producer/director of Toxic Bust, lives in Berkeley, California.
Toxic Legacies VT9128 2001 46 min. Elizabeth Guillette has studied the differences in the children of the Yaqui Valley of Mexico since 1993. The children of the valley towns are far behind those in the foothills in physical coordination, energy, and learning capabilities. The difference she observed was that pesticides have been used in the valley since the 1950s whereas in the foothills, where there is little agricultural industry, there is practically no pesticide use. The program follows Guillette as she meets with scientists for corroboration and possible solutions.
Pam Marrone, founder and former Chairman/CEO of AgraQuest Inc., talks about how she turned her childhood passion and love for bugs into a lifelong commitment that led her to found AgraQuest.
