Peace and Environment News* March 1991
|
Peace and Environment News * March 1991 |
Nontoxic, Natural and Earthwise: How to Protect Yourself and Your Family From Harmful Products and Live in Harmony with the Earth.
By Debra Lynn Dadd
Jeremy P. Tratcher Inc., 1990
Available at Earthwise Books for $17.95.
Reviewed by Mike Kaulbars
This book is an update of Dadd's earlier work Nontoxic and Natural: How to Avoid Avoid Dangerous Everyday Products and Buy or Make Safe Ones. Like its predecessor, it is meant to be used on a day-to-day basis rather than read once and forgotten.
As a reference it is easy to use as needed, with common household products grouped by subject and arranged alphabetically within each chapter. Dadd recognizes that many of us find ourselves in circumstances where time, money, or geography do not always permit us to make the most correct choice, so for each product there are several alternatives ranging from the 400 do-it-yourself recipes to commonly available commercial products that are a compromise.
Dadd has rated over 2,000 products in 14 categories covering virtually every aspect of the typical home. The rating system covers a variety of concerns such as toxicity, packaging, and whether the product is cruelty free. For each category she discusses what she considers to be safe and/or environmentally friendly, her rationale for these criteria, and the basis used for judging the products. Under each product is a listing of the harmful or toxic chemicals that are commonly used or associated with it.
Appendix I is recommended further reading on each of the topics covered, while Appendix II lists 600 mail order sources for some of the harder-to-get products recommended in the book.
Scattered throughout the book are discussions related to human health, the environment, and the products in question. Some are simply interesting. Some, like the table and text about prevalence of toxic compounds in the average North American's body, are quite disturbing.
These asides underscore the value of using the book as much as possible by establishing a context for the recommended actions and contributing to an overall understanding of the impact of the North American lifestyle. For a reference work the book is readable and informative if you simply read the asides and skip over the product listings. Then the book can be kept in the kitchen for regular consultation about specific product categories.
Anyone concerned about their health in an increasingly toxic world should get this book and use it, particularly those who know or suspect that they may be chemically hypersensitive or allergy prone. It is certainly an indispensible reference work for everyone who is trying to live lightly on the land.
A copy of this book has been donated to the PERC library.
Converted October 28, 2001 - Lg
To follow up on this article, contact the author or the organizations/individuals mentioned; do not contact the Peace and Environment Resource Centre - we cannot provide follow up or contact information. This article is an archival copy of the printed one in the Peace and Environment News (PEN). Viewpoints expressed should not be taken to represent the opinions of the Peace and Environment Resource Centre, the PEN, or our supporters.
