Everyday chemicals : understanding the risks

What is the likelihood that common chemicals such as bisphenol-A, which is found in plastic water bottles, are harming us? Should shoppers be concerned about pesticide residues on fruits and vegetables in the supermarket produce aisle? Are we risking adverse health effects when we use insect repellent that contains DEET or slather on sunscreen? Modern life requires us to navigate an endless sea of chemicals. How do we know whether we need to worry about them? This book is a layperson’s guide to understanding chemical risk. The toxicologist Gerald A. LeBlanc offers a nontechnical overview of the key factors in evaluating whether exposure to chemicals in our daily lives could be harmful. He leads readers through the basic concepts of risk assessment using real-world examples. LeBlanc emphasizes that chemical hazard depends on the level of exposure and provides practical strategies for sensible decision making. The book features a series of accessible case studies describing how we all can reach rational conclusions about the danger of typical chemical exposures we experience every day. Giving nonexpert readers the tools to understand chemical risks, this book shows how critical thinking and science literacy can help us live with less fear and anxiety and make reasonable choices when confronted with potential hazards. "The general public has become highly sensitized to the presence of chemicals in their daily lives. Information on industrial contaminants in water, pesticides in foods, and chemicals in cosmetics and personal care products overwhelms the average person with dread that they have lost control over their own health and safety and that of their family. Unfortunately, most books on this subject, written for the lay audience, exacerbate this concern, as they present the hazards of chemicals in our environment with no consideration of whether those hazards are likely to occur under normal living conditions. That is, they present hazard with no consideration of risk. This book condenses and simplifies risk assessment procedures to arm a layperson with the knowledge and tools required to perform rational assessments of whether a chemical they're exposed to is likely to cause harm. Readers are led through the basic concepts of risk assessment using real-world examples. They are taught to use basic research--mostly internet searches--to find scientifically sound information to populate their risk assessments. Importantly, they are taught to approach this conundrum of chemicals in their environment from a rational rather than an emotional perspective"-- Provided by publisher Table of Contents Preface List of Abbreviations 1. The Chemical Paradox 2. Lessons from the Past 3. Elements of Risk 4. Coping with Uncertainty and Variability 5. Assessing Risks 6. Susceptible Populations 7. A Cumulative Risk Assessment: Chemicals on the Produce Shelf 8. Assessing Risks: Pharmaceuticals 9. Assessing Risks: Herbal Supplements 10. Assessing Risks: Chemicals in Our Water 11. Assessing Risks: Chemicals in Our Food 12. Assessing Risks: Chemicals on Our Skin 13. Assessing Risks: The Curious Case of BPA Epilogue Notes Bibliography Index