Polluters

The Making of Our Chemically Altered Environment
Erscheinungsjahr 2012
ISBN: 978-0-19-993096-8
Verlag: Oxford University Press

Buch, Englisch, 240 Seiten, Format (B × H): 156 mm x 234 mm, Gewicht: 409 g

The chemical pollution that irrevocably damages today's environment is, although many would like us to believe otherwise, the legacy of conscious choices made long ago. During the years before and just after World War II, discoveries like leaded gasoline and DDT came to market, creating new hazards even as the expansion and mechanization of industry exacerbated old ones. Dangers still felt today--smog, pesticides, lead, chromium, chlorinated solvents, asbestos, even global warming--were already recognized by chemists, engineers, doctors, and business managers of that era. A few courageous individuals spoke out without compromise, but still more ignored scientific truth in pursuit of money and prestige.

The Polluters reveals at last the crucial decisions that allowed environmental issues to be trumped by political agendas. It spotlights the leaders of the chemical industry and describes how they applied their economic and political power to prevent the creation of an effective system of environmental regulation. Research was slanted, unwelcome discoveries were suppressed, and friendly experts were placed in positions of influence, as science was subverted to serve the interests of business. The story of The Polluters is one that needs to be told, an unflinching depiction of the onslaught of chemical pollution and the chemical industry's unwillingness to face up to its devastating effects.

Zielgruppe

Historians, chemists, and anyone interested in history of science or the history of the chemical industry

Autoren/Hrsg.

Ross, Benjamin

Amter, Steven

Fachgebiete

• Technische Wissenschaften Technik Allgemein Technikgeschichte
• Naturwissenschaften Chemie Chemie Allgemein
• Geowissenschaften Umweltwissenschaften Umweltverschmutzung, Umweltkriminalität, Umweltrecht
• Technische Wissenschaften Verfahrenstechnik | Chemieingenieurwesen | Biotechnologie Verfahrenstechnik, Chemieingenieurwesen

Inhaltsverzeichnis

- Chapter 1 - The Sorcerer's Apprentices

- Part I - Summoning the Spirits

- Chapter 2 - Pollution Goes to Washington

- Chapter 3 - The Rise of the Chemical Industry

- Chapter 4 - Royd Sayers' Service Bureau

- Part II - Fetching a Flood

- Chapter 5 - The Miracle Bug-Killer

- Chapter 6 - Wilhelm Hueper and Environmental Cancer

- Chapter 7 - Bad Air in Los Angeles

- Chapter 8 - Donora's Strangler Smog

- Chapter 9 - A New Deal for Clean Water

- Chapter 10 - Deregulating California's Water

- Chapter 11 - The Stealth Pollutants

- Part III - Holding Back the Deluge

- Chapter 12 - DuPont Tries to Clean Up

- Chapter 13 - The Industry Responds

- Chapter 14 - From Donora to Love Canal

- Chapter 15 - Epilogue: Convenient Hopes and Inconvenient Truths

Über Autor(innen)

Ross, Benjamin
Benjamin Ross is President of the Washington consulting firm, Disposal Safety, Inc. He is both environmental scientist and commentator on current affairs, and has served on committees of the National Academy of Sciences and the USEPA Science Advisory Board.

Amter, Steven
Steven Amter is a Senior Environmental Scientist at Disposal Safety, Inc. Who specializes in the history of pollution.