Customer Reviews

The Poison Paradox: Chemicals As Friends and Foes

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I bought this book because I am interested in science and especially in chemistry. I wasn't disappointed because I found it real fascinating. I like the way its full of fascinating stories about poisoning but also theres lots of interesting information about chemicals. So its the kind of book you can just pick up and read a section of, sort of dip into. At the beginning theres a chapter on how chemicals get inside us and what happens to them. Then there are chapters on drugs, pesticides, chemicals in factories, at home, chemicals in food and so on. And at the end theres a chapter on assessment of risks from chemicals. It shows that chemicals are not all bad.I reckon everyone whose interested in chemicals should get this book.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book because it is fascinating if you read it objectively because it is well balanced and well referenced and documented. It contains lots of interesting nuggets of information and these crop up all the way through. It shows that all chemicals are potentially poisonous but most can be safely used if used properly. So the book counters some of the doom sayers and scare stories and sets the record straight on things like DDT. Timbrell points out that the risks have to be weighed against the benefits (as with DDT and drugs).

I found it a thought provoking book and readable.