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Silent Snow: The Slow Poisoning of the Arctic

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The premise of Marla Cone's silent snow is simple: The toxins we place into the environment are drawn north and poision the land and people of the Arctic. Considering that this land is some of the most remote and rugged on the planet, and that the people living in the Artic live a life as close to their ancestral culture and beliefs as any, it's a sad commentary on the western world that we've allowed this to happen.

Ms. Cone presents her story, that of a woman researching the horrific truths behind what scientists are now discovering, in clear, easy-to-read prose. She passes no judgements, though our politicans and corporations have made it far too easy to do so, and she tells the story of the people. Not of stasticis and studies, but of those whose lives are affected by this tragedy.

Her evocative prose paints vivid pictures that made this a "cannot put down" book. Her compassionate voice gives all of us something to ponder, especially as we go about our chemical-fueled lives. Strong writing and a dire message combine to create a book that cannot be missed.

This is the kind of book every reader should hope to discover. Who would expect the world's worst toxic contamination to be in the Arctic? No, this isn't a rhetorical question. Echoing "Silent Spring" author Rachel Carson, Cone delivers a whirlwind tour of one of the most perplexing environmental disasters in modern times: the pollution of sparsely populated, isolated Arctic regions by organochlorines (DDT and PCBs) and methyl mercury. Cone explores the global voyage of such toxins as they make their way from southern, industrialized countries by mainly hitchhiking on atmospheric and ocean currents before settling on various rungs of the food chain necessary for the survival of the Inuit and other indigenous peoples. Cone does a fine job sifting through scientific data and interpreting the phenomenon with a layman's stark curiosity and wonder. She paints a humane, highly personal portrait of families and wildlife whose lives and communities are directly threatened by the contamination. This Arctic dilemma has global implications. And this book shines a much needed light upon its legacies.

The premise is simple, and terrible: The toxins we dump into our environment aren't going away any time soon. It's the same conclusion drawn by Rachel Carson in the book that obviously provided a template for this quick and compelling read by Los Angeles Times environmental reporter Marla Cone. The sad spin added by Cone, however, is that some contaminants are finding their way north, drifting on air and ocean currents, and wreaking havoc on a population that has never benefited from the products that create the pollution: the native Arctic peoples.

Cone sets the scientific stage quickly, explaining how contaminants migrate from their source and accumulate in the ocean food web. She then introduces the researchers that first discovered the excessive toxins in the people and animals living in the pristine, natural Arctic. Cone then tells the stories of the Inuit themselves, explaining what she calls the "Arctic Paradox": The only way people can survive in the Arctic is to eat traditional foods, but eating those foods -- whale and seal -- fills their bodies with poisons.

This is a very well written and well researched book regarding the effects of chemicals on all aspects of the arctic. Ms. Cone addresses the impact that chemicals are having on the human and animal health and the environment. She also discusses the life style and heritage of the inhabitants. It is hard to explain a substance lifestyle to someone who has only gotten their food from a super market. Ms. Cone's description is the best I have read.

For years, we have believed that long living chemicals of the organochlorine type were eventually degrading after we banned their use back in the 1970s. It was certainly a surprise to the environmental community to discover the chemicals were hitching rides on the winds and ocean currents and living on in the Arctic region. Not only were they present, but the amounts present in samples of various animals were staggering to scientists.

These chemicals, which have incredible half lives, do not decay, but rather they accumulate in the tissue of whales, walrus, polar bears and other upper order mammals. Each time an animal eats another, a process known as biomagnification takes place, further increasing the dose in the next animal up the food chain. Since indigenous peoples to the Arctic eat what the sea provides, their bodies are laden with these chemicals. Once thought to be relatively harmless, it has been discovered that they are responsible for cognitive learning problems, immunity issues and a host of other problems. This book takes a critical look at what we have done and are continuing to do to the environment.

It is a well written book, with science presented in a way that can be enjoyed by those with little scientific background. The data found in the book should be alarming, as we continue to produce a number of chemicals that we know little about. This book should be the wake up call for further intense testing of chemicals to insure we are not poisoning generations yet to be born with chemicals that appear, today, to be relatively innocuous.

In the tradition of Rachel Carson's landmark 1962 book "Silent Spring", author Marla Cone presents "Silent Snow: The Slow Poisoning of the Arctic". Cone has been covering environmental affairs for the Los Angeles Times for more than 15 years. She was the recipient of a major grant from the Pew Charitable Trusts to conduct a study of the deteriorating Arctic environment. This book is the culmination of two years of work. During this time Marla Cone visited five Arctic countries and met with dozens of scientists from all over the world. What she found out should frighten you and just might break your heart at the very same time. It is a compelling read.

Did you know that women who reside in remote areas of the Arctic have far higher concentrations of PCBs and mercury in their breast milk than do women who live in the major urban areas of the United States, Asia and Europe? Were you aware that entire ecosystems are being wiped out in areas like the Aleutian Islands? And does it disturb you that polar bears residing near of all places the North Pole are suffering the ill effects of contaminants that were manufactured thousands upon thousands of miles away? It all sounds quite preposterous! And it goes without saying that this situation is so unfair to the indigenous peoples who reside in these areas who get little or no direct benefits from the lion's share of these chemicals and compounds.

In "Silent Snow" author Marla Cone does a splendid job in explaining to the reader the who, what, when. where and why of this tragic situation. She points out that much of the mayhem is being caused by DDT and PCB's that were released into the environment in the 1960's and and 1970's. She goes on to discuss as best she can just how these poisons wound up at the top of the world. We hear from scientists from any number of disciplines who have been studying and trying to solve these enormous problems. We also are introduced to some of the native people themselves who explain what impact all of this is having on their lives. And even as some of the dangers from the DDT and PCBs begin to diminish just a bit we learn of brand new dangers to the region from yet another class of chemicals. Ever heard of the term PBDEs? I sure hadn't. But get used to it because you are going to hear an awful lot about them in the coming years. You will learn just what PBDEs are and what dangers they pose not to just the people of the Arctic, but to each and every one of us.

"Silent Snow: The Slow Poisoning of the Arctic" is an important book that needs to be read and understood and discussed by as many people as possible. As long as people in the industrialized nations of the world choose to remain blind the problem is likely to get much worse. Very highly recommnended!

Great book! Ms. Cone graphically presents the artic environment and its pollution to the reader. A must read for anyone interested in the Artic or the environment.