Customer Reviews

Slow Death by Rubber Duck: The Secret Danger of Everyday Things

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Toxins are a common and widespread problem that is even more inconvenient and has even more personal impact than global warming. The topic leaves most people feeling a mix of overwhelm, anger and hopelessness. But as you may have guessed from the title, "Slow Death by Rubber Duck: The Secret Danger of Everyday Things" takes a different approach.

What started out as a funny joke and dare between friends actually became an amazing project that will empower consumers. Two Canadian environmentalists exposed themselves to everyday products and watched the toxin levels in their body's skyrocket. Sadly, this experiment is something most of us do unknowingly every day. The authors show how our everyday exposures and product choices impact our toxin levels and health risks. Although I am still shocked by how common the toxins are, I was very encouraged to learn that many of them will leave the body in just a few days after reducing the exposure.

Despite the light title, this book is packed with intelligence insights, is backed by research and is fascinating to read. It will help you take actions that will measurably reduce your exposure to harmful toxins. Congratulations to the authors for turning this heavy topic around and pointing to a more positive and hopeful approach that is within our control.

The personal touch that Lourie and Smith employ in explaining just how prevalent chemicals are in our everyday lives, and more important, HOW to reduce our exposure to those chemicals by choosing products in an informed way make this book both readable and useful. Every parent and child care provider should read it to see how to reduce the exposure of our vulnerable young. It does leave you wondering why so many toxins are allowed to be used in our food, cleaners, clothes, and furniture.

I always considered myself to be rather savvy when it comes to where I come into contact with carcinogens on a daily basis. I have known about phthalates and BPA and fire-retardants now for many years, but I had no idea the extent to which the chemical companies have infused their questionable chemicals into every crevice of our daily lives. It is shocking and appalling and completely reckless. The only way we can turn this tide around is to arm ourselves with knowledge and demand change. Read this book! If you're not angry after reading it, you weren't paying attention!

Toxic chemicals are everywhere, but just how harmful are some of the products many of us use on a daily basis? Not sure you want to know?? You might want to skip this book and this review. The book is filled with interesting and easy to understand facts; it is addictive reading.

Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie, environmental activists from Canada, deliberately exposed themselves to some of the chemicals many of us use. For one week, they inhaled, absorbed or ingested a variety of products, and closely monitored their exposure levels using blood and urine analysis; the results made me gasp! Some chemicals showed heavy exposure after just 2 days.

The authors point out that ther are roughly 82,000 chemicals in use in the United States, and each year some 700 new ones are added to the mix. Of these, only 650 are monitored, and even more shocking only (5) have been banned! Even asbestos, a known cancer causing agent, is not banned. Many cancers have been linked to chemical exposure. In 2009 there were 1.5 million new cancer cases expected, and because our bodies "absorb like sponges", this all seems to make perfect sense. It is also believed that many childhood epidemics are due to chemical exposure: asthma, ADHD, autism, and reproductive disorders. It is further believed that certain childhood exposures can lead to adult onset of neurological diseases such as Alzheimers and Parkinson's Disease.

The author's chose (7) chemicals that most of us might likely be exposed to for their hands on research:

* radium - x-ray exposure
* mercury - certain seafoods
* PFCs - Teflon, key ingredient in coating some fry pans, some cosmetics, some clothing
* phthalates and triclosans - smelly scents added to certain shampoos and conditioners, antibacterials soaps as well as other personal care products, have been linked to birth defects, reproductive issues and cancer. some of the brand names mentioned shocked me)
* PCBs - flame retardants (Tris-Bp) used to treat some kids pajamas (thyroid issues)
* BPAs (plastics, perfluorochemicals) - dump those plastics and especially those plastic baby bottles
* DDT - pesticides (infants can be exposed through breast milk). Autism, ADHD, motor development impairment, reproductive defects and cancers

While it is not possible to completely avoid exposure to all chemicals, all the time, this book will help you to become better informed about the chemical dangers lurking close by. Many of the products, would be easy to eliminate. The book also includes a quick reference type list of things individuals can do remove hazardous products from your lives. In case you'd like to become more of an environmental activist, there is other info about how to get involved. I highly recommend this book. If not for you, for the health of your children and grandchildren and the environment.
READ this BOOK - 5/5 Stars

I've always been a bit of a skeptic about wild claims regarding the danger posed by items we handle, wear, and put our food in. I started reading this, expecting to see more anecdotes written by zealots with little in the way of facts. Maybe I was hoping that would be the case.

Instead, each assertion is backed up by thorough research and analysis. I'm a doubter no more. 20 years from now, or maybe less, we'll all be dealing with health problems clearly understood to be caused by the very products that make our lives so convenient today.

I've stopped complaining about my wife's suggestions to use glass whenever possible, just to name one example.

If you don't want to be aware of the risks, don't read this. Ignorance is bliss....in the short run.

I figured I'd better read this after having it recommended to me by several Canada docs who are friends of mine, but also figured it would be written in technical-eeze and BORING. WOW -- was I ever wrong. Slow Death by Rubber Duck is not only densely packed with science and research you can verfify for corroboration, but also with emminently practical advice. Smith and Lourie tell it like it is with much panache and a great sense of humor. You may be freaked out by what you learn, but you will also frequently find yourself laughing, and will exit encouraged and armed with self- and family-protective strategies.

Everyone should read SLOW DEATH BY RUBBER DUCK. Even if we can't solve all the problems of the ingestion of chemicals, we can start. Due to Smith and Lourie's book, I no longer cook with non-stick pans. I use stainless steel and enamel coated cast iron. We do not eat tuna or other large fish. We try to avoid flame retardants and products that contain fragrances. We threw out our plastic coffee cups. We now use glass mugs. I'm buying frozen vegetables rather than those in tin cans. We do not buy anti-bacterial soap. I bought two of these books. I plan to write a letter to the newspaper and then donate one to our local library.

Everyone should be aware of what is in everything you use and how toxic it is or isn't. If you don't have time to read this book and just want the 'bullet points' and tips check out F is for Face Paint which puts lead in our bodies: An A-to-Z Guide to Make Your Household Healthier.

I'm recommending this book to everyone (except those easily alarmed). If you've ever wondered if those pesticides on your neighbour's lawn might cause you trouble, or assumed that rubber ball in your son's mouth was no problem, or noticed how fast polycarbonate baby bottles disappeared from the shelves in spring 2008 when the previous December they were about the only choice available, then this book will open your eyes. Not to be doomsday or anything, but it turns out... it is true -- that a dozens of items we use everyday, slathering on our bodies, eating out of, and breathing in, that we believe are safe, are actually made of substances already proven to be toxic to our health. These chemicals are a factor responsible for the recent increase of a dozen diseases that are plaguing modern day society -- including ADHD, autism, Type II diabetes, infertility, cancer, and Parkinson's Disease. They create a great, invisible pollution now found permeating everyone's bodies, all over the world. This book explains how life has gotten to this state and how you can make changes in your family's life immediately, for quick improvements, and how to get involved for long-term environmental benefit.

Seven chemicals or chemical classes are covered. I like that most of the science is there, but it is intentionally written for the lay person to understand and remember the best actions to take. Especially intriguing is the new science presented -- the authors experimented on their own bodies to give us new data on the ability of these toxins to quickly enter the human body through typical use. I won't change everything in my life now that I know more of the "Secret Dangers of Everyday Things" (as subtitled), but I appreciate being enlightened in certain choices where the negative aspects are no longer completely hidden (let's avoid air fresheners and bathing in antibacterial soap! Don't buy any more non-stick pans! Now I know why to avoid too much of certain fish. And I'm glad I don't use a dozen beauty products everyday). To a certain extent, there's no point crying over spilt chemicals. But we can each now change many of the products we use and demand manufacturers provide safer alternatives. A lot must be done to redirect our toxic future.

This book was written by Canadians and goes into some Canadian politics, but necessarily gives much focus to American culture and politics since most of the chemical companies originated in the US.

The book, Slow Death by Rubber Duck, is an eye opener about the dangers of the chemicals we encounter everyday. The authors spell out clearly how lobbyests for chemical companies actually promote fire retardants as beneficial to the safety of children when the reality is that the same chemicals have lasting negative effects on those who come in contact with them. It is all about profits and not about safety. They push for more regulation and more stringent flame retardant requirements from the government to increase the ways fire retardants are mandated. The number of people who are actually ever in a fire is miniscule compared to the dangers of the chemicals on babies,children and adults. Fire retardants are in children's clothes, furniture, carpets and more and are found in mother's breast milk. Putting fire retardant clothing on babies is like pouring chemicals on their little bodies. Some cotton clothes have fire retardants but there are cheical free clothes available.
The book also discusses non stick cookware and the dangers of Teflon. Safe cookware is stainless steel, copper and cast iron. Even if you don't use Teflon fry pans, the same chemical is used in a tremendous amount of food packaging, including the inside of microwave popcorn bags.
Harmful chemicals are found in toys, electronics, makeup, shampoo, food and more.
If you have noticed an increase in cancers among children and adults, the book makes a correlation between the increase and the use of chemicals that is hard to ignore. Some groups link breast cancer, prostrate cancer, autism and a host of other health issues to the use of harmful chemicals in every day products.
There are steps people can take to avoid as many chemicals as possible but unless the government stops the use of dangerous cheimicals in everyday products, they will continue to effect the health of citizens.
I recommend this book to everyone and especially new mothers to be. It is a great shower gift for an expectant mother although it could be awkward if other gifts obviously include dangerous chemicals. The information is so important but wholly ignored by the public and the government. It is possible that by spreading the word, to start an honest dialogue about the dangers of chemicals in everyday products.