Poisoning the Well

Starred review from March 1, 2025
They're called forever chemicals because they do not break down. Instead, they build up in water, air, earth, and the bodies of animals and humans. Nearly all of us have them in our blood, and for some, that means suffering from serious diseases that destroy lives, families, and communities. Environmental journalists Udasin and Frazin explain the science, properties, and uses of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, man-made chemicals numbering in the thousands and long unregulated. Known as PFAS and manufactured by 3M and Dupont among others, they're in nonstick cookware, stain- and water-resistant products, dental floss, clothing, toys, cosmetics, fire-fighting foam, and sludge made from industrial waste and used as fertilizer on croplands. Udasin and Frazin tell the heartbreaking stories of many individuals whose lives have been derailed by PFAS all across the country, beginning in Alabama with Brenda Hampton, who took action when she realized that she and her family and neighbors were caught in a relentless siege of cancer and kidney disease. In this detailed expos� of corporate evasiveness, inadequate governmental response, and determined lawyers and grassroots activists, the authors precisely elucidate environmental and health concerns, landmark court cases, and some hope for technologies that may eventually eradicate these poisons. An eye-opening chronicle of a pervasive chemical disaster that must be more urgently and openly addressed.

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