Philip and Alice Shabecoff's POISONED PROFITS in the San Francisco Chronicle

'Body Toxic' and 'Poisoned Profits'
Steve Heilig
San Francisco Chronicle, October 12, 2008

In "Poisoned Profits: The Toxic Assault on Our Children," veteran journalists Philip and Alice Shabecoff focus on a particularly troubling biological fact: that the younger we are, the more vulnerable we can be to chemical impacts. "Developmental" exposures of fetuses and young children can influence their health for a lifetime. "As we looked around, we found that a surprisingly large number of children were suffering from chronic illnesses," they begin, and then proceed to marshal moving examples of tragic impacts and to summarize the vast scientific evidence that chemicals are contributing to many illnesses. Although thorough and detailed in their writing, the Shabecoffs don't mince words about how they feel about their story: Chemically affected kids "are victims of a crime."...

Most helpful to the average concerned reader might be the appendices here, which include practical tips on reducing children's exposures and extensive resources for learning more about this complex arena. Regarding broader preventive efforts, they also explore the emerging field of "green chemistry" and the concept of other preventive approaches. Their exploration of the missing but emerging voice of religion in environmental protection is also very welcome.

To read the full article, click here.