home

=**Exposed: Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Life**=

**By Mark Schapiro**

 * A. Plot**
 * This book reveals the secrets of how everyday product are made and how global economics play a huge part in that. You see how toxic chemicals are all around and what is being done to stop it. The book explains that the 'green' side and the economics fit together in complex ways.


 * B.Author's Goal**
 * The author's goal in writing this book was to tell people about the risk of toxic chemicals. He wanted to let people know that products that we use daily contain toxins and that how they are being addressed is an intricate system of global politics and power.

> Prediction: My assumption is that the next chapter will be about the toxic chemicals in cosmetics
 * C.Analysis/Prediction**
 * **Hard Power Soft Edge**
 * This chapter is about how Europe has all the power that the U.S. had in the safety regulations of everything. Europe has much higher safety standards dealing with toxic chemicals.They are constantly making new rules and regulations for the rest of the world to follow. America used to be the country that every one looked to for this, but the U.S. has lost power.

Prediction: I think the next chapter will be about the people at risk with the toxic chemicals.
 * **Beauty Bluff**
 * Brussels, in Europe, is the center of opperation for the banning of toxic chemicals. They have all the power. The U.S. is falling behind the new laws and the American companies' European business is paying the price. With a new awareness of toxic chemicals, there is a risk in America of getting sued. Companies all over the world had to reformulate their cosmetics as well as everyday kitchen cleansers and soaps.

Prediction:I think the next chapter will be about how the use of toxic chemicals can cause mutations and genetic problems.
 * **Two Houses of Risk**
 * The powerful European assocaition called POPS makes a lot of decisions about toxic products around the world. They have a list of toxic chemicals called the "Toxic Dozen". They have encouraged all countris to ban these chemicals. President Bush agreed to sign the commitment to ban them. This lead to more chemical awareness which created problems for U.S. companies. At one of the POPS meetings, Mexico, with new found power, nominated lindane to be on the ban list. This was a wake up call for America to see how far their power had gone down.

Prediction: I think the next chapter will be about technology has changed and old methods are dying.
 * **Genetic Boomerang**
 * Genetically engineered crops, or GMOs, were starting to grow in popularity. In France, the farmers were mad that their quality of cuisine was hurt by this; they were also concerned that the genes would get into their crops. So they started to revolt; they went on night raids and destroyed the GMO fields. Many of them were arrested and fined or forced to serve jail time. Organic farms in Iowa were contaminated by nearby GMO fields, because of this they lost their organic certification. This was not viewed as a problem as much as it was in France. The Europeans are more wary about what they eat and how it was grown. On the other hand, in the U.S., if it is not deemed dangerous it is acceptable. Thus, the American corn farmers who exported their crop to other countries in Europe lost nearly all their business.

Prediction:I think the next chapter will be about the advances in sciences and engineering. But because of that the toxic chemicals are exposed.
 * **The Rise and Fall of the Machine**
 * Electronics, of course, die over time; when they do, many of them become hazardous because of the toxic chemicals they contain. Ewaste is a big concern now that we have such a technology based society. Now, there are some new rules aboutwhat the electronics can contain and how they must be disposed of. Because of new regulations companies like, Dell, Microsoft, and others had to completely redisign their products to go along with the new safety standards. Many car companies also have to make disign adjustments to comply with new safety regulations. Futhermore, car companies are expected to take over the desposing of their own products.

Prediction:I think the next chapter will be about China's growing power and what part they play, now and in the future.
 * **Chemical Revolution**
 * Blood tests have shown that the newer generation has been exposed to more toxic chemicals because of the frequent use of electronics and plastics that are coated in toxic substances. This began to raise questions; after scientists did some research, they found that toxins were in things from baby diapers to the German national soccer team jerseys. People began to demand to know what was in the products they were using everyday. This proved to be bad news for companies, who, later, had to change their products and list what was in them.

Prediction: I think the next chapter will be about the individuals with power and how they change things.
 * **Transpacific Drift: China and the Next Big Thing**
 * China has grown immensely and will continue to grow. One major concern is the safety standards of China. Because they have almost no safety regulations, people have brain damages because of toxic fumes. About 700,000 people in China die from air pollution yearly. Because they have lower standards, and so does the U.S., they have to unload all the unacceptable(to Japan and Europe) products on to America. So, America gets some of the most toxic products.


 * **The New Diplomats: Power and Pitfalls**
 * This chapter basically reemphasizes that America was the first global power in environmental safety, but the power has shifted to Europe, or really Brussels, Belgium. There is a constant clash over values and how globalization will tie into it. Because Europe shifted to one currency, their economic strength grew and now they are running the show.


 * D.Muckracking Theme Connection**
 * Muckraking is the exposure of problems in society or politics; this book ties in with that theme perfectly. The author, Mark Schapiro, is 'exposing' the problems in the way products are made or what they contain. He feels that the toxic chemicals in widely used products is a problem that needs to be addressed more and so he is tell people about it and how dangerous it is.