Eco-facts and Eco-fiction : Understanding the Environmental Debate

ISBN-13: 9780415130202 / Angielski / Twarda / 1996 / 280 str.

William H. Baarschers

Opis

Paranoia and pseudo-science have led to serious misconceptions about environment and human health. Biodegradable bags are perceived as environmentally friendly but their decomposition in landfill sites contributes to the greenhouse effect. Potassium rich bananas are regarded healthy but they are also rich in naturally occurring carcinogenic chemicals. The electric car is seen as a solution to air pollution but pollution from car exhaust is transferred to the power plant. This work exposes environmental falsehoods, widely held assumptions and serious errors in environmental vocabulary which have helped to obscure an informed understanding of the environmental crisis. Fears and misconceptions of words relating to scientific and technological investigations are removed for non-scientists through informal explanations of basic concepts and ideas. Examining a wealth of examples of international environmental concern, this work offers a more informed knowledge of the elements of the environmental crisis and moves the environment debate closer to establishing an essential common language.

Recenzje

'It is a fine book and timely...Baarscher's philosophy offers cool common sense as an antidote to the fevered protests of the Green lobbyists and the special pleading of their industrial opponents.' - James Lovelock

'Baarschers has brought an excellent degree of scholarship to focus upon the opposing and conflicting views of what is happening in the Environment around us.' - John Sutherland

'...succeeds admirably in holding the interest whilst leading the reader gently from one point to the next. The book should be required reading for anyone involved with environmental concerns.' - Dr John Allen, Queen Mary and Westfield College

'The book is well laid out with extensive introductory explanations that ease the reader gently into the eco-world and establish a few basic laws of chemistry, physics and biology....Baarschers has written a book that deserves to be read.' - Environmental Health Journal, Jan 99

Spis treści

Chapter 1 Introduction; Chapter 2 The three Es: earth, ecology, and environment; Chapter 3 Science and the scientists; Chapter 4 Chemistry, chemicals, and the chemists; Chapter 5 How toxic is toxic?; Chapter 6 Cancer everywhere?; Chapter 7 Energy and the Laws of nature; Chapter 8 Air for breathing; Chapter 9 Water for drinking; Chapter 10 Food for eating; Chapter 11 Waste not, Want not; Chapter 12 Organochlorines — killer chemicals?; Chapter 13 Conclusion;

O autorze

William H. Baarschers is Professor Emeritus of Chemistry and Senior Advisor to the Resource Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, Lakehead University, Canada