Toxics A to Z

John Harte is professor and chair of the Energy and Resources Group at the University of California, Berkeley, where Richard Schneider and Christine Shirley completed their degrees. Harte is the author of many scientific papers and books, including The Green Fuse (California, 1993). Cheryl Holdren holds a Ph.D. from Stanford University. A population biologist, she specializes in insect and plat ecology.

• How to Use This BookTen Effective Ways to ReduceToxics in Your EnvironmentPrefaceAcknowledgmentsCross-References to Entriesby ExposurePART ONEALL ABOUT TOXICSFUNDAMENTALS1 Toxics in PerspectiveA. Thinking about RiskB. Causes of Death andDisease2 The Language of ToxicsA. How Risk Is DescribedB. Units Used to DescribeToxicsSOME BASIC MEDICAL ASPECTS OFTHE TOXICS PROBLEM3 Testing and Classificationof ToxicsA. Testing ToxicsB. Classification of Toxics4 Toxics in the BodyA. Entry, Dose, and Exit: HowChemicals Harm the BodyB. Sensitive GroupsC. Nutrition and Susceptibilityto ToxicsTHE FOUR MAJOR SOURCES OFTOXIC EXPOSURE5 Toxics in AirA. Air Pollution and HealthB. Smoking and HealthC. Indoor Air Pollution6 Toxics in WaterA. Drinking Water and HealthB. The Threat from Below: Toxicsin Groundwater7 Toxics in FoodA. Food Additives and HealthB. Why Alcohol and OtherChemicals Don't MixC. Food and Cancer: How MuchIs Nature to Blame?8 Toxics in Consumer ProductsA. Inert IngredientsB. Hobbies and CraftsC. Some Product ComparisonsTOXICS AND THE ENVIRONMENT9 Movement of Toxics throughthe EnvironmentA. AirB. WaterC. Soil10 Toxics in the BiosphereA. How Toxic ConcentrationsBuild Up in AnimalsB. Ecological Effects ofToxics11 Three Global EnvironmentalHazards of PollutantsA. The Greenhouse EffectB. Stratospheric OzoneDepletionC. Acid RainFOUR SPECIAL GROUPS OF TOXICS12 Toxic MetalsA. Significance and Sources ofToxic MetalsB. Human Health Effects13 PetrochemicalsA. Sources and ProductsB. Solvents14 PesticidesA. OverviewB. Classification and Patternsof UseC. Human Health ConcernsD. Environmental and EconomicConstraintsE. Cotton: A Case StudyF. Alternatives to ConventionalPest Control15 RadiationA. The Nature of RadioactivityB. The ElectromagneticSpectrumC. How Radiation Affects UsD. Nuclear Fission and NuclearFusionE. Units Used to DescribeRadiationF. Background Exposure andRadiation StandardsG. Estimating the Risk ofRadiationH. Food IrradiationI. Nuclear WarMANAGING TOXICS16 The Waste Crisis: Sourcesand SolutionsA. Overview of the Waste CrisisB. Waste DisposalC. Waste ProcessingD. Recycling and Other Approachesto Source Reduction17 Regulating ToxicsA. The Regulations: AnOverviewB. Protection of Air QualityC. Protection of Water QualityD. Public Health and SafetyE. Waste ManagementF. Additional Laws RecentlyPassed or UnderConsiderationG. The Right to Know aboutToxicsPART TWOA GUIDE TO COMMONLYENCOUNTERED TOXICSacetic acidacetoneacroleinaflatoxinsalachloraldicarbaldrin and dieldrinaluminumammoniaarsenicasbestosaspartameasphaltazinophos-methylbariumbenomylbenzenebenzo[ a ]pyrene (B[ a] P)berylliumBHT and BHAbis(chloromethyl)ethercadmiumcaffeinecaptan, captafol, and folpetcarbarylcarbon blackcarbon monoxidecarbon tetrachloridecarrageenancesium-137CFCschlordanechlorine, hydrogen chloride, hydrochloricacid, and hypochloritechloroformchromiumcreosote2,4-DdaminozideDDTdiazinondicambadichlorvosdioxanedioxinDi(2-ethylhexyl )phthalateEBDCs: mancozeb, maneb, metiram,and zinebethylene dibromide (EDB) and ethylenedichloride (EDC)ethylene glycolethylene oxideextremely low frequency electromagneticfieldsfluoridefood colorsformaldehydefosetyl AIglyphosateheptachlorhydroquinoneiodine-131laser lightleadlindanemalathionmercurymethyl ethyl ketonemethylene chloridemicrowave and radio frequencyradiationmineral fibers (nonasbestos)monosodium glutamate (MSG)naphthalenenickelnicotinenitrates, nitrites, and nitrosaminesnitrogen oxidesnoiseoxalic acidozone and other photochemicaloxidantsparaquatparathion and methyl-parathionparticulate matterPCBs and PBBsplutoniumpyrethroids (pyrethrum andpermethrin)radonsaccharinseleniumsodium hydroxidestrontium-90styrenesulfitessulfur dioxide and sulfates2,4,5-TtetrachloroethylenetoluenetrichloroethanetrichloroethyleneTRIStritiumultrasoundultraviolet radiationvinyl chloridevinylidene chloridewarfarinxylenezincGlossaryCommonly Used Abbreviationsfor UnitsAbbreviations for EnvironmentalLaws and InstitutionsAnnotated Suggested ReadingsSources for Home TestingEquipmentNational HodinesIndex