Toxic Safety:
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Reviews American Journal of Sociology (December 2018) "Toxic Safety is an excellent contribution to environmental and medical social science, and it will be of interest to scholars in sociology, anthropology, and environmental studies. It is also an important resource for activists involved in civic movements for environmental health and environmental justice and for anyone motivated to build a society free of toxic substances." Contemporary Sociology (August 2018) "Toxic Safety is expansive and detailed; it is well written, and the story is told with clarity and conviction; and it sheds considerable light on the history of the flame retardant industry and the conflicting interests surrounding the use and regulation of flame retardant chemicals, as well as the limitations of science in environmental policymaking. This is an essential book for environmental sociologists interested in risk and environmental policy" Bulletin of the History of Medicine (December 2017) "In her conclusion, Cordner mitigates this discouraging description of environmental policy making with recommendations for change. Rather than expecting scientific certainty, stakeholders should use the precautionary principle and act on the best available science to protect public health. Though her approach is evenhanded, she comes down clearly for the necessity for such regulation... A sociological study of policy rather than of material environments and bodies, Toxic Safety ultimately seeks to chart new approaches for regulating toxics without depending on scientific certainty." Medical Anthropology Quarterly (November 2016) " Toxic Safety makes an important contribution to questions about how we regulate environmental chemicals and how stakeholders shape this process. The book will be of interest to a range of readers, including environmental sociologists, public health advocates, and those interested in the politics of flame retardants and environmental health. It could usefully be assigned in advanced undergraduate courses and graduate seminars that address environmental politics." Choice (October 2016) "This book blasts the myth that US industry is overregulated and demonstrates that the public is under protected. Industry creates roadblocks and funds misinformation based on scant, faulty, and even fraudulent 'data. Many others have told the same narratives regarding lead, asbestos, mercury, and solvents in pesticides, but this book provides greater detail regarding the challenges that regulators face. This is an important, well-documented, and well-told account." |