What a good book to read that isn't the size of War and Piece?

Try Mark Shapiro's Exposed: The Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Products and What's at Stake for American Power.

Shapiro talks about the potential toxins that make it into America destined products vs. the same potential toxins that are banned in the EU.

Your household named companies, such as Proctor & Gamble or Estee Lauder may make the same product in two different ways, one with and one without the potential toxins (carcinogens, mutagens, reproductive toxins -- CMR's), for the US and the countries of the EU, respectively.

How do you like that shnit?

The EU for years has taken this "precautionary principle" toward the ingredients to the products sold within their countries. And they've managed to garner the economic clout to make the precautionary principle stick.

Halliburton managers told workers carcinogen was 'mild irritant,' workers say

Hallburton subsidiary KBR told employees at a water injection plant in Iraq a sand-like substance scattered around the plant was just a "mild irritant," workers recall.

It turns out to be sodium dichromate -- a highly toxic chemical which can lead to cancer even with limited exposure.

Now nine Americans are suing KBR, according to a report in Tuesday's Boston Globe. They say they spent 2 1/2 months covered in the substance as they rushed to get the plant online, a key component in Iraq's oil infrastructure.

"Many of the 22 Americans and 100-plus Iraqis began to complain of nosebleeds, ulcers, and shortness of breath," the Globe's Farah Stockman writes. "Within weeks, nearly 60 percent exhibited symptoms of exposure, according to the minutes of a meeting of project managers from KBR, the Houston-based construction company in charge of the repairs."

According to Oxford University, sodium dichromate is a "NTP human carcinogen and IARC human Group I carcinogen. Inhalation, ingestion or skin absorption are harmful, and may be fatal. Exposure may cause cancer."

Thank you CZ for the information. That book sounds like required reading for people who want to stay healthy.

Catherine, your post also should be made in the 'who loses in war' section. This sounds like a huge loss to me.