The Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Products

Map of European Union

This is a fascinating story. Its long, but gets heavily into economics and economic power. Most American's have no idea how strong the European Union (EU) is becoming. Think of it as the British Empire on steroids.

American industry would have you believe that taking potentially hazardous and toxic chemicals out of everyday consumer products -- removing phthalates from children's toys and cancer-causing coal tar from hair dye -- would damage our economy and result in a loss of American jobs. In his latest book, Exposed: The Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Products, Mark Schapiro busts this myth and reveals the grim fact that some companies, whether American or international, often have two production lines: one that manufactures hazard-free products for the European Union and another that produces toxin-filled versions of the same items for America and developing countries.

Oh yeah, isn't that cute how the EU lumps America in with developing countries?

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