Silent Snow: The Slow Poisoning of the Arctic
by Marla Cone
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Book Summary Information
Author: Marla ConeEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2005-04-10
ISBN: 080211797X
Number of pages: 256
Publisher: Grove Press
Book Reviews of Silent Snow: The Slow Poisoning of the Arctic
Book Review: More compelling evidence that we continue to wreak havoc with our environment
Summary: 5 Stars
In the tradition of Rachel Carson's landmark 1962 book "Silent Spring", author Marla Cone presents "Silent Snow". Cone has been covering environmental affairs for the Los Angeles Times for more than 15 years. She was the recipient of a major grant from the Pew Charitable Trusts to conduct a study of the deteriorating Arctic environment. This book is the culmination of two years of work. During this time Marla Cone visited five Arctic countries and met with dozens of scientists from all over the world. What she found out should frighten you and just might break your heart at the very same time. It is a compelling read.
Did you know that women who reside in remote areas of the Arctic have far higher concentrations of PCBs and mercury in their breast milk than do women who live in the major urban areas of the United States, Asia and Europe? Were you aware that entire ecosystems are being wiped out in areas like the Aleutian Islands? And does it disturb you that polar bears residing near of all places the North Pole are suffering the ill effects of contaminants that were manufactured thousands upon thousands of miles away? It all sounds quite preposterous! And it goes without saying that this situation is so unfair to the indigenous peoples who reside in these areas who get little or no direct benefits from the lion's share of these chemicals and compounds.
In "Silent Snow" author Marla Cone does a splendid job in explaining to the reader the who, what, when. where and why of this tragic situation. She points out that much of the mayhem is being caused by DDT and PCB's that were released into the environment in the 1960's and and 1970's. She goes on to discuss as best she can just how these poisons wound up at the top of the world. We hear from scientists from any number of disciplines who have been studying and trying to solve these enormous problems. We also are introduced to some of the native people themselves who explain what impact all of this is having on their lives. And even as some of the dangers from the DDT and PCBs begin to diminish just a bit we learn of brand new dangers to the region from yet another class of chemicals. Ever heard of the term PBDEs? I sure hadn't. But get used to it because you are going to hear an awful lot about them in the coming years. You will learn just what PBDEs are and what dangers they pose not to just the people of the Arctic, but to each and every one of us. "Silent Snow" is an important book that needs to be read and understood and discussed by as many people as possible. As long as people in the industrialized nations of the world choose to remain blind the problem is likely to get much worse. Very highly recommnended!
Summary of Silent Snow: The Slow Poisoning of the Arctic
Traditionally thought of as the last great unspoiled territory on Earth, the Arctic is actually home to some of the most contaminated people and animals on the planet. Awarded a major grant to conduct an exhaustive study of the Arctic's deteriorating environment, Los Angeles Times environmental reporter Marla Cone traveled from Greenland to the Aleutian Islands to find out why the area is so toxic. What she discovered shocked her: Tons of dangerous chemicals and pesticides from the United States, Europe, and Asia are carried to the Arctic by northbound winds and waves. As a result, Inuit women who eat seal and whale meat have far higher concentrations of PCBs and mercury in their breast milk than women who live in the most industrialized areas of the world, and they pass these poisons to their infants, leaving them susceptible to disease. Silent Snow is not only a scientific journey, but also a personal one. Whether hunting giant bowhead whales with native Alaskans or tracking endangered polar bears in Norway, Cone reports with an insider's eye on the dangers of pollution to native peoples and ecosystems, how Arctic cultures are adapting, and what changes will prevent the crisis from getting worse.Environmental Science Books
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