I remember when something made of plastic was considered less than optimum. Now we are consuming, breathing and stitched back together by a myriad of synthetic materials. Baker's book makes it crystal clear how little our health is considered by government or corporations before these products make it to market. She has opened up a very pertinent topic for discussion. Hopefully, it will incite some of us to take action towards greater protections. It is an especially important book for every mother to read.

I heard the author talking about her research and this book on a radio program. On one hand I was excited to listen to the author but on the other hand I was extremely disappointed more and more as the hours went by. The author couldn't answer more than half of the listeners' questions - it made her look less knowledgeable than the listeners. Most of her answers started off like this "I didn't really research on that..." or "I am not the right person to answer..." or "My research is based on heated materials..." I began doubting the breadth and depth of her research when a caller asked 2 questions which she couldn't answer neither of them. They were 1. are flexible cooking utensils safe - she said 'I didn't really look into the silicons...' 2. is cooking spray oil safe? - her answer, 'I guess so it's just oil in a pressurized can, isn't it?' First silicon utensils ARE heated chemicals which she claimed to have her research based upon. The cooking spray oil often has propellants like isobutane, propane or chlorofluorocarbons. Read the label and anyone can find that out. It was very helpful to learn that microwaveable popcorn is dangerous to your health (for which and some other facts stated in the book) I give 2 stars. But I truly wish she was able to show the depth and breadth of her knowledge on the materials she wrote a book about. True, there are too many chemicals for just one person to cover and I appreciate Ms. Bakers's efforts to bring this issue to out attention (along with other books on the same subject). But it was a sore disappointment to see how little she knows.

Body Toxic, by journalist Nena Baker, is a well researched book on a sobering and chilling topic.

Baker describes the ineffectiveness of both the EPA and FDA. She writes: "A scathing 2007 report prepared by members of the agency's own science advisory panel concluded that the FDA is suffering from serious deficiencies that put American lives at risk."

All of us--regardless of how well we take care of ourselves--have bodies filled with chemical contaminants. All animals and humans all over the world have contaminants that are stored in fat, bones, blood and organs.

Chemicals are in virtually everything--toys, water repellent clothes, plastic, paint, cosmetics, cleaners and more. Baker writes that the vast majority of the 80,000 industrial substances in our country have not been tested for potential toxic effects.

Baker calls the mid 20th century "The Synthetic Age," and basically informs us that baby boomer's are the first crop of people to be exposed to heavy-duty amounts of chemicals in everything from hula hoops to polystyrene cups, DDT, Saran Wrap and synthetic clothes.

There is a chapter devoted to the weed killer Atrazine and its affect on frogs, dangerous cosmetics and plastics and perfluorinated chemicals found in non-stick pans. There is also a chapter on looking ahead to much-needed policy changes, and how to avoid excess chemicals from everyday objects.

Baker includes a list of what she does to avoid exposure. The list is a good start, as are the other suggestions in the following chapter, but it is not comprehensive. I suggest Harmonious Environment: Beautify, Detoxify and Energize Your Life, Your Home and Your Planet to supplement The Body Toxic, as it has hundreds of ways to reduce exposure to chemicals. Raising Baby Green: The Earth-Friendly Guide to Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Baby Care is another book with good additional information.

Highly recommend!

Nena Baker's "The Body Toxic" is an informative, well-documented call to action about how everyday toxins - unregulated in the United States - get into our bodies and accumulate over time. Unlike in the European Union, the United States - I was shocked to learn - allows chemical companies to produce toxins for use in U.S. consumer products with little-to-no oversight. If you have kids, read this book. If you thought that consumer safety was a hallmark of the U.S. economy (which I did, naively), think again and read this book. If you are worried about the rising rates of cancer, autism, asthma, and other diseases, read this book. You will learn what you need to know to protect yourself, your family, and maybe even get involved to help eliminate the environmental hazards that are part of our everyday existence. Baker's book is a not a zero-sum argument, either; there is a way to grow our economy and still mitigate the hazardous substances that are heaped on us even though these substances are known to be toxic.