Slow Death by Rubber Duck The Secret Danger of Everyday Things

Studies have shown that significant levels of toxic substances can leach out of commonplace items in our homes and workplaces. How do these toxins make their way inside us and what impact do they have on our health? And more importantly, what can we do about them? Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie tackle these questions head on by experimenting upon themselves. Over a four-day period, our intrepid (and perhaps foolhardy) authors ingest and inhale a host of things that surround us all every day, all of which are suspected of being toxic and posing long-term health risks to humans. By revealing the pollution load in their bodies before and after the experiment-and the results in most cases are downright frightening-they tell the inside story of seven common substances. Book jacket.

As executive director of Environmental Defence Canada, Rick Smith is one of Canada's leading environmentalists. He lives in Toronto. Bruce Lourie is an influential environmental thinker, leader, and entrepreneur. He is president of the Ivey Foundation and lives in Toronto.