Thomas Kerns teaches medical ethics and philosophy at North Seattle Community College in Seattle, Washington
Summary
Readers drawn to Rachel Carson's Silent Spring, Laurie Garrett's The Coming Plague, or Theo Colburn's Our Stolen
Future will appreciate this work by Thomas Kerns as well. The growing epidemics of chemically induced illnesses
from long-term, low-dose exposure to toxicants in both developed and developing nations are being studied by serious
researchers. Questions are being raised as to how societies will deal with these new problems: Kerns's book is
the first to directly address the ethical dimension of managing environmental health and ubiquitous toxicants (such
as solvents, pesticides, and artificial fragrances). The work includes recent medical literature on chronic health
effects from exposure to toxicants and the social costs of these disorders; relevant historic and human rights
documents; recommendations for public policy and legislation; and primary obstacles faced by public health advocates.
College instructors and students, victims of chemical sensitivity disorders, public health workers, scientists,
and policymakers who are interested in the challenge of these emerging epidemics will find Kerns's text highly
informative.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Preface
p. 1
Introduction
p. 5
Data
p. 25
Health Effects Overview
p. 25
Cancers
p. 29
Respiratory Disorders
p. 32
The Immune System
p. 33
Increased Incidence of Infectious Diseases
p. 38
The Blood-Brain Barrier
p. 40
Sleep Abnormalities
p. 42
Intellectual Function
p. 43
Endocrine System Dysregulation
p. 45
Detoxification Pathways
p. 50
Behavioral Disorders
p. 51
MCS
p. 52
Pesticides
p. 54
Life Disruption
p. 56
Actual Costs
p. 60
How Many People Are Affected?
p. 61
Mechanisms
p. 67
Controversy
p. 76
Principles
p. 91
Prevention
p. 91
Risk-Benefit Assessment
p. 95
Human Rights: An Ethical Counterbalance
p. 111
The Golden Rule, Silver Rule, and Sufferings of the Other
p. 135
The Precautionary Principle
p. 136
Nonconsensual Exposure
p. 140
Tragedy of the Commons
p. 141
Absence of Evidence Is Not Evidence of Absence
p. 143
Moderation in All Things
p. 144
Summary
p. 147
Modest Proposals
p. 154
Research
p. 155
Initial Clinical Presumptions
p. 165
Informed Consent
p. 170
Burden of Proof
p. 183
Disaggregated Safety Standards
p. 191
Safe Schools
p. 192
Safe Workplaces
p. 196
Transparent Processes
p. 197
Full Disclosure
p. 197
Access to Public Spaces
p. 202
Additional Proposals
p. 204
Brick Walls
p. 214
Globality
p. 216
Multinational Chemical Corporations
p. 217
Public Relations
p. 225
Medical Paradigms
p. 230
Others
p. 236
Conclusion
p. 241
North Seattle Community College Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Policy
p. 247
The Nuremberg Code (1947)
p. 251
International Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical Research Involving Human Subjects
p. 253
Draft Declaration of Principles on Human Rights and the Environment (1994)
p. 258
Charter on Industrial Hazards and Human Rights (1996)
p. 263
Twenty Most Common Chemicals Found in Thirty-One Fragrance Products
p. 278
Bibliography
p. 283
Index
p. 293
Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.
