Whitewash : the story of a weed killer, cancer, and the corruption of science

Whitewash The story of a weed killer, cancer, and the corruption of science

Carey Gillam

Book - 2017

"It's the pesticide on our dinner plates, a chemical so pervasive it's in the air we breathe, our water, our soil, and even found increasingly in our own bodies. Known as Monsanto's Roundup by consumers, and as glyphosate by scientists, the world's most popular weed killer is used everywhere from backyard gardens to golf courses to millions of acres of farmland. For decades it's been touted as safe enough to drink, but a growing body of evidence indicates just the opposite, with research tying the chemical to cancers and a host of other health threats. In Whitewash, veteran journalist Carey Gillam uncovers one of the most controversial stories in the history of food and agriculture, exposing new evidence of c...orporate influence. Gillam introduces readers to farm families devastated by cancers which they believe are caused by the chemical, and to scientists whose reputations have been smeared for publishing research that contradicted business interests. Readers learn about the arm-twisting of regulators who signed off on the chemical, echoing company assurances of safety even as they permitted higher residues of the pesticide in food and skipped compliance tests. And, in startling detail, Gillam reveals secret industry communications that pull back the curtain on corporate efforts to manipulate public perception. Whitewash is more than an exposé about the hazards of one chemical or even the influence of one company. It's a story of power, politics, and the deadly consequences of putting corporate interests ahead of public safety."--Dust jacket flap.

Saved in:
Place a Hold Save to List Email this

2nd Floor Show me where

338.76686/Gillam
1 / 1 copies available
Location Call Number   Status
2nd Floor 338.76686/Gillam Checked In
Subjects
Monsanto Company.
Agricultural chemicals > Environmental aspects.
Agricultural innovations > Social aspects.
Pesticides > Environmental aspects.
Pesticides > Social aspects.
Published
Washington, DC : Island Press [2017]
Language
English
Main Author
Carey Gillam (author)
Physical Description
xiv, 305 pages ; 24 cm
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 255-293) and index.
ISBN
9781610918329
  • Preface
  • Introduction: A Silent Stalker
  • Chapter 1. What Killed Jack McCall?
  • Chapter 2. An Award-Winning Discovery
  • Chapter 3. The "Roundup Ready" Rollout
  • Chapter 4. Weed Killer for Breakfast
  • Chapter 5. Under the Microscope
  • Chapter 6. Spinning the Science
  • Chapter 7. A Poisoned Paradise
  • Chapter 8. Angst in Argentina
  • Chapter 9. Uproar in Europe
  • Chapter 10. When Weeds Don't Die, But Butterflies Do
  • Chapter 11. Under the Influence
  • Chapter 12. Seeking Solutions
  • Epilogue
  • Acknowledgments
  • Notes
  • About the Author
  • Index
Review by Choice Review

Glyphosate is one of the most widely used herbicides around the world; since its introduction in the 1970s, the weed killer has been regarded by regulators as safe for humans and the environment. As the development of glyphosate-tolerant crops continued, the weed killer became ubiquitous. But a growing body of research indicates that the herbicide may not be as benign as once thought. In fact corporate influence and regulator failures have contributed to what amounts to a cover-up of the evidence of glyphosate's links to cancer and other health risks. Gillam, a journalist, presents a compelling account of this herbicide's troubled history and a commentary on corruption in the agriculture industry. The process by which science has been employed to support or refute claims of glyphosate's danger, Gillam argues, should call into question how chemicals and their environmental and human impact are evaluated. Though the use of chemicals in corporate agriculture is a necessary reality, Gillam contends that corporate considerations should not overshadow human and environmental health concerns. The evidence that herbicide-resistant weeds are becoming more prevalent argues for a more holistic view governing of our production of food, feed, and fiber. Summing Up: Recommended. All readers. --Jerry Lee Hatfield, USDA-Agricultural Research Service

Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Booklist Review

Better known as Roundup, the widely used weed-killer glyphosate has been either a tremendous boon for farmers and gardeners or a serious health hazard, depending on who's doing the appraisal. As veteran investigative journalist Gillam points out in this unsettling report on the herbicide and its drawbacks, most of the positive press comes from the herbicide's manufacturer, Monsanto, who, as the title suggests, whitewashed the scientific data to validate its safety. Despite being hyped by Monsanto as safe enough to drink, cutting-edge research in the last decade has uncovered disturbing evidence of glyphosate's role in causing cancer and endocrine disruption, among other dire health issues. Drawing on her experience covering agricultural topics for Reuters, Gillam used freedom of information requests to uncover incriminating correspondence showing that Monsanto colluded with health regulators from the FDA and EPA to cover up glyphosate's dangerous side effects. This is a must-read for everyone concerned about the increasing burden of toxic chemicals in water and food, the health and environmental consequences thereof, and corporate influence on government agencies.--Hays, Carl Copyright 2017 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

Journalist Gillam exposes a plethora of scientific research, legal materials, and documentary evidence recovered from corporate and government resources to paint a damning picture of the peddling of glyphosate by Monsanto and other agribusinesses. Glyphosate, the main ingredient in Monsanto's pesticide Roundup, is also the chemical that many of Monsanto's crops are genetically engineered to withstand. This practice has caused glyphosate to become the "most heavily used agricultural chemical in history." In March 2015 the International Agency for Research on Cancer at the World Health Organization ruled that glyphosate is "a probable human carcinogen" based on a review of multiple independent studies. Throughout this disquieting work, Gillam contrasts independent research that deems the chemical harmful with industry studies that call the pesticide safe-but that chemical companies refuse to share, declaring them "trade secrets." She also covers environmental problems with glyphosate, including pesticide-resistant weeds and soil degradation, and highlights instances where Monsanto provided financial contributions to researchers who then made favorable claims about pesticides, sometimes even using language supplied by Monsanto. "The global market for pesticides is valued at roughly $65 billion a year," Gillam notes, offering an explanation why Monsanto and other companies would partake in what she alleges is a pattern of deception and collusion that is as alarming as the dangerous science in which it engages. Gillam expertly covers a contentious front where corporate malfeasance intersects with issues of public health and ecology. (Oct.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Similar Items