Environmental health : Third World problems--first world preoccupations

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Title:

Environmental health : Third World problems--first world preoccupations

Author:

Mooney, Lorraine.

ISBN:

9780750642231

Publication Information:

Oxford ; Boston, MA : Butterworth-Heinemann, 1999.

Physical Description:

xviii, 236 p. ; 24 cm.

Contents:

Malaria and the DDT story / Kelvin Kemm -- Dirty water : cholera in Peru / Enrique Ghersi and Hector äNaupari -- A sociology of health panics / Frank Furedi -- Ecological risk : actual and hypothetical / Kirill Kondratyev -- Politics, policy, poisoning and food scares / Barrie Craven and Christine Johnson -- Dietary nitrates pose no threat to human health / Jean Louis L'hirondel -- Rachel's folly : the end of chlorine / Michelle Malkin and Michael Fumento -- Organochlorines - natural and anthropogenic / Gordon Gribble -- Nature's hormone factory / Jonathan Tolman -- The saga of the falling sperm counts / James Le Fanu.

Subject Term:

Environmental health.

Developing Countries.

Politics.

Added Author:

Mooney, Lorraine.

Bate, Roger.

Electronic Access:

Publisher description http://www.loc.gov/catdir/description/els033/98055393.html
Table of contents http://www.loc.gov/catdir/toc/els032/98055393.html

Copies:

Available:*

Library	Material Type	Item Barcode	Shelf Number	Copy	Status
Searching... 1:IIEMSA	1:GEN-BOOK	33168020390700	614.4 M818E 1999	1	Searching... Unknown

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Summary

This book underlines the differences in health priorities that exist around the world, and cautions against the export of inappropriate attitudes from developed to less developed countries.

Case studies of malaria in South Africa and cholera and Peru show the fatal consequences of allowing western preoccupations with trivial risks (such as the cancer effects of pesticide residues in foods and chlorine compounds in water) to influence health policy in the third world.

The western health paradox - we are healthier yet more concerned about our health - is described, and the sociological factors that explain the paradox are examined. We discover why people needlessly worry themselves to the point of illness.

Numerous examples of western health concerns are shown to be folly or hugely exaggerated. Nitrates in drinking water, industrial use of organic chlorine (such as PVC and other plastics, pesticides, PCBs, Dioxin) and speculation about declining sperm counts are systematically exposed. Perhaps worst of all, measures prompted by concerns for public safety may be making us less safe. Food poisoning incidents appear to be increasing and much of the blame can be laid at the door of excessive government nannying.

Up-to-date discussion of current issues surrounding health
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