Rise of the U.S. Environmental Health Movement (eBook)

Kate Davies has worked on environmental health and justice issues for thirty-five years in the United States and Canada. She has worked for numerous nongovernmental and governmental organizations including Greenpeace, the Canadian Environmental Health Organization, and the Sustainable Path Foundation. She is currently on the core faculty at Antioch College’s Center for Creative Change.

Acknowledgments Introduction Environmental HealthThe US Environmental Health MovementBackgroundThis BookPart 1: Historical and Cultural Roots Chapter 1: The European Ancestry of Environmental Health The Philosophy of Ancient GreeceThe Engineering Achievements of RomeThe Spread of Judeo-Christian ReligionsThe Scientific Revolution and the Nature of ScienceSocial Justice and the EnlightenmentThe Environmental Health Consequences of the Industrial RevolutionNew Policies and LegislationRecognizing and Preventing Environmentally-Related DiseasesChapter 2: Early Environmental Public Health The Environmental Health Consequences of the American Industrial RevolutionEnvironmental Public Health ConcernsOccupational Health: Working with the Urban PoorThe Home as an Environment for Protecting HealthThe Progressive Era and Environmental ConservationThe Origins of Urban PlanningPreventing Environmentally-Transmitted Diseases Chapter 3: Environmentalism and Economic Growth Post World War II Economic Growth and the Creation of a Consumer SocietyThe Environmental Health Effects of Air Pollution The Environmental Health Effects of Water PollutionThe Environmental Health Effects of Food QualityThe Antinuclear Movement and the Precedents It SetNew Ideas: Toxic ChemicalsNew Ideas: Deep Ecology and Social EcologyNew Ideas: Population Growth and Resource DepletionThe Rise of EnvironmentalismEPA and the Final Separation of Environmental and Public HealthThe Relationship Between the Environmental Movement and the Labor MovementThe Toxic Substances Control Act and Other Environmental Legislation of the 1970sChapter 4: The Birth of the US Environmental Health Movement Love Canal and Its AftermathThe Beginnings of the Environmental Justice MovementThe Role of Disasters in Building the Environmental Health MovementStruggles for Regional Environmental Health in the Great LakesWinning the Battle Against Waste IncinerationOpposition to Pesticides: An Ongoing StruggleSecuring the Right to KnowToxics Use Reduction and Pollution Prevention: Limited SuccessThe Lead SagaNewer Challenges: Endocrine Disruptors and EpigeneticsPart II: The Contemporary MovementChapter 5: Organizations and Issues The Movement’s Strongest Asset: State and Local Groups The Roles of National Groups The Influence of European Toxics PolicyThe Louisville CharterThe Emergence of National Coalitions Communications and Getting the Word OutThe Importance of Women’s OrganizationsAlliances with Labor OrganizationsNew Ways of Framing Environmental Health: Judeo-Christian ReligionsBeyond Toxics: NanotechnologyBeyond Toxics: Electromagnetic FieldsBeyond Toxics: Fossil FuelsBeyond Toxics: Urban Planning and Green BuildingThe Significance of Foundation FundingChapter 6: Making Environmental Issues Personal Gaining Support from People Affected by Environmentally-Related DiseaseWorking with Caregivers - NursesWorking with Caregivers – PhysiciansEngaging the Health Care SectorProtecting Children’s Environmental HealthFood, Glorious FoodOpposing Toxics in Consumer ProductsAnd in Personal Care Products Pollution in PeopleChapter 7: Precaution and the Limitations of Science The Impossibility of Proving Environmental CausationThe Failure to Consider EthicsThe Distortion and Cover-up of Scientific Information Problems with Risk AssessmentOverview of PrecautionThe Ingredients of PrecautionProgress on PrecautionChapter 8: Environmental Justice and the Right to a Healthy Environment Perspectives on Environmental JusticeConstitutional and Legal Rights to a Healthy EnvironmentScientific Information on Environmental Health Injustice in the USEnvironmental Justice IssuesCommunity-Based ResearchEnvironmental Justice StrategiesThe US Environmental Justice and Environmental Health MovementsChapter 9: Changing Economics, the Markets and Business The Cost of Environmental IllnessMarket Campaigns: OverviewMarket Campaigns: PVC Products and Packaging Market Campaigns: ElectronicsMarket Campaigns: The Health SectorGreen Chemistry and Safer MaterialsSocially Responsible InvestingPartnerships with BusinessConclusion and Next Steps: Strategies for Social Change Strategies for Social ChangeCreating Inspiring VisionsMinding the Gap between our Collective Aspirations and RealitySeeing the Forest and the TreesIdentifying Leverage Points for Environmental HealthOrganizing More, Collective ActionTelling Environmental Health StoriesSelf-CareFinal ReflectionsA Chronology of Key Events in US Environmental Health Selected Resources on Environmental Health