Given what we've all read over the years about toxic chemicals in the environment, I would urge everyone to see the Bill Moyers special tonight on PBS (8:30 EST, I think -- check your local listings).

http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=10600

The Chemical Papers: Secrets of the Chemical Industry Exposed

Don Hazen, AlterNet

March 15, 2001

Bill Moyers TV special to reveal how the public was kept in the dark about the dangers of toxic chemicals.

Every powerful story about fighting for truth and justice has its heroes. This story, a tale of the secrets and lies behind America's chemical industry, is no exception.

Like Erin Brockovich, the paralegal-turned-movie icon who fought against toxic polluters in California, Elaine Ross was determined to uncover the truth. Ross wanted to know what had killed her husband, a chemical plant worker in the bayous of Louisiana, at the untimely age of 46. She teamed up with crusading lawyer William "Billy" Baggett, Jr, the son of a famous Southern litigator, and together they have become central figures in a David-and-Goliath battle to protect the health of all Americans, especially workers.

Now, in the latest chapter of the story, a team led by Bill Moyers has created a PBS special report called "Trade Secrets" that will air on Monday evening, March 26. The special, based on a secret archive of chemical industry documents, explores the industry pattern of obfuscating, denying and hiding the dangerous effects of chemicals on unsuspecting workers and consumers.

At its core, the Moyers show asks a deeply troubling question: With more than 75,000 synthetic chemicals having been released into the environment, what happens as our bodies absorb them, and how can we protect ourselves? As part of the report, Moyers took tests designed to measure the synthetic chemicals in his body -- a measurement known as "chemical body burden." Moyers learned that his body contained 31 different types of PCBs, 13 different toxins and pesticides such as malathion and DDT.

-- Anonymous, March 26, 2001

Answers

thanks. will be watching. :)

-- Anonymous, March 26, 2001

On the news, it spoke of cosmetics and soap as part of the problem. Thanks for the heads up on the program tonight.

-- Anonymous, March 26, 2001

Watching now. Shocking.

Bill Moyers has always been one of my favorites, too. As an aside, believe he studied for the ministry.

Lurkess

-- Anonymous, March 26, 2001

Maggie, speaking of soap, a few years ago I had an opportunity to crawl around a Procter & Gamble soap factory (Ivory Snow, Camay) just after P&G left. Fortunately I was wearing junky clothes, because of a few of those rooms, if I had slipped, well, I would have had to throw the clothes away.

-- Anonymous, March 27, 2001

Did you notice at the end, during the panel discussion, that the guy who was speaking for the chemical industry had previously been one of the regulators at the EPA? Typical bureaucratic move over.

-- Anonymous, March 27, 2001