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Title: Chemical Sensitivity: The Truth About Environmental Illness (Consumer Health Library) by Stephen J. Barrett, Ronald E. Gots ISBN: 1-57392-195-5 Publisher: Prometheus Books Pub. Date: April, 1998 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $32.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 2.25 (16 reviews)
Rating: 1
Summary: Just the facts, please!
Comment: I find it very interesting that those who read the book and gave it a positive review could ignore the outright arrogance of the authors given that Gots isn't even in the field (see the reviews below). It reads like a child having a tantrum when he doesn't get his way. Speaking from a scientific background, I feel that it is necessary to look at both sides of the argument provided they are presented in a factual manner. The emotions conveyed in this book have without a doubt elicited the emotional responses from the readers.
I find it very disturbing that nowhere in this book does it mention that people are not designed to withstand chemical exposure. Chemicals are not a part of the natural environment! When unnatural elements are introduced into our environment, they cause problems. We've all seen it before. Remember when DDT was supposed to be "good for us"?
In short, I'll just say that if you are looking for a book to present information on MCS to you in a direct, un-tampered way, this book is not for you.
Rating: 1
Summary: Chemical industries attempt to silence chemically injured
Comment: Many large chemical companies such as DowElanco, Monsanto, Procter and Gamble, the Cosmetic Toiletries and Fragrances Association, and other companies and trade associations involved in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and other chemicals, each pay $10,000 per year to keep the Environmental Sensitivities Research Institute(ESRI) going. The head of ESRI is Dr. Ronald Gots, who also runs something called the National Medical Advisory Group, which provides expert witnesses to defend the chemical corporations in tort lawsuits. Dr. Gots is a pharmacologist, not a toxicologist, with no formal training or certification in toxicology. Dr. Gots has not treated or seen patients of his own for 20 years and has never been the physician for a chemically sensitive person. He practiced medicine for only a few years before becoming a full time expert witness and consultant for the chemical industry and other corporations, and many times has testified against MCS patients. It is my understanding that Ronald Gots has also been charged with insurance fraud. I wouldn't be surprised if these large giant chemical companies are paying Dr. Gots for writing this book so they can keep on polluting the planet and causing diseases. More than 2 billion people have cancer alone not to mention the 50 plus autoimmune diseases such as diabetes, MS, Lupus etc. that are being linked to chemicals in the environment. What does that tell us about what the chemical industry is doing??
Rating: 2
Summary: apples and oranges
Comment: "Chemical Sensitivity: The Truth About Environmental Illness" is quite well written. Gots and Barrett must have a good editor, or must be excellent writers. I'm always glad when I buy a book that reads easy.
However, this book (1) distorts information, (2) omits information, (3) makes straw men arguments, and (4) makes illogical arguments.
1. For an example of distortion, the authors cite Staudenmayer's work as if it applies to all persons alleged to have MCS (related to #2).
2. For an example of data omission, the authors leave out Dudley's data, the data on porphyrin metabolism, a 1960s double blind study, among others (these data were available years before this book was published). Why didn't they mention these data?
3. For an example of a straw man argument, the authors imply that since there is no solid evidence that MCS is immunologic, that it therefore is not a physical disease. Huh? There are many diseases (porphyria [genetic in origin], etc.) that are not immunologic in origin, but physical (in origin) nonetheless. It is true that clinical ecologists propose an immunologic origin for MCS, but their theories are not dominant among MCS experts (who link MCS to NO, CNS/ANS malfunction, and other abnormalities).
4. For an example of an illogical argument, the authors cite out-dated position statements in a manner that suggests they refute data obtained after they were written (an obvious logical flaw since something written in 1992 cannot refute data obtained in 1994, etc.).
NOTE: The erroneous arguments they make go on and on. They are not limited to those discussed above.
In addition, the authors have obvious biases: Gots founded ESRI, whose board members are fragrance (perfumes, etc.) and pesticide manufacturers, who obviously have financial conflicts of interest. According to Albert Donnay, Barrett's adult daughter has FM, which overlaps with MCS very, very frequently. Despite the overlap, the book makes no mention of FM literature. The only explanation I can think of, is a political one.
It is for these reasons that I do not recommend this book. If you want to make a case against MCS then read work by Eric Liskey, or buy Staudenmayer's book here from amazon.com
This book, from a strict scientific perspective, is a waste of time.
-- Pat Casanova
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Title: Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: A Survival Guide by Pamela Reed Gibson Ph.D. ISBN: 157224173X Publisher: New Harbinger Pubns Pub. Date: February, 2000 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
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Title: Casualties of Progress : Personal Histories from the Chemically Sensitive by Alison Johnson ISBN: 0967561906 Publisher: MCS Information Exchange Pub. Date: 13 January, 2000 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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Title: Allergic to the Twentieth Century: The Explosion in Environmental Allergies--From Sick Buildings to Multiple Chemical Sensitivity by Peter Radetsky, Bill Phillips ISBN: 0316732214 Publisher: Little Brown & Company Pub. Date: July, 1997 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: Toxic Risks: Science, Regulation, and Perception by Ronald E. Gots ISBN: 0873715101 Publisher: Lewis Publishers, Inc. Pub. Date: 29 October, 1992 List Price(USD): $119.95 |
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