Environmental-Health Books

"Toxics A to Z" gives a complete, and thoroughly readable introduction to all of the various potential environmental hazards we face today. Although scientifically based, it gives a very good layman's explanation of the kinds of hazards to watch out for, and what we can do to avoid or reduce our exposure. Without being alarmist, it points out not just what we should be worried about, but the actions we can take to aviod these hazards and to help eliminate them from our environment. The book also gives a literally "A to Z" coverage of many of the everyday toxics we might be exposed to, either at home or at the workplace, without ever realizing it. An extremely informative and empowering book!

If you are concerned about the fumes you breathe at the gas pump, the No Pest Strip at home, or the pesticides on your fruit, then this is the book for you. Thousand of chemicals are listed and the level of toxicity is given. These are chemicals you encounter everyday.

This is a well written and excellently researched book.
It uses various studies to show how tallness is not always advantageous for the individual and the planet.
As each Western generation gets progressively taller, Samarus argues more resorces will be used and longevity may well decline.
I have often thought that todays Western supersized babies and children not only look unattractive but are not necessarily healthy.

Only one thing that does not appeal to me, personally ,are the references to vivisection to back up theories. I personally find vivisection unscientific and unethical. I dig the rest of the book though.

Samaras' book is an invaluable and rare resource for anyone wanting to explore the truths and myths around human height. We are all familiar with the assumption that taller is better, and have all lived with the consequences and prejudices (internal and external) of this assumption but height is a subject that is rarely discussed studdied or addressed.

As an engineer turned height researcher, Samaras takes a methodical approach to exploring this subject, showing that there are inherent advantages as well as disadvantages to all heights. Some of the chapters read like technical specs (complete with diagrams) so I cannot say that the book is a FUN read, but it does give the reader a multitude of tools for evaluating and appreciating the strengths of her or his body type.

For myself as a short person who had been given the message that my body was inferior this book gave me the essential tools to turn that view around and take my body back.

This reviewer should really keep his big mouth shut, since he has a stake of sorts in this, the world's so far most extensive water supply, sanitation and hygiene programme, albeit most of the time since 1970 through 1990 at respectful distance in space and time. That notwithstanding, I would like to take the opportunity of this forum to highly recommend, nay, urge, anyone interested in the development, use and care for the world's increasingly overused freshwater resources, to procure and carefully peruse this book.

This warm recommendation goes not only for water and sanitation specialists, including health and hygiene educators, and medical minds -- it should be heeded by anyone, interested in making life more livable and enjoyable for fellow man, woman, and child. No matter, where you live or work, whether in India, where the action of this remarkable history is taking place, or anywhere else in the world.

Maggie Black's and Rupert Talbot's very recently (2005) published "Water -- A Matter of Life and Health" is a combination of development history, a major evaluation, and, by implication, guideline and handbook. It deals not only with the giant efforts, now sustained for almost forty years jointly by the Government of India in close partnership with a number of national and international organisations, non-governmental (NGOs), bi- and multilateral. Foremost among the latter is UNICEF, United Nations Childrens' Fund.

Apart from amply and convincingly explaining what connection there is between a distinctly humanitarian body, such as UNICEF, and, initially, mundane technical matters, such as pneumatic and hydraulic drill rigs, and latrines, sorry, I mean toilets, this well-written book shows on the one hand the complexity of any attempt to improve the quality of life of the poorest of communities. On the other hand, it shows the doability of seemingly impossible aims.

A third aspect is that of the many pros and cons, which cropped out successively in India, as they have done in other regions of the world. Among the pros, the will-you-won't-you integration of water and sanitation with an ever widened scope of community action, the all too slow, but increasing acceptation and empowerment of women to do work, theretofore a firm masculine prerogative.

Volumes could be written as for comments on this, at first sight modest-looking volume. I would leave it to the avid reader to explore the rich food for thought it contains. The final chapter, though, should be especially commended for its emphasis on what concerns should be addressed in the continuation, not only in India, but all over the world. Against the background of the continued global population increase and pressure on the natural and human resources, that chapter, "Water, Life, and Health: Where next?" deals, among the cons, with the ever diminishing quantity of freshwater available, and its deteriorating quality.

One needs not be a doomsday prophet to feel apprehensive about the future for people in India or elsewhere in the world, when the most basic of commodities for life on our planet begins to dwindle, and become poisoned. Neither are Maggie Black, one of the most savvy writers ever on human development, nor Rupert Talbot, one of the best practitioners for water and sanitation in development, any purveyors of doom and gloom. They do not provide any patent solutions, but they derive distinct recommendations for remedies to a difficult situation, not always well known outside the villages and shantytowns of the increasingly impatient humanity, which half of the world's population is confined to.

"Water -- A Matter of Life and Health" should be in the hands of everybody involved or at least interested in making life easier and more pleasurable. For that sake, one would hope for some benevolent donor or donors to fund translations into other languages, as well as to help lower the price or even get it distributed for free for the readership in the developing countries. This may be utopian, but the cost would probably not exceed that of a howitzer or a truckload of Kalashnikovs.

Finally, in the light of the ongoing public debate around the justification and need for reform of the United Nations [system], this little book shows, incomplete and inadequate in many respects that institution may be, what with relatively modest means can be achieved by single nations and their people with the support of the UN system. Not the least -- as for the more ferocious critics among politicians and media moguls -- that'll learn them!

In that context, there are a couple of other highly valid books I would recommend for good supplementary reading about the aims, achievements and future potential of the fragile UN. without shying awary from its problems: Maggie Black's two histories of UNICEF, "The Children and the Nations" (UNICEF, New York, 1986), and "Children First" (Oxford University Press, 1996), and Sir Brian Urquhart's biography of Dag Hammarskjold, along with the same author's own memoirs, "A Life in Peace and War". They could or should all be found, no doubt, through Amazon's good services.

This reviewer should really keep his big mouth shut, since he has a stake of sorts in this, the world's so far most extensive water supply, sanitation and hygiene programme, albeit most of the time since 1970 through 1990 at respectful distance in space and time. That notwithstanding, I would like to take the opportunity of this forum to highly recommend, nay, urge, anyone interested in the development, use and care for the world's increasingly overused freshwater resources, to procure and carefully peruse this book.

This warm recommendation goes not only for water and sanitation specialists, including health and hygiene educators, and medical minds -- it should be heeded by anyone, interested in making life more livable and enjoyable for fellow man, woman, and child. No matter, where you live or work, whether in India, where the action of this remarkable history is taking place, or anywhere else in the world.

Maggie Black's and Rupert Talbot's very recently (2005) published "Water -- A Matter of Life and Health" is a combination of development history, a major evaluation, and, by implication, guideline and handbook. It deals not only with the giant efforts, now sustained for almost forty years jointly by the Government of India in close partnership with a number of national and international organisations, non-governmental (NGOs), bi- and multilateral. Foremost among the latter is UNICEF, United Nations Childrens' Fund.

Apart from amply and convincingly explaining what connection there is between a distinctly humanitarian body, such as UNICEF, and, initially, mundane technical matters, such as pneumatic and hydraulic drill rigs, and latrines, sorry, I mean toilets, this well-written book shows on the one hand the complexity of any attempt to improve the quality of life of the poorest of communities. On the other hand, it shows the doability of seemingly impossible aims.

A third aspect is that of the many pros and cons, which cropped out successively in India, as they have done in other regions of the world. Among the pros, the will-you-won't-you integration of water and sanitation with an ever widened scope of community action, the all too slow, but increasing acceptation and empowerment of women to do work, theretofore a firm masculine prerogative.

Volumes could be written as for comments on this, at first sight modest-looking volume. I would leave it to the avid reader to explore the rich food for thought it contains. The final chapter, though, should be especially commended for its emphasis on what concerns should be addressed in the continuation, not only in India, but all over the world. Against the background of the continued global population increase and pressure on the natural and human resources, that chapter, "Water, Life, and Health: Where next?" deals, among the cons, with the ever diminishing quantity of freshwater available, and its deteriorating quality.

One needs not be a doomsday prophet to feel apprehensive about the future for people in India or elsewhere in the world, when fresh water, the most basic of commodities for life on our planet begins to dwindle, and become poisoned. Neither are Maggie Black, one of the most savvy writers ever on human development, nor Rupert Talbot, one of the best practitioners for water and sanitation in development, any purveyors of doom and gloom. They do not provide any patent solutions, but they derive distinct recommendations for remedies to a difficult situation, not always well known to the world outside the villages and shantytowns of the increasingly impatient humanity, which half of the world's population is confined to.

"Water -- A Matter of Life and Health" should be in the hands of everybody involved or at least interested in making life easier and more pleasurable. For that sake, one would hope for some benevolent donor or donors to fund translations into other languages, as well as to help lower the price or even get it distributed for free for the readership in the developing countries. This may be utopian, but the cost would probably not exceed that of a howitzer or a truckload of Kalashnikovs.

Finally, in the light of the ongoing public debate around the justification and need for reform of the United Nations [system], this little book shows, incomplete and inadequate in many respects that institution may be, what with relatively modest means can be achieved by single nations and their people with the support of the UN system. Not the least -- as for the more ferocious critics among politicians and media moguls -- that'll learn them!

In that context, there are a couple of other highly valid books I would recommend for good supplementary reading about the aims, achievements and future potential of the fragile UN. without shying awary from its problems: Maggie Black's two histories of UNICEF, "The Children and the Nations" (UNICEF, New York, 1986), and "Children First" (Oxford University Press, 1996), and (Sir) Brian Urquhart's biography of Dag Hammarskjold, along with the same author's own memoirs, "A Life in Peace and War". They could or should all be found, no doubt, through Amazon's good services.

This book is a comprehensive guide to First Aid in the wilderness. It points out many injuries and illnesses that you'd commonly find while in the wilderness, and easy-to-follow explainations of what they are, what caused them, how to prevent them, and how to treat them. This is perfect for a Boy Scout or Girl Scout class in First Aid for an upcoming trip; as I use it as the text for the class I teach.
The only area I would say that it is lacking in is the serious, life-threatening injuries, ie cardiopulmonary arrest, tension pneumothorax, etc. However, to be perfectly honest, in the wilderness, injuries like that are very difficult to survive if you are not easily acessable by EMS. Additionally, those injuries are complex, and the treatments aren't always easy to do in the wilderness, much to the contrary, in fact. So understanding them might be important to the field leader, but I don't dwell on the severe injuries too much when I teach because they are difficult to understand, and the treatment is always "Get them to an ambulace and to a hospital as fast as you can."

I highly recommend this book for all Wilderness First aid, and for Mountaineering First Aid.

This is an excellant book especially if you have no experience at all in dealing with emergancy first aid. It give clear, consice information on everything from simple to complete lacerations, emergancy child birth to what to have in a First Aid Kit. Extremely well written and easy to understand.

As an RN,Trauma Nurse Specialist, I found this book to be well written and highly informative. With the speed of modern travel it's also a great reference to have for injuries and illnesses that can occur in far away places that one doesn't see often, or ever in your "home" ED.

As a field geologist, Gulf War veteran and former EMT, I can say that this book is the most comprehensive text I have ever seen regarding outdoor dangers, survival and wilderness medicine. If you work outdoors or spend a lot of time recreating outside, this is a MUST HAVE book!

Foregoing knowledge of the existance of this text was unkown, until it was needed in an emergent situation on site. At that time a stingray injury required our immediate attention. With no previous experience in this kind of injury, the book provided immediate no frills information on treatment, backup care and procedures. After this experience, I carefully examined the text at length and was amazed at the comprehensive nature of the topic that was covered. I would recommend this text to be present in all health care provider libraries and offices, as it is in mine. Dr. H.J. Willis D.O. Emergency & Trauma Physicia

It is no surprise that the Fifth Edition of this unique medical reference is better than ever. For those who are new to this authoritative tome, you will immediately notice how well it is organized to help those in an emergency effectively find the answers they need. The chapters cover Mountain Medicine, Cold and Heat, Burns, Fire and Radiation, Rescue and Survival, Injuries and Medical Intervention, Animals Insects and Zoonoses, Plants, Food and Water, Marine Medicine, Travel and Environmental Hazards, Equipment, Special Populations (issue related to children and the elderly) and the Wilderness.

Every subject is carefully explained so the medical injuries surrounding the subject can be identified and understood in context and with greater detail. For example, to understand how to rescue someone from an avalanche, the reader must understand how avalanches are formed. The book also goes into detail on rescue equipment and their correct use as well as proper self and organized rescues before discussing medical treatments for avalanche victims.

The bulk of the book consists of chapters regarding various injuries and conditions encompassing symptomology, description diagnostic techniques (tests and such) that can be employed, treatment options, and the range of expected prognoses--in a nutshell, what is the likely injury, how do we treat it, and what's the outlook in terms of cure and survival.

A wealth of reliable, understandable information is readily accessible primarily targeting the medical professional but also for the lay person accompanied by very helpful illustrations.

The update is most welcome, as the area of wilderness medicine has grown significantly beyond rescue of mountain climbers to the practice of medicine in situations of constrained resource, during times of catastrophe like 9/11 or Katrina and often in appalling conditions. This new edition also identifies new and better treatments of everything from high-altitude pulmonary and cerebral edema to heart stroke.

A satire worth reading. The author brilliantly lets us know what is happening to our planet. We should be aware. Can we save the planet. Maybe if more people would read this book we'd have a chance.

The book has is very complete manual of differents technics concerning aerosol measurements.

This is an impressive body of work by top scientists including Paul Baron of NIOSH, William Hinds of UCLA, Naomi Harley of NYU, and many others including unique contributions from Russian scientists who are rarely published in the US.

". . . the author displays a rare scholarly and academic acumen in mastering the dynamics behind the spread of Sleeping Sickness and other dreaded diseases in Uganda. this book is highly recommended for social as well as natural scientists, students and policy makers." - Social Justice Review

"The encompassing perspective Jonathan Musere provides in his discussion of African sleeping sickness supports the growing recognition of, and the need for, understanding in terms of a 'web of causation'. . . . this is, indeed, an important book, as is its main message about the devastation of colonialism and about the importance of understanding trypanosomiasis in Uganda, or for that matter, any disease and epidemiological phenomenon in the context of a whole range of interacting socio-cultural, political, economic, and historical as well as environmental, demographic, and biomedical factors." - H.K. Heggenhougen, in Canadian Journal of African Studies