We are all just a little bit plastic. Traces of bisphenol A or BPA, a chemical used in plastics production, are widely detected in our bodies and environment. Is this chemical, and its presence in the human body, safe? What is meant by safety? Who defines it, and according to what information? Is It Safe? narrates how the meaning of the safety of industrial chemicals has been historically produced by breakthroughs in environmental health research, which in turn trigger contests among trade associations, lawyers, politicians, and citizen activists to set new regulatory standards. Drawing on archival research and extensive interviews, author Sarah Vogel explores the roots of the contemporary debate over the safety of BPA, and the concerns presented by its estrogen-like effects even at low doses. Ultimately, she contends that science alone cannot resolve the political and economic conflicts at play in the definition of safety. To strike a sustainable balance between the interests of commerce and public health requires recognition that powerful interests will always try to shape the criteria for defining safety, and that the agenda for environmental health research should be protected from capture by any single interest group.

Traces of bisphenol A or BPA, a chemical used in plastics production, are widely detected in our bodies and environment.

Here’s help for all adults who want to talk to young children about personal safety. Written by an expert in child safety, this full-color picture book teaches kids (and helps adults reinforce) seven important rules to personal safety in a nonthreatening way. It covers topics like safe versus harmful secrets, safe versus harmful touches, and the importance of having a community of trusted adults to turn to for help. Emphasizing the “check-in” rule and teaching kids to trust their gut instincts, this book gives children the knowledge and confidence they need to make smart choices about their personal safety every day.

Former Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano offers an insightful analysis of American security at home and a prescription for the future. Created in the wake of the greatest tragedy to occur on U.S. soil, the Department of Homeland Security was handed a sweeping mandate: make America safer. It would encompass intelligence and law enforcement agencies, oversee natural disasters, commercial aviation, border security and ICE, cybersecurity, and terrorism, among others. From 2009-2013, Janet Napolitano ran DHS and oversaw 22 federal agencies with 230,000 employees. In How Safe Are We?, Napolitano pulls no punches, reckoning with the critics who call it Frankenstein's Monster of government run amok, and taking a hard look at the challenges we'll be facing in the future. But ultimately, she argues that the huge, multifaceted department is vital to our nation's security. An agency that's part terrorism prevention, part intelligence agency, part law enforcement, public safety, disaster recovery make for an odd combination the protocol-driven, tradition-bound Washington D.C. culture. But, she says, it has made us more safe, secure, and resilient. Napolitano not only answers the titular question, but grapples with how these security efforts have changed our country and society. Where are the failures that leave us vulnerable and what has our 1 trillion dollar investment yielded over the last 15 years? And why haven't we had another massive terrorist attack in the U.S. since September 11th, 2001? In our current political climate, where Donald Trump has politicized nearly every aspect of the department, Napolitano's clarifying, bold vision is needed now more than ever.

There are over 76 million cases of food poisoning a year with 315,000 hospitalizations and over 9 thousand deaths! Food poisoning is a worse public health hazard than toxic waste!

"Is It Safe to Eat?" clearly and carefully examines and clarifies the sometimes bewildering issues that we all can master so we can adjust our behavior to lead healthier, less anxiety-ridden lives. Noted food expert and author, Ian Shaw, also places the risks of food, food-born pathogens and food contaminants into the context of life’s overall risks. His easily understandable, passionate, yet authoritative and informative book helps you get a handle on the key issues such as GM food, cancer-causing agents and agrochemicals, natural toxins, BSE, E. coli, and more. Shaw makes the case that enjoyment of food and eating is a benefit that far outweighs the risks, at least if everyone is aware of those risks and takes sensible measures to minimize them.

Ever wondered whether it’s okay to touch your pet turtle? Share a bed with your pet boa constrictor? Or kiss your adorable cat? Have no fear. No longer will you have to delete your Internet history because you don’t want anyone to know you searched such a seemingly silly subject. Is It Safe to Kiss My Cat: And Other Questions You Were Afraid to Ask is here with answers to these questions about turtles, snakes, and cats, plus more than 150 others on how to stay safe in a complex world. Each entry in the book's six sections is filled with fun facts and logical information pertaining to possible problems with animals, food, health, and (almost) everything else—from cell phones to thunderstorms. In short, bestselling author Carol Ann Rinzler offers a sensible guide to some of life’s most challenging moments that every careful human should have on hand. Filled with fun, witty, and informative quips and tips, Is It Safe to Kiss My Cat is the go-to resource for those yearning to learn the answers to life’s toughest questions.