Read 'n' Seed 2: First Quarter of "Exposed"

So far through "Exposed: The Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Products and What's at Stake for American Power" I have read the first two chapters (41 pages), these chapters were titles "Soft Power, Hard Edges" and "The Beauty Bluff."

So far into my reading the author Mark Schapiro has given a brief overview of the steps the European Union (EU) has taken to rid their products, from computers to makeup, of the toxic chemicals used to make everyday items.  Chapter 2 took a more in depth look into the cosmetics industry and how the EU has made it a top priority to make sure their citizens are safe from these types of toxic chemicals.  On the other hand the United States, for the most part, chooses to turn a blind eye to these issues in order to not compromise profit.  This book will continue to take an in depth look into a large majority of products consumers in the U.S. used in their everyday lives that contain these types of toxins.

Throughout the making of this book Schapiro has interviewed dozens of individuals and organizations form both sides of this spectrum, and the results are staggering.  A European committee of toxicologists known as the Scientific Committee on Cosmetic Products congregated in 2005 to develop a "negative list" of ingredients that are not allowed in cosmetics in Europe.  By the end of 2006 this list had grown from four hundred to more than eleven hundred substances.  Meanwhile the United States just leave it up to the cosmetic companies to decide what is appropriate to include as an ingredient in their products.  A statement from the the FDA's Bureau of Colors and Cosmetics in the book reads, "Cosmetic products and ingredients are not subject of FDA pre-market approval authority.....Cosmetic firms are responsible for substaining the safety of their products and ingredients before marketing."  This book also discusses "glocalism," which is an individual, group, division, unit, organization and community which is willing to "think globally and act locally."  In a nutshell this means that with the actions taken by specific organizations doing their part to following the guidelines put in place by the EU to ensure the safety of their customers, the overall outlook on consumer safety and protection will be viewed as a necessity by most if not all companies throughout all of Europe.

I feel like this impacts everyone within our society because these toxic products will influence us all either individually or the people closest to us.  A statistic found in the book, courtesy of the University of South California School of Medicine, states that women who use hair dyes at least once a month are twice as likely to develop bladder cancer than women who do not; and those who use it for fifteen years or longer face triple the risk.  This is just one of may statistics that have been provided throughout this book, and as a whole this book has completely opened my eyes about how us as citizens of the United States are all at risk of these types of effects.