University of California Press Blog

How Everyday Products Make People Sick—Paul D. Blanc on Toxins at Home and in the Workplace

This past summer, I completed the final manuscript of How Everyday Products Make People Sick: Toxins at Home and in the Workplace. Since then, I have been following ongoing stories included in the book. One such story concerns the “recent” emergence of severe lung disease (called bronchiolitis obliterans) among workers exposed to the chemical diacetyl. It seems the outbreak has spread. The disease was first thought to be limited to a narrow industrial sector located in a few Midwestern states: artificial butter-flavored, microwave popcorn production. Now several cases have been confirmed in California in other types of factories using diacetyl and California OSHA (a counterpart to Federal OSHA) is investigating 30 facilities where enough of the chemical is used to give concern over additional disease. It has also become clear that the new disease did not first emerge in 2000, as had been thought. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) was called in to investigate a similar outbreak in 1985 in a bakery in Indiana using diacetyl, but the report was inconclusive and was never followed up. Neither Federal nor Cal OSHA has enacted to date any emergency rules for diacetyl control. In a September 2006 public meeting on diacetyl held in Oakland California, a labor representative asked, “…if exposure to diacetyl is hazardous why is it still being allowed to be used?” The California Health Department member chairing a meeting responded, “…the relationship of diaceytl to bronchiolitis obliterans or other lung disease is not entirely clear.” Later in the meeting, he also noted, “…market forces are probably already operating to reduce the use of diacetyl…”

Watching this story unfold only further underscores the inescapable lesson of the long and sad history of occupational and environmental disease – the same old pattern of slow response and inadequate protection seems to repeat itself again and again.

New Year's Resolutions

New Years Eve and the requisite resolutions are just around the corner. These informative, practical, and witty books are ideal for jump-starting your plans for better living in 2007. From the newest research to time-honored wisdom this selection of well-received titles from UC Press will get you on your way.

The Queen of Fats: Why Omega-3s Were Removed from the Western Diet and What We Can Do to Replace Them by Susan Allport
Allport explains how Western eating habits have caused this nutrient deficiency and through diet recommendations shows how we can bring omega-3s back in order to improve our health. To read an in-depth interview with Allport, click here.

Food Politics: How the Food Industry Influences Nutrition and Health by Marion Nestle
Recommended by such cooking masters as Alice Waters and Julia Child, and reviewed extensively in the media, this award-winning book describes how the food industry has thoroughly confused the public on the fundamental principles for basic health. As Newsday said in their coverage of the book "[A]nyone who cares about what they put in their body ought to read it carefully and think long and hard about the choices. Your life just might depend on it."

The New American Plate Cookbook: Recipes for a Healthy Weight and a Healthy Life by American Institute for Cancer Research
An important and timely cookbook that incorporates the most up-to-date scientific consensus on healthy eating. The recipes reflect contemporary standards of food preparation and presentation resulting in meals that are both healthy and delicious to eat. The goal is to focus on proportion and portion size. When Life Magazine reviewed it, they declared: " With beautiful pictures and helpful cooking tips, these recipes will keep your palate satisfied through the year."

Mark Twain's Helpful Hints for Good Living: A Handbook for the Damned Human Race by Mark Twain
Full of witticisms that only Twain can provide, this is an anthology of aphorisms, short pieces on etiquette, food, fashion, travel, devilishly funny essays, short stories, and unfinished gems-by the best-known and best-loved American writer. As reviewed by O: The Oprah Magazine, ""Few collections could be wiser, funnier, or more, well, sane."

Omega-3s and Your Health

If you're like many Americans, you're paying more and more attention to trans fats and omega-3s. You may also feel overwhelmed by the glut of information available on how diet affects health.

The Queen of Fats: Why Omega-3s Were Removed from the Western Diet and What We Can Do to Replace Them, by Susan Allport, is a much-needed guide to what these essential fatty acids are and how to ensure we're eating enough of them. An award-winning science writer for publications such as the New York Times, Allport has spent the past decade exploring how food shapes behavior and health.

In a recent interview with Associate Director and Publisher Sheila Levine, Allport revealed that she first became fascinated with omega-3s when she learned that they are a critical component of cell membranes in both animals and plants, particularly in the tissues that perform the fastest cellular activities.

Her investigation into biochemistry, diets around the world, food production and processing, and health trends provides a compelling case for the importance of omega-3s. The book includes plenty of practical dietary and health tips; as the author told Levine, "Readers can see where we went wrong with the previous advice and how they can make the necessary changes in their diets to improve their health."

Read the complete interview, or visit the book's website.

Susan Allport recently appeared on NPR's Science Friday to discuss good fats, bad fats, and how to sort them out. Download a podcast of the show.