0 
The Chemical Kids
| Length: | 60 min |
| Released: | 2001 |
| Ages: |
High School College Adult |
Most people want the conveniences of modern life - the cell phones, computers, and perfect-looking food . But it seems we are paying a high price: being poisoned by chemicals. This excellent film contains many alarming facts and stories about the man-made chemicals we injest in our food and water. Children are the most affected -- damaged physically and mentally by the fish their mothers ate during pregnancy, by eating too much fish or meat themselves, or by drinking water drawn too close to waste dumps.
Chemical Kids takes us around the world, following the trail of the chemistry we have unleashed. It tracks down the researchers who are studying the effects of the millions of tons of chemicals we use. Industry is allowed to use 100,000 synthetic chemicals but we know little about 86,000 of them. The researchers are very behind in their work. In Winona, Texas a chemical plant grew into a hazardous waste powerhouse handling extremely hazardous substances. Despite promises by the plant owners, wastes leaked into the water supply. Experts could not outlaw the chemicals since it would have taken too long to study the ill effects. Many Winona children developed cancer, elephantitus, mysterious skin diseases or albinoism.
Some people are fighting back with demonstrations and lawsuits and some do get compensated for the harm they have suffered. Others try to have some effect on the way industrial plants are designed, to lower the risk of chemical leakage. The media has tried to tell the story; one courageous reporter began a lawsuit on behalf of her polluted home town.
We are just beginning to understand the subtle ways in which such chemicals affect children's ability to learn, how they influence their social behavior, how they impair human ability to fend off disease and to reproduce. Not a single child born today will be able to escape this chemical heritage.
Chemical Kids takes us around the world, following the trail of the chemistry we have unleashed. It tracks down the researchers who are studying the effects of the millions of tons of chemicals we use. Industry is allowed to use 100,000 synthetic chemicals but we know little about 86,000 of them. The researchers are very behind in their work. In Winona, Texas a chemical plant grew into a hazardous waste powerhouse handling extremely hazardous substances. Despite promises by the plant owners, wastes leaked into the water supply. Experts could not outlaw the chemicals since it would have taken too long to study the ill effects. Many Winona children developed cancer, elephantitus, mysterious skin diseases or albinoism.
Some people are fighting back with demonstrations and lawsuits and some do get compensated for the harm they have suffered. Others try to have some effect on the way industrial plants are designed, to lower the risk of chemical leakage. The media has tried to tell the story; one courageous reporter began a lawsuit on behalf of her polluted home town.
We are just beginning to understand the subtle ways in which such chemicals affect children's ability to learn, how they influence their social behavior, how they impair human ability to fend off disease and to reproduce. Not a single child born today will be able to escape this chemical heritage.
"Recommended for college and university libraries … with programs in Environmental Health, Sociology and Political Science." MC Journal: The Journal of Academic Media Librarianship
"a serious hard-hitting presentation…" Science Books & Films
"a serious hard-hitting presentation…" Science Books & Films
