POISONED LAND: The Problem of Hazardous Waste

Kiefer begins with some examples of illegal dumping and improperly stored toxic chemicals. (The named villains tend to be small-time individuals, not the companies that dealt with them.) She explains the classes of chemicals involved and how they can harm humans, then reviews different ways in which these substances could be handled, and ends with a rundown of features in the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)--which Kiefer unquestioningly assumes will solve the problem. The book gives the impression that no one was to blame for Love Canal, that the ultimate responsibility for hazardous wastes rests with consumers, that all parties concerned are attacking the problem in good faith, and that passage of the RCRA, along with the Toxic Substances Control Act, ensures that there will be ""no more Love Canals."" Compared to Larry Pringle's independent analyses, this seemingly factual presentation is a snow job. For a hard-hitting overview of the same problem, see Nader's adult book, Who's Poisoning America, below.