Gifte in unserer Umwelt

We are surrounded by chemicals. Even nature consists of chemicals and is by no means always harmless. Synthetically produced chemicals make our lives more beautiful, more colourful, safer and easier. They come to us as food, cosmetics, paints and varnishes, functional clothing, plant fertilisers, bicycle helmets, medicines, home insulation, condoms and mobiles. Without chemicals, our lives today would simply be inconceivable. But some of them are questionable, some even dangerous. More and more man-made substances are entering the environment and our bodies. Nitrogen oxides end up in the air, pesticides in the soil, plastics in the oceans, heavy metals in drinking water. There are substances of concern in cosmetics, food and household cleaners. If certain concentrations are exceeded, they are poisons. This book reports on the occurrence, origin, effects, limit values and possible consequences of poisons in our environment in a way that is easy to understand even for laypersons.