What�s Gotten into Us? is a deep, remarkable, and empowering investigation into the threats�biological and environmental�that chemicals now present in our daily lives. Do you know what chemicals are in your shampoo? How about your cosmetics? Do you know what�s in the plastic water bottles you drink from, or the weed killer in your garage, or your children�s pajamas? If you�re like most of us, the answer is probably no. But you also probably figured that most of these products were safe, and that someone�the manufacturers, the government�was looking out for you. The truth might surprise you.After experiencing a health scare of his own, journalist McKay Jenkins set out to discover the truth about toxic chemicals, our alarming levels of exposure, and our government�s utter failure to regulate them effectively. What�s Gotten into Us? reveals how dangerous, and how common, toxins are in the most ordinary things, and in the most familiar of places: � Our water: Thanks to suburban sprawl and agricultural runoff, 97 percent of our nation�s rivers and streams are now contaminated with everything from herbicides to pharmaceutical drugs. � Our bodies: High levels of hormone-disrupting chemicals from cosmetics, flame-retardants from clothing and furniture, even long-banned substances like DDT and lead, are consistently showing up in human blood samples.� Our homes: Many toxins lurk beneath our sinks and in our basements, of course, but did you know that they�re also found in wall-to-wall carpeting, plywood, and fabric softeners? � Our yards: Pesticides, fungicides, even common fertilizers�there are enormous, unseen costs to our national obsession with green, weed-free lawns. What�s Gotten Into Us? is much more than a wake-up call. It offers numerous practical ways for us to regain some control over our lives, to make our own personal worlds a little less toxic. Inside, you�ll find ideas to help you make informed decisions about the products you buy, and to disentangle yourself from unhealthy products you don�t need�so that you and your family can start living healthier lives now, and in the years to come. Because, as this book shows, what you don�t know can hurt you.