Fake Silk : The Lethal History of Viscose Rayon / Paul David Blanc.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Blanc, Paul David, Author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Rayon.

United States.

Medical Subjects:

United States.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (326 pages)

Place of Publication:

New Haven, CT : Yale University Press, [2016]

Language Note:

In English.

Summary:

When a new technology makes people ill, how high does the body count have to be before protectives steps are taken? This disturbing book tells a dark story of hazardous manufacturing, poisonous materials, environmental abuses, political machinations, and economics trumping safety concerns. It explores the century-long history of "fake silk," or cellulose viscose, used to produce such products as rayon textiles and tires, cellophane, and everyday kitchen sponges. Paul Blanc uncovers the grim history of a product that crippled and even served a death sentence to many industry workers while also releasing toxic carbon disulfide into the environment. Viscose, an innovative and lucrative product first introduced in the early twentieth century, quickly became a multinational corporate enterprise. Blanc investigates industry practices from the beginning through two highly profitable world wars, the midcentury export of hazardous manufacturing to developing countries, and the current "greenwashing" of viscose as an eco-friendly product. Deeply researched and boldly presented, this book brings to light an industrial hazard whose egregious history ranks with those of asbestos, lead, and mercury.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

Preface

1 In the Beginning

2 The Crazy Years

3 Wrapped Up in Cellophane

4 Body Count

5 Rayon Goes to War

6 The Heart of the Matter

7 Rayon Will Be with Us

Notes

Acknowledgments

Index

Notes:

Previously issued in print: 2016.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (publisher's Web site, viewed 24. Apr 2020)

ISBN:

9780300224887

OCLC:

961456436