Author Sharon Udasin will discuss her new book, Poisoning the Well: How Forever Chemicals Contaminated America.
Learn how PFAS -- a set of toxic chemicals most people have never heard of -- poisoned the entire country. Based on original, shoe-leather reporting in four highly contaminated towns and damning documents from the polluters’ own files, Poisoning the Well traces an ugly history of corporate greed and devastation of human lives.
Questions? Contact Kerry: keodonnell@somervillema.gov
RECORDING NOTE: This program will be recorded. All registrants will receive the recording via email within 48 hours of the program.
About the Book:
We learn that PFAS, the ‘forever chemicals’ found in everyday products, from cooking pans to mascara, are coursing through the veins of 97% of Americans. We witness the pain of families who lost sisters and daughters, cousins and neighbors, after PFAS leached into their drinking water. We discover evidence that the makers of forever chemicals may have known for decades about the deadly risks of their products—because their own scientists have been documenting these dangers since the 1960s. And we see the failure of our government, time after time, to provide basic protections to its citizens.
It is impossible to read this searing exposé without being infuriated by the recklessness of corporate America. But readers will also be awed by the spirit of ordinary people who, while fighting for their own lives, took it upon themselves to fix a broken regulatory system. Heart-wrenching and maddening, stirring and uplifting, Poisoning the Well offers a unique window into the worst and best of human nature. It is essential reading for anyone concerned about the unfettered power of industry and the invisible threat it poses to the health of the nation—and to each of us.
About the Author:
Sharon Udasin is an environment reporter who has been delving into water contamination and conservation issues for fifteen years. She was a Ted Scripps Fellow in Environmental Journalism at the University of Colorado Boulder and has reported for numerous outlets, most recently covering U.S. West climate issues for The Hill from 2021-2025. She co-authored Poisoning the Well with Rachel Frazin.
This program is presented in partnership with the Tewksbury Public Library and other MA libraries.
Registration will remain open until the program start time. When you register for this event, you'll receive an email confirmation with the Zoom link sent from the Tewksbury Public Library. Please make sure to check your spam folder if you don't see it initially.
