ABOUT THIS BOOK

This is the shocking true-life story of 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.

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.

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

Sharon Udasin is an environment reporter, based in Boulder, Colorado, 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 The Hill, The Jerusalem Post, and The New York Jewish Week.

Rachel Frazin is a journalist, based in Washington, DC, who covers energy and environment politics and policy. She has reported for The Hill. The Daily Beast, Chicago Sun-Times, Tampa Bay Times, and The Palm Beach Post.

REVIEWS

“Poisoning the Well is an important, disturbing, and beautifully crafted exposé. It unmasks the shameless habits of companies and governments that have been kicking the can down the road for decades — promoting chemicals that have not passed the test of science and unleashing them into the taps of an unsuspecting American public.”

— --Erin Brockovich, consumer advocate and environmental activist

“In this detailed exposé of corporate evasiveness, inadequate governmental response, and determined lawyers and grassroots activists, the authors precisely elucidate environmental and health concerns, landmark court cases, and some hope for technologies that may eventually eradicate these poisons. An eye-opening chronicle of a pervasive chemical disaster that must be more urgently and openly addressed.”

— Booklist, starred review

“Poisoning the Well is an important, disturbing, and beautifully crafted exposé. It unmasks the shameless habits of companies and governments that have been kicking the can down the road for decades — promoting chemicals that have not passed the test of science and unleashing them into the taps of an unsuspecting American public.”

— Erin Brockovich, consumer advocate and environmental activist

"Poisoning the Well is a riveting portrait of the harm caused by PFAS, the forever chemicals which are present everywhere and in all of us. It clearly demonstrates the need to turn off the tap of production and use of these toxic and ubiquitous chemicals."

— Linda Birnbaum, former Director of the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences

“This book takes readers on a journey through the lives of people whose health has been shattered by the toxic grip of forever chemicals. Through real-life stories of pain, loss, and resilience, Poisoning the Well exposes the true cost of poisons that are now everywhere. And it provides a roadmap for how we can regulate these chemicals and bring justice to frontline communities.”

— Leah Stokes, Associate Professor, UC Santa Barbara, and author of "Short Circuiting Policy"

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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