Economic Poisoning: Industrial Waste and the Chemicalization of American Agriculture

Adam M. Romero's book "Economic Poisoning" challenges the notion that pesticides are solely a harmful byproduct of agricultural production by revealing how they were used as a sink for toxic wastes from mining, oil production, and chemical manufacturing in early twentieth-century American agriculture.

Format: Hardback
Length: 270 pages
Publication date: 16 November 2021
Publisher: University of California Press

The impact of pesticides on the environment and human health is frequently portrayed as a unintended consequence of their perceived benefits in agricultural production. In his book "Economic Poisoning," Adam M. Romero challenges this conventional narrative and presents a captivating historical account of pesticides in American industrial agriculture before World War II. Through meticulous archival research, Romero unveils the intricate ways in which late 19th- and early 20th-century American agriculture, particularly in California, operated less as a marketplace for innovative pest-killing chemical products and more as a conduit for the accumulation of toxic wastes from mining, oil production, and chemical manufacturing. By establishing a connection between farming ecosystems and technology and the economy, Romero offers a novel reimagining of pesticides that challenges readers to reassess their assumptions about food, industry, and the intricate interplay between human and nonhuman environments.

The book "Economic Poisoning" by Adam M. Romero offers a groundbreaking perspective on the history of pesticides in American industrial agriculture before World War II. Through meticulous archival research, Romero reveals how late 19th- and early 20th-century American agriculture, particularly in California, functioned as a sink for the accumulating toxic wastes of mining, oil production, and chemical manufacturing. This reconceptualization of pesticides challenges the traditional narrative that frames their toxicity as an unfortunate side effect of their benefits in agricultural production.

Romero's book connects farming ecosystems to technology and the economy, providing an intriguing reconception of pesticides that forces readers to rethink assumptions about food, industry, and the relationship between human and nonhuman environments. He highlights how the use of pesticides in agriculture was not driven solely by the need to control pests but also by the desire to dispose of toxic wastes generated by other industries. This connection between farming and industry sheds light on the complex web of economic and environmental factors that shaped pesticide use in the past.

One of the key insights of "Economic Poisoning" is the role that California played in the development and widespread use of pesticides. Romero demonstrates how the state's agricultural industry functioned as a testing ground for new chemical products, and how the accumulation of toxic wastes in the state's farming ecosystems led to the widespread adoption of pesticides. This connection between California and pesticide use has significant implications for understanding the global impact of pesticides today.

The book also explores the social and environmental consequences of pesticide use. Romero highlights how the widespread adoption of pesticides led to the degradation of farming ecosystems, the poisoning of farmworkers and rural communities, and the emergence of new health risks associated with pesticide exposure. He argues that the toxic legacy of pesticides has had far-reaching consequences for human health and the environment, and that it is essential to address these issues through sustainable agricultural practices and regulations.

In conclusion, "Economic Poisoning" by Adam M. Romero is a must-read for anyone interested in the history, politics, and environmental implications of pesticides. Through his meticulous research and compelling storytelling, Romero offers a fresh perspective on the complex relationship between agriculture, industry, and the environment. The book challenges readers to reassess their assumptions about pesticide use and encourages them to consider the long-term consequences of our choices in food production and consumption.

Weight: 499g
Dimension: 229 x 152 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520381551