Our Toxic World: A Guide to Hazardous Substances in Our Everyday Lives

Over the years, there have been several books and films that have covered environmentally concerning themes. It is essential that such sensitive themes are presented where a wide range of audience can grasp the theme. Cliche but true, comic genre of books are usually more enjoyable for people amongst all age groups and amasses interested readers. Such is a book I stumbled upon, ‘Our Toxic World: A Guide to Hazardous Substances in Our Everyday Lives.’ The graphic novel written by Aniruddha Sen Gupta and Priya Kuriyan talks about how much of a part have toxic substances have become of our daily urban lifestyles. It discusses an environmental issue of Urban India in every chapter, ranging from construction hazards, automobile pollution, environmental legislation, electronic waste, food toxins, recycling, etc. Even more interestingly, each chapter of the book ends with additional information that will help you better understand  the addressed environmental problems. 

The book narrates in the backdrop of Sachdeva family, an ordinary family. As the book progresses, it describes how  hazardous substances have become omnipresent in their lives. Set up in Delhi, the family goes through various events that cause them harm due to environmental toxicity. Additionally, the book narrates possible solutions and  small actions that can be incorporated in their lives or organic and less harmful alternatives to chemical based products. For instance, in its first chapter, the book discusses about how green building can be an alternative to conventional building in urban areas. It highlights erosion and sedimentation control techniques, use of low energy materials and preserving landscapes of urban areas. In another chapter, the book talks about heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium, chromium, etc. it shows how Anamika, the daughter of the Sachdevas, shows signs of lead poisoning due to regular exposure to lead through lead in the paint of her house, food she eats, etc. with explanations, the book highlights these environmental issues graphically. 

The book lists out grim reality of environmental hazards in a visually appealing manner. In the age where even the most environmentally conscious people can’t find to go through heavy text, ‘Our toxic World’ comes as a breath of fresh air. With illustrations of the book, complex become easier to understand and so does tackling the issues.