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The California State Assembly is due for a vote on a ban of a dangerous chemical in baby bottles, sippy cups and other items. After the state Senate narrowly passed SB 797, the Assembly, heavily lobbied by chemical and manufacturing companies, has delayed the vote at least once. The chemical in question is Bisphenol A, or BPA, a known endocrine disruptor linked to an array of disorders including obesity and cancer, has been banned in several countries and even several states in the US. And it’s one of the many known toxins that plays the role of lead villain in Douglas Carlton Abrams’ new book, Eye of the Whale. Writing what’s called “fact-based fiction,” Abrams tells a thrilling and tale of how a marine biology PhD student named Elizabeth McKay attempts to interpret urgent new sounds made by whales, only to find that they may be warning humans about the dangers of toxic chemicals facing us, and particularly our children. It is a story that weaves together both honest and corrupt scientists, conniving corporate executives, traditional whalers, and radical eco-activists.

GUEST: Douglas Carlton Abrams, author of Eye of the Whale.

For more information, visit www.douglascarltonabrams.com.