Such sweet poison: chemicals in our environment and women health.

Such simple scenes play out in the everyday lives of women all over the world. But as this issue's focus section explains, we are surrounded by substances that may be slowly poisoning us and our planet. Apparently benign objects such as vinyl shower curtains and kitchen flooring, household cleaners, personal hygiene and cosmetic products, or "beauty" aids, even some foods, contain chemicals that may have a range of health consequences from allergies and asthma to cancer or autoimmune diseases.

In previous issues of the Women's Health Journal, we have looked at women's health and the environment from different perspectives, exploring women's special link to the earth and our sensitivity to environmental contamination. The pollution of water, air and land by industrial contaminants, pesticide exposure and transgenics are some of the issues that come to mind. However, this section explores more insidious forms of chemical contamination, many of which have only recently been linked to serious illnesses. Articles contributed by colleagues from Canada, the United States, Malaysia and the United Kingdom cover many facets of this issue from the types of contaminants, their methods of transmission and their devastating effects.