Wider Journeys: Pollution

Abstract

Proponents of the Gaia hypothesis maintain that the biosphere (the part of the Earth’s surface and atmosphere that supports life) is a single, self-regulating system that maintains conditions for life on Earth. While the point of this chapter is neither to refute nor to support the Gaia hypothesis, the concept of the Earth as a single system has a great deal of traction within the field of toxicology. In fact, there are a number of strong parallels between the movement of chemical compounds across the Earth’s surface, and the absorption, delivery, sequestration, and biotransformation events that occur within individual animals.

Suddenly, from behind the rim of the moon, in long, slow-motion moments of immense majesty, there emerges a sparkling blue and white jewel, a light, delicate, sky-blue sphere laced with slowly swirling veils of white, rising gradually like a small pearl in a thick sea of black mystery. It takes more than a moment to fully realize this is Earth.

— Edgar Mitchell, Apollo 14 astronaut