Watch Living Downstream

Living Downstream is a 2010 documentary film directed by Chanda Chevannes, based on the book Living Downstream: An Ecologist's Personal Investigation of Cancer and the Environment by biologist and cancer survivor Sandra Steingraber. Steingraber herself stars in the film. The documentary looks at the environmental and human causes and effects of cancer and other diseases, as well as the role of toxic chemicals in our daily lives that have been linked to cancer.

The film starts off with a prologue from Sandra Steingraber in which she outlines the events that led her to focus on the connection between environmental pollutants and cancer. After being diagnosed with bladder cancer, Steingraber began to investigate the potential environmental causes of the illness, since there was no family history of cancer. Her research revealed that there is a correlation between the incidence of cancer in certain populations and the specific chemicals to which they are exposed.

After the prologue, the film is broken up into six different chapters, each chapter exploring a different aspect of the environment and its relationship to cancer.

Chapter One focuses on pesticide use and the impact of these chemicals on human health. Steingraber notes the irony of using chemicals meant to kill small organisms to protect and feed humans. The chapter shows how chemicals like DDT, which were once widely accepted, are now understood to be toxic and banned in most countries due to their link to cancer.

Chapter Two explores the connections between water pollution and cancer. Agricultural and industrial production frequently lead to water pollution, which indirectly or directly affects the quality of drinking water because of the discharge of toxic chemicals. Steingraber recently moved into an area where water pollution is high, where she discovered among the cancer cases in her new community, that breast cancer rates were especially on the rise.

Chapter Three examines the impact of air pollution, including fossil fuel emissions, on human health. Steingraber emphasizes the harmful effects of air pollution on vulnerable populations like children, whose respiratory systems are still developing.

Chapter Four, based on Steingraber's research, explores the historical and current links between cancer and hormone-disrupting chemicals. She shows how these chemicals can alter the hormonal balance of cells, which can lead to cancer and other diseases.

Chapter Five shows how toxic chemicals are used in everyday consumer products, from cleaning supplies to food packaging, based on Steingraber’s own hazardous living experience. Steingraber also notes how many of these products are marketed toward women while women's health is less of a concern to the manufacturers.

Chapter Six is about the successes of cancer prevention in the past and the importance of continued efforts to prevent the disease. The chapter ends with a call to action from Steingraber for viewers to become involved in building a healthier, less toxic environment.

Throughout the documentary, Steingraber interviews a wide range of people, including researchers, activists, cancer survivors, and others, in order to provide a comprehensive exploration of the impact of environmental toxins on human health. The film also features striking footage of polluted areas, such as landfills and power plants, and exposes the audience to a lot of scientific research on environmental pollutants and its effect on human health.

Living Downstream is a thought-provoking and powerful documentary that raises important questions about the relationship between the environment and public health, and the impact of human activity on the planet’s natural systems. It highlights the need for more comprehensive regulation of toxic chemicals, greater public awareness of the risks, and collective action to create a healthier and safer living environment for all.

Living Downstream is a 2010 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 25 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.5.