Hedrick Smith on Poisoned Waters

04/15/2009 at 9:00 a.m.

Is your water poisoned? Some scientists say there are emerging contaminants in drinking water — things that cause intersexed fish and six–legged frogs. They get into the water through runoff from shampoo, lotions and lawn chemicals. Filters don't stop them. Is our drinking water dangerous or are the claims blown out of proportion? Did the 1972 Clean Water Act make progress? Award–winning journalist Hedrick Smith joins us to talk about his PBS documentary on water in Puget Sound, public health and the future of clean water. At the end of the day, what's in our drinking water?

Related Event

Hedrick Smith's documentary, "Poisoned Waters," airs Tuesday, April 21, on PBS Frontline.

Guest(s)

Hedrick Smith is a Pulitzer Prize–winning and Emmy Award–winning journalist, author and filmmaker. He covered world capitals for The New York Times for 26 years and won two Pulitzer Prizes – one for a Pentagon Papers series and one for international reporting. He hosted 20 award–winning specials and mini–series on PBS, which ranged from Cold War relations to health care to comparing U.S. public schools with those overseas. His documentaries have also covered Duke Ellington and Dave Brubeck.