we are all contaminated - Sistema de Bibliotecas de la Universidad ...

close reading of the dissertation and invaluable insights and critical commentary. Tom
Wilson and Doug Holmes struck a fine balance between challenging and encouraging
me. Tom convinced me I could complete this project, more or less on schedule, while
demanding intellectual rigor and attention to detail. Doug always helped me think
“outside the box” and pushed me in new directions. My dissertation chair, Carmen
Ferradás, is the reason I came to Binghamton in the first place. Carmen’s mentoring
shaped and inspired my ideas in innumerable ways. She also pushed hard, made alwaystimely
interventions, and has been an inspiring mentor throughout my graduate career.
My Uruguayan academic colleagues, friends, and family represent the other half
of my professional training and personal development. When I met Majo Techera,
Carlos Serra, Rafael Bazzino, Alfonso, and Tania Bo as a visiting student at the
University of the Republic in 1997, I had no idea they would become such enduring
friends. Their friendship and our intellectual exchanges during my fieldwork inspired my
thoughts, kept me balanced and sane, and made my fieldwork period immensely
enjoyable. Valeria Grabino, Verónica Olivera and Carlos Santos can now be added to
this list as well. Lifelong friends Salvador Malagrino, Javier Díaz and Vicky Calvo
offered wonderful friendship and support. All of my Uruguayan family inspired and
supported me in this endeavor, but I would especially like to thank Hugo Lalanne and our
ever-stimulating conversations about society, politics, and film. Javier Taks, lecturer at
the Anthropology Department, University of the Republic (UdelaR) was one of my first
contacts on the lead issue, an incredible source of insight, and a first-rate academic
colleague. I am grateful as well for the support of Sonnia Romero (Department of
Anthropology). I thank Omar França for inviting me to participate in the bioethics
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