Melody Li speaks with Dr. Bruce Lanphear, a physician and public health scientist whose research has reshaped how we understand the health effects of low-level chemicals such as lead, air pollution, fluoride, and pesticides. For more than three decades, his work has shown that small exposures can have large, lasting effects on children’s development and population health, and has helped drive prevention-focused policy around the world.
In this episode, they take a deep dive into the hidden ways toxic chemicals shape our health, our communities, and our policies: why there is no safe level of lead, how industry has influenced environmental science and regulation, and what decades of on-the-ground work with impacted communities reveal about environmental injustice and the global export of harm. They also explore how personal experience intersects with scientific research, why prevention must take priority over treatment, and what practical actions—both individual and systemic—can reduce toxic exposures and better protect future generations.
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Please note: The views expressed in these podcast episodes do not necessarily reflect those of the Sierra Club Canada Foundation, or those of our chapters or programs.
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