Apple News In Conversation How toxic chemicals quietly took over our lives
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May 15, 2025 Mariah Blake, an investigative journalist and author of 'They Poisoned the World', dives into the alarming world of PFAS, or forever chemicals, and their pervasive presence in our lives. She reveals their links to serious health issues like cancer and infertility, emphasizing the urgent need for awareness and activism. Blake also shares inspiring stories of grassroots movements pushing against these toxic substances and offers practical tips for reducing exposure in our daily lives. A call to action for informed living in a chemically laden world!
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Michael Hickey's Activist Journey
- Michael Hickey, initially uninterested in environmental issues, became an activist after his father's death from kidney cancer linked to chemical exposure.
- He and his community discovered high levels of PFOA in their drinking water from a local Teflon factory.
The Nature of Forever Chemicals
- PFAS, or forever chemicals, are heat, water, stain, and chemical-resistant substances used widely since WWII.
- They persist for centuries or more, contaminating ecosystems globally and entering every living being's blood.
Health Risks of PFAS Exposure
- PFAS exposure, even at low levels, links to cancers, obesity, reduced IQ, immune suppression, and infertility among others.
- The EPA concluded zero safe exposure level exists for the primary PFAS, PFOA and PFOS.
