The Dr. Hyman Show

How Lead And Other Environmental Toxins Are Affecting Us

Dec 4, 2020
This week, Harriet Washington, a renowned medical ethicist and author of 'Medical Apartheid', joins to discuss a hidden crisis: environmental toxins. She reveals how lead exposure costs billions and disproportionately affects marginalized communities, revealing deep systemic issues tied to racism. Washington highlights alarming links between toxins and cognitive health, especially in children. She also offers actionable strategies for individuals and communities to combat these dangers and emphasizes the urgent need for awareness and change.
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INSIGHT

Lead's Impact

  • Lead poisoning affects intellectual development, especially in communities of color.
  • This has staggering effects on the population, hindering their ability to succeed.
INSIGHT

Unequal Exposure

  • While lead levels have decreased overall, pockets of children of color still face high exposure.
  • This exposure is linked to race and socioeconomic factors, trapping them in toxic environments.
INSIGHT

Race and Toxins

  • Race is a significant factor in environmental toxin exposure, even for middle-class African Americans.
  • They often live in communities burdened with Superfund sites and toxic waste due to racist policies.
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