In this episode of the Enjoy Life Healthier™ podcast, host Jason Kam speaks with Linda S.Birnbaum PhD, a distinguished American toxicologist and microbiologist with a career spanning over four decades in environmental health research. They discuss the pervasive impact of environmental pollutants on human health, the reasons behind the increased incidence of cancer, and what individuals can do to minimize their health risks.

Dr. Birnbaum, who served as the director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Toxicology Program, explains her hypothesis that environmental factors play a role in the increased incidence of cancer, which is largely a disease associated with aging. She shares how her work led her into the areas of endocrine disruption, noting that while effects in adults may be relatively reversible, disruptions during development are not.

Takeaways

• Cancer is largely a disease associated with aging, and environmental factors may be playing a role in its increased incidence.

• During development, the endocrine system is essential, and any disruption is not reversible.

• Since the 1950s, nearly 400,000 unique chemicals have been synthesized and entered the environment.

• Chemicals like PCBs and DDT, banned decades ago, are still present in the bodies of every person.

• Heating food in plastic should be avoided, as it causes chemicals to migrate into the food at a much higher rate.

• Drinking bottled water can lead to ingesting microplastics, which can release chemicals into the bloodstream.

• As a society, we should ask what chemicals we really need, considering that many non-essential products contain them.

• Chronic, low-level exposure to environmental chemicals is associated with chronic diseases, and the overall health of our country may not be improving despite a longer life expectancy.

• The effects of chemical mixtures are a key area for future research, as people are exposed to a “soup of chemicals,” not just one at a time.

• Society needs a better communication approach to help people understand the impact of chemical exposures on their health, including cancer, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.