Plastic in Our Water - with Dr. Christy Tyler

Scientists around the world are trying to figure out what to do with our plastic problem and what it means for our future.

This week on Green Street, Patti and Doug talk about why recycled plastic contains more toxins than virgin plastic, how government energy positions are increasingly filled with former oil execs, and the first discovery of mosquitoes in Iceland. Then Dr. Christy Tyler, professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology talks about her work uncovering the sources of plastic pollution that end up in our water. 

Plastic in Our Water - with Dr. Christy Tyler

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Links from the Interview

Dr. Tyler's page on the RIT website: https://www.rit.edu/directory/actsbi-christy-tyler

The Tyler Aquatic Ecology Lab at RIT: https://christytyler.weebly.com/

Links from the News

Recycling plastic increases the amount of toxic chemicals: https://www.ehn.org/test-recycling-plastic-increases-the-amount-of-toxic-chemicals-it-contains

The Trump administration's revolving door: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/08/trump-administration-fossil-fuels-climate

Mosquitoes in Iceland: https://people.com/mosquitoes-found-in-iceland-for-first-time-amid-rising-temperatures-11835070

Dr. Christy Tyler

The Environmental Links to Breast Cancer

Two scientists from the Silent Spring Institute talk about their quest to find which chemicals in consumer products are increasing the risk for breast cancer.

This week on Green Street, Patti and Doug talk about the amount of plastic being fed to farmed fish, and how big banks are financing the destruction of the forests in the Amazon. Then Dr. Robin Dodson and Dr. Kristin Knox from the Silent Spring Institute talk about their work uncovering the links between the chemicals found in everyday consumer products and increased risk of breast cancer. 

Green Street - The Environmental Links to Breast Cancer

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Links from the Interview

The website of the Silent Spring Institute: https://silentspring.org/

Links from the News

Fish farming has a plastic problem: https://www.ehn.org/plastic-in-farmed-fish

Governor Newsom vetoes legislation banning PFAS in cookware: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/17/gavin-newsoms-veto-on-bill-to-ban-pfas-hands-industry-a-win-advocates-fear

The world's forests are being distroyed, posing a threat to humanity: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/14/dismal-health-of-worlds-forests-is-threat-to-humanity-report-warns

Fighting PFAS in the Water

Two dedicated individuals in Michigan are taking on a broad array of powerful interests to get PFAS out of their water.

This week on Green Street, Patti and Doug talk about plastic in the urinary tract linked to health risks, the EPA cutting funding for underserved communities, and the dismissal of a lawsuit against the EPA for failing to prevent contamination of farmland with PFAS. Then Sandy Wynn and Tony Spaniola from the Great Lakes PFAS Action Network tell how they were personally affected by PFAS in their water and how they are successfully fighting back against an array of powerful vested interests, including the military.

Green Street - Fighting PFAS in the Water

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Links from the Interview

Learn more about the Great Lakes PFAS Action Network: www.glpan.org

Links from the News

Researchers find microplastics in people with urinary disease: https://bond.edu.au/news/microplastics-bladder-cancers-and-urine-samples

EPA Funding Cuts Target Minority Communities: https://insideclimatenews.org/news/01052025/trump-epa-funding-cuts-target-disadvantaged-communities/

Court dismisses lawsuit againt EPA for failing to regulate PFAS in fertilizer: https://www.thenewlede.org/2025/10/epa-pfas-fertilizer-lawsuit-dismissed/