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

29:00

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/

The Myth of Plastic Recycling - with Dr. Veena Singla

Plastic manufacturers want you to believe they can recycle plastic without polluting the world. Don't believe it.

This week on Green Street, Patti and Doug talk about how plants take up plastic and what it means for agriculture (and your garden), how plastic dust from construction sites is a major source of worldwide pollution, and why the smoke from wildfires is much more hazardous and damaging than previously understood. Then Dr. Veena Singla from the National Resources Defense Council talks about the various ways in which plastic manufacturers are trying – so far unsuccessfully – to recycle their product and convince the public that our global plastic crisis can be easily solved. 

The Myth of Plastic Recycling with Dr. Veena Singla

28:59

Links from the Interview

Dr. Singla's page at the Sustainable Packaging Coalition: https://sustainablepackaging.org/people/veena-singla/

The Burning Truth Behind Chemical Recycling (video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJGDCCgELMk

Links from the News

Plastic particles are infiltrating plants: https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1097394#:~

New Jersey towns are limiting plastic pollution from construction sites: https://www.beyondplastics.org/board/brian-thompson

International group of scientists call for immediate action on PFAS chemicals: https://www.ehn.org/pfas-chemicals

Wildfire smoke is much more hazardous than previously understood: https://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/scientists-predict-wildfire-smoke-will-costly-climate-related-health-h-rcna231466

The War on Science - with Dr, Sandra Steingraber

Grants are being cancelled, government scientists are being fired, university research centers are being de-funded, and scientists are leaving the country in record numbers.

This week on Green Street, Patti and Doug talk about the plastic industry’s effort to re-classify pyrolysis (burning of plastic) as “manufacturing,” the environmental havoc caused by flame retardant chemicals used in forest fires, and the possibility that the old Indian Point nuclear power plant just north of New York City will be re-activated to meet the growing demand for power. Then PhD biologist Dr. Sanda Steingraber talks about the current war on science, and reminds us of all the achievements that have been made possible through government funding of research. 

The War on Science - with Dr. Sandra Steingraber

31:15

Links from the Interview

The website of the Science and Environmental Health Network: https://www.sehn.org/

Dr. Steingraber's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ssteingraber

Links from the News

Holtec International flotas the idea of re-opening the Indian Point nuclear plant: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/09/10/indian-point-owner-floats-restart-of-shuttered-nuclear-reactors-00552865

Firefighting chemicals wreak havoc on the environment: https://thenarwhal.ca/fire-retardant-wildfires-impact/

The plastic industry wants to re-classify pyrolysis at manufacturing. https://www.levernews.com/trump-clears-path-for-plastic-industrys-fake-recycling-fix/