People, Plastic and Climate Change - with Rick Smith

Author, biologist, environmentalist, and political activist Rick Smith talks about the two biggest environmental threats of our generation.

This week on Green Street, Patti and Doug talk about the FDA’s continuing failure to regulate toxic chemicals, how a group of mothers are suing manufacturers of plastic food containers, and how the Trump administration is rolling back drinking water standards for certain PFAS chemicals. Then Rick Smith, author of "Slow Death by Rubber Duck" and President of the Canadian Climate Institute, talks about the dual crises of climate change and plastic pollution as a human health hazard. 

Links from the Interview

The Canadian Climate Institute: https://climateinstitute.ca/ Rick's bio and links to recent blogs: https://climateinstitute.ca/people/rick-smith/

Links from the News

FDA reform — not just narrow ingredient bans — is needed to make America healthier: https://www.ehn.org/fda-gras-loophole-opinion

Two California women sue over safety of Rubbermaid containers: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2025/05/14/rubbermaid-class-action-lawsuit-microplastics/83618735007/

Trump's EPA plans to roll back PFAS regulations: https://grist.org/regulation/epa-pfas-drinking-water-limits-trump-rollback/

Hormone Disruption with Dr. Laura Vandenberg

A wide range of consumer products contain chemicals that can play havoc with human development.

This week on Green Street, Patti and Doug talk about America’s brain drain of scientists as the administration eliminates grants and guts federal health agencies, and how big agrochemical companies are seeking immunity from all liability for their toxic products. Then UMass professor Dr. Laura Vandenberg provides an overview of endocrine disrupting chemicals, their ubiquity in our culture, and how they can disrupt normal growth during critical periods of human development, including pregnancy.

Hormone Distruption with Dr. Laura Vandenberg

29:00

Links from the Interview

Dr. Vandenberg's page at the UMASS School of Public Health and Health Sciences: https://www.umass.edu/public-health-sciences/about/directory/laura-vandenberg

Links from the News

Bayer and other agro-chemical companies want Congress to give them immunity from lawsuits: https://civileats.com/2025/04/08/bayers-effort-to-block-roundup-lawsuits-kicks-into-high-gear/

France and the European Union are rolling out the welcome mat for scientists fired by DOGE. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/04/france-eu-us-based-scientists-come-to-europe-emmanuel-macron-ursula-von-der-leyen

The Poisoning of America - with Sharon Udasin

Corporate greed and government acquiescence have created one of the great environmental crises of our lifetime.

This week on Green Street, Patti and Doug talk about the lawsuit that could bankrupt Greenpeace, the new study linking PFAS in drinking water with increased rates of cancer, and what’s really in that gum you’re chewing. Then author and investigative reporter Sharon Udasin talks about the new book she has co-authored, “Poisoning the Well - How Forever Chemicals Contaminated America,” which details the corporate greed and government acquiescence that has led to one of our greatest environmental and public health crises of our time. 

The Poisoning of America with Sharon Udasin

29:00

Links from the Interview

Link to Sharon's book "Poisoning the Well" https://islandpress.org/events/sharon-udasin-poisoning-well

Follow Sharon on X: https://x.com/sharonudasin/status/1905277078758359183

Links from the News Greenpeace must pay $660,000,000 fine: https://apnews.com/article/greenpeace-dakota-access-pipeline-lawsuit-verdict-5036944c1d2e7d3d7b704437e8110fbb

Exposure to "forever chemicals" in drinking water linked to cancer: https://factor.niehs.nih.gov/2025/2/science-highlights/pfas-water-cancer

What's in that gum you're chewing? https://www.vice.com/en/article/rethink-chewing-gum-habit-essentially-plastic/