Toxic Fires - with Silverio Caggiano

House fires are becoming more toxic and deadly than ever before, thanks to the increasing use of plastic in home construction and furnishings.

In the news this week, Patti and Doug talk about a new court ruling ordering the FCC to explain why it has still not updated its 30-year-old wireless radiation exposure guidelines, and how the Trump administration is quietly working to hide the astronomical costs of climate-related weather events. Then firefighting and hazmat expert Silverio Caggiani explains how fighting fires has become increasingly dangerous as modern homes are filled with plastic, including plumbing, floor covering, furniture, drapes, and even clothing!

Toxic Fires - with Silverio CaggianoGreen Street with Patti & Doug Wood

29:00

Links from the Interview

Buckeye Environmental Network: https://benohio.org/our-people/

Links from the News

• Court gives the FCC 30 days to respond on wireless radiation exposure limits: https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/court-gives-fcc-30-days-respond-chd-petition-wireless-harms/

• The $1 trillion climate problem Republicans are ignoring: https://newrepublic.com/article/196978/1-trillion-climate-problem-republicans-prefer-ignore

Plastic's Toxic Troublemakers - with Dr. Leo Trasande

The chemicals contained in plastic items, from nail polish to synthetic clothing to food packaging, can disrupt normal sexual development and even prevent conception.

This week on Green Street, Patti and Doug talk abut a new study on wireless radiation and cancer, how America’s natural parks are opening up to the fossil fuel industry, and how the EPA is weakening regulations on toxins coming from burning plastic. Then Harvard-trained pediatrician Dr. Leo Trasande, an internationally recognized expert on endocrine disrupting chemicals, talks about the future of the UN’s World Plastic Treaty and what we’re learning about the devastating harm of the chemicals in plastic. 

Plastic's Toxic Troublemakers - with Dr. Leo TreasandeGreen Street with Patti & Doug Wood

29:00

Links from the Interview:

• The website for Dr. Trasande's book "Sicker, Fatter, Poorer" https://www.leotrasande.com/sicker-fatter-poorer

• Read more about Dr. Trasande:

: https://www.leotrasande.com/about

• Endocrine-disrupting chemicals: implications for human health (study)

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32707118/

Links from the News :

• Study shows exposure limits for radiation don't protect against cancer: https://www.ehn.org/cancer-wireless-radiation-limits

• Drill, Baby, Drill. Our national parks are open for the oil and gas industry: https://www.dw.com/en/drill-baby-drill-trump-opens-wilderness-to-big-energy/a-76411423

• The EPA wants to relax or eliminate regulations on emissions from companies that burn plastic: https://cen.acs.org/environment/pollution/epa-wants-to-let-plastic-incinerators-skirt-clean-air-act/104/web/2026/03

Cell Phone Cards: 10 cards are free. Just send an email to radio@grassrootsinfo.org with your mailing address. View the card here: https://www.grassrootsinfo.org/_files/ugd/2cea04_4aa1a3705e424411937bcb34e9da69e9.pdf

"I'm Rich and I Don't Care"

I'm Rich and I Don't Care"Music and Lyrics by Doug Woof

3:07

The High Cost of Toxic Fashion - with Alden Wicker

Synthetic fabric clothing is not only contaminating our world with microplastics, but it’s also impacting our ability to reproduce. 

This week on Green Street, Patti and Doug talk about the environmental legacy of war, state efforts to ban artificial food dyes, and what kinds of chemicals are often found in baby mattresses. Then investigative reporter and author Alden Wicker talks about fast fashion, synthetic fabrics, and how our throw-away relationship with cheap clothing is not only exacerbating the worldwide plastic crisis impacting but our own health in ways we never expected. 

The High Cost of Toxic Fashion - with Alden WickerGreen Street with Patti & Doug Wood

29:00

Links from the Interview

• Alden Wicker's book "To Dye For": https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/705645/to-dye-for-by-alden-wicker/

• To Dye For - the documentary film: https://www.todyeforthedocumentary.com/watch

Links from the News

• The environmental legacy of war: https://costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/costs/environmental

• West Virginia bans food dyes: https://westvirginiawatch.com/2026/03/25/west-virginias-artificial-food-dye-ban-still-blocked-by-judge-bill-to-address-it-died-in-senate/

• Chemicals in baby mattresses: https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news/2025/06/two-new-studies-find-harmful-chemicals-childrens-bedrooms-and-mattresses

Journalist and author Alden Wicker