The Health Foundation podcast

52: ‘Chemical soup’: the everyday exposures affecting our health – with Tracey Woodruff and Thomas Hartung


Listen Later

There are around 350,000 synthetic chemicals in use today and only a small fraction have been robustly tested for their long-term effects on our health. Many of these are used in manufacturing plastics and microplastics – the production of which has doubled since 2008 and is projected to triple by 2060. 

Unknowns remain, but research is suggesting pervasive exposures to these manufactured substances is shaping human health. In particular, links are being identified with a range of non-communicable diseases, including some cancer types, metabolic disorders, neurological conditions and reproductive and developmental issues. 

So, what do we know about how the chemical environment is influencing our health? Could AI and other emerging technologies shed new light on the effects of synthetic substances? And what does it all mean for regulation and wider policy protecting public health? 

To discuss, our Chief Executive Jennifer Dixon is joined by:

  • Tracey Woodruff, Professor at University of California, San Francisco, and Director of the Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment (PRHE). 
  • Thomas Hartung, Professor at Johns Hopkins University, and Director of the Centre for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT).  
    Show notes

    Woodruff et al (2025). Manufactured chemicals and children’s health – the need for new law

    Kleinstreuer & Hartung (2024). AI – it’s the end of tox as we know it (and I feel fine)

    Nihart et al (2025). Bioaccumulation of microplastics in decedent human brains

    Financial Times (2023). ‘Global sperm counts are falling. This scientist believes she knows why.’ 

    Programme on Reproductive Health and the Environment (PRHE). Scientific principles to protect public health

    Programme on Reproductive Health and the Environment (PRHE). Toxic matters
    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store

    The Health Foundation podcastBy The Health Foundation


    More shows like The Health Foundation podcast

    View all
    More or Less: Behind the Stats by BBC Radio 4

    More or Less: Behind the Stats

    897 Listeners

    Politics Unpacked by The Times

    Politics Unpacked

    117 Listeners

    The Briefing Room by BBC Radio 4

    The Briefing Room

    80 Listeners

    Newscast by BBC News

    Newscast

    633 Listeners

    Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government by Institute for Government

    Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government

    23 Listeners

    IFS Zooms In: The Economy by Institute for Fiscal Studies

    IFS Zooms In: The Economy

    5 Listeners

    The Rest Is Politics by Goalhanger

    The Rest Is Politics

    3,103 Listeners

    The News Agents by Global

    The News Agents

    929 Listeners

    The Rest Is Politics: Leading by Goalhanger

    The Rest Is Politics: Leading

    881 Listeners

    The Rest Is Money by Goalhanger

    The Rest Is Money

    184 Listeners

    When It Hits the Fan by BBC Radio 4

    When It Hits the Fan

    33 Listeners

    Political Currency by Persephonica

    Political Currency

    105 Listeners

    Radical with Amol Rajan by BBC Radio 4

    Radical with Amol Rajan

    28 Listeners

    Rory Stewart: The Long History of... by BBC Radio 4

    Rory Stewart: The Long History of...

    95 Listeners

    What's Up Docs? by BBC Radio 4

    What's Up Docs?

    102 Listeners