People can be exposed to a wide variety of chemical and non-chemical stressors in their daily lives. These stressors may come from outdoors, homes or workplaces, food consumption, or use of personal care products. Exposure at low levels may not necessarily be problematic for human health, but researchers are looking at different periods in human growth and development where people may be more sensitive to these exposures. Researchers call these especially sensitive periods 'windows of susceptibility.' One window of susceptibility is during pregnancy and early development. In this podcast, hear how researchers are studying windows of susceptibility throughout the lifespan and learn how to prevent potentially harmful exposures to environmental stressors.

Windows of Susceptibility

This podcast series explores how environmental exposures affect our health. Each short episode highlights ways researchers work in partnership with community groups to understand and address environmental health issues.

Natural Sciences

Science & Medicine

Science

In this episode, Sappho Gilbert, a doctoral candidate at Yale University School of Public Health, discusses her NIEHS-funded project to better understand how climate change and other environmental factors are altering food security and nutrition among Inuit communities in the Canadian Arctic.

Food Security, Nutrition, and Indigenous Health in the Arctic

In this episode, Kari Nadeau, M.D., Ph.D., talks about how climate change and air pollution affect children’s health. She also discusses what health care professionals, policy makers, and parents can do to better protect kids from climate change- and air-pollution-related health impacts.

Climate Change, Air Pollution, and Children’s Health and Your Health

In this episode, Laurel Schaider, Ph.D., talks about how PFAS exposures affect health and how communities can learn more about this large class of chemicals, including ways to reduce exposure.

PFAS and Your Health

In this episode, we hear from Elizabeth Shapiro-Garza, Ph.D., from Duke University, and Veronica Carter, with the North Carolina Coastal Federation. They discuss “Stop, Check, Enjoy!” a campaign to help fishers in southeastern North Carolina understand the risks of consuming certain fish from the Cape Fear River. They also share tips on how to choose, prepare, and cook fish to reduce exposure to harmful contaminants.

Campaign Promotes Eating Safer Fish

In this episode, we’ll hear from Rachel Morello-Frosch, Ph.D., who discusses how historical policies have shaped disparities in health and environmental exposures today.

Windows of Susceptibility

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