May 13, 2020
Environmental toxicologist Martin Wagner joins the show today to
discuss the effect of plastics and other endocrine-disrupting
agents on human health and the
ecosystem at large.
In this episode, you will learn:
Wagner began studying plastics while obtaining his PhD, and has
since focused largely on trying to determine what compounds exist
in the products we consume, how those compounds function, and what
effect they have on human and environmental health.
Many of these chemicals are known to disturb hormone signaling in
the body, which can lead to all types of ailments. Despite this,
they have become “almost invisible to us because they are just so
pervasive in our everyday life,” says Wagner.
Following his PhD studies, Wagner began focusing on an
area of research where he saw a void: while most researchers
were looking at marine plastic pollution, Wagner wanted to look at
microplastic and nanoplastic pollution on freshwater systems like
lakes and rivers.
In light of the recent increase in public attention on and
awareness of the environmental impact of single-use plastics,
Wagner has recentered his work on this topic with the goal of
emphasizing not just the use of plastics and the impact on the
environment, but also the significance of the chemical compounds
within these plastics.
He discusses the details of past and recent studies in the field, what it means for a plastic product to have a certain dispersion factor and why this is significant, what items are found most often on European beaches and what’s being done about it, surprising sources of plastic pollution, why recycling only works well for a few types of plastic, and more.
To learn more about Wagner’s work or reach out with questions, contact him through Twitter.