{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Plastic, Hormones, Fertility, Health : What the Science Actually Says | Dr. Leo Trasande","description":"Plastic is in our blood, organs and tissues. But what is it actually doing to us? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Leonardo Trasande, pediatrician, environmental health researcher, professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and author of Sicker, Fatter, Poorer, to separate what we know from what we're still trying to understand about plastics and human health. We unpack the difference between microplastics themselves and the chemicals associated with plastic\u2014including phthalates, bisphenols and PFAS\u2014and what the research suggests about hormones, metabolism, fertility, pregnancy and children's development. We get into some big questions: Can tiny exposures really matter? Can chemical exposure affect our ability to maintain a healthy weight? What does \u201cBPA-free\u201d actually mean? Are bioplastics safer? Can you sweat microplastics out in a sauna? And if plastic exposure is now so widespread, how much power do our individual choices really have? Leo also gives me a rapid-fire plastic audit of everyday items\u2014from takeaway containers and water bottles to dishwashers, canned food, silicone and polyester\u2014and shares the changes he has made in his own home. Most importantly, this conversation isn't about being afraid of everything around us. Leo explains why reducing certain exposures can make a measurable difference, where to focus first, and why he remains hopeful that both individual action and systemic change can shift where we're headed. We cover: \u2022 Microplastics vs. plastic-associated chemicals \u2022 Endocrine disruptors and low-dose exposure \u2022 Fertility and reproductive development \u2022 PFAS, metabolism and weight \u2022 Pregnancy and children's development \u2022 The hidden health costs of plastic \u2022 Why BPA-free doesn't necessarily mean bisphenol-free \u2022 \u201cRegrettable substitution\u201d and chemical whack-a-mole \u2022 Bioplastics and supposedly safer alternatives \u2022 The biggest plastic exposures to reduce at home \u2022 Whether sauna can help remove plastics \u2022 What Leo recommends for parents \u2022 Why regulation needs to change \u2022 And where Leo sees real reason for hope A science-heavy conversation that ultimately left me feeling surprisingly hopeful.   ","author_name":"Confessions of a Mermaid","author_url":"http:\/\/iquitplastics.com\/","html":"