Inhaled Microplastics with the Lorax of the Thorax

Welcome to the last Air Health Our Health podcast of Season Five. This is a collaboration with the American Thoracic Society’s Breathe Easy podcast, of which I am a new host. 

We produce over 450 million tons of plastic each year, the majority of which accumulates in the environment- it is vital to understand how that impacts us. For today’s episode, I interview Dr Adam Soloff, PhD a researcher at the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center of the University of Pittsburgh in the department of cardiothoracic surgery and immunology. He describes himself as the “Lorax of the Thorax” and walks us through research on how ever-present microplastics that we inhale can seed tissues throughout the body and what that does to our immune system. 

So what can you do? 

• Look at where you are using plastic in your own life and see if you can replace it with a healthier option. Few options here.

• Find out what can be done to reduce plastics in your community. 

• Look up your members of Congress and share with them your concern about dismantling important science-based support for health at the federal level, whether the NIH, EPA, CDC, VA and more. Then, look up your city councilperson and state legislator to ask what they are doing to help prevent plastic pollution and find out what you can do to help.

• Finally, be sure to enjoy the beautiful planet on which we all live and take at least one step to keep it beautiful and healthy. Find what you can do and do it. None of us have to do everything, but we can all do something.