Sampson Podcasts - PFAs Chronicles

THE PFAS CHRONICLES

A Podcast Series Written, Recorded, and Hosted by Anchal Malh and Natalie Conti

Companion to the textbook Environmental Health: Foundations for Public Health edited by

Natalie Sampson, PhD, MPH, Lindsay Tallon, PhD, MSPH, CPH, and Natasha DeJarnett, PhD, MPH, BCES

This podcast series features five episodes chronicling the story of PFAS in the United States. In recent years, public health advocates and scientists have raised awareness on the class of chemicals known as PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as “forever chemicals.” In this five-part series we will take listeners on a deep dive into the history of PFAS. We will discuss what we currently know about them, how they harm our health, and what actions scientists are taking to remove them from the environment. We will hear from key scientists in major institutions across the United States on all things PFAS related. We will also hear from advocates and community members to understand how we can both advocate for and protect public health.

Listen to the latest episode

Anchal Malh

Anchal Malh, MS is an Editorial Researcher in television production and natural history filmmaking. Her professional background blends innovative storytelling and scientific research to increase accessibility to complex topics. Malh is passionate about making science education and research accessible to marginalized populations. She is an alumna of the University of Michigan and received her master's degree in environmental health sciences in 2024. Malh has worked for the University of Michigan and The New York Times. She was a recipient of the New York Times College Scholarship in 2019 and a Rackham Merit Fellow at the University of Michigan from 2022-2024.

EPISODE 1: THE HISTORY OF PFAS with Guest Phil Brown (University Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Health Sciences at Northeastern University)

In this introductory episode on PFAS—also known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances—hosts Anchal Malh and Natalie Conti meet with Phil Brown, the Director of the Social Science Environmental Health Research Institute and Codirector of the PFAS Project Lab at Northeastern University. During their conversation, they explore the history of PFAS. They trace PFAS’s origins to household products and discuss how these chemicals are ever-present in our bodies and environment today. Tune in to uncover more about these “forever chemicals.”

EPISODE 2: THE SCIENCE OF PFAS DECTECTION with Guest Dr. Katherine Manz (Assistant Professor in Environmental Health Sciences at the University of Michigan School of Public Health)

Hosts Anchal Malh and Natalie Conti are back for another educational episode on PFAS. This time, they investigate how PFAS are studied and monitored. In this conversation with Dr. Katherine Manz, Assistant Professor of Environmental Health Sciences at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, they begin to explore how PFAS contaminate water and soil with implications for environmental health and justice. Tune in to explore how the human body responds to PFAS exposure.

EPISODE 3: PFAS WHERE WE LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY with Guest Sandy Wynn-Stelt (Great Lakes PFAS Action Network)

In this episode, hosts Anchal Malh and Natalie Conti meet with Sandy Wynn-Stelt of the Great Lakes PFAS Action Network to discuss where PFAS show up in our everyday lives and how they impact human health. During their conversation, they discuss PFAS in the places we live, work, and play and what solutions scientists are coming up with to remediate the presence of these forever chemicals in our environment. Tune in to unearth where PFAS may be lurking in your environment and the steps you can take to reduce your exposure.

EPISODE 4: FIREFIGHTERS AND “FOREVER CHEMICALS”: PFAS EXPOSURE AND HEALTH RISKS with Guests Ayesha Khan and Jamie Honkawa (Cofounders of the Nantucket PFAS Action Group)

In Episode 4 of The PFAS Chronicles, hosts Anchal Malh and Natalie Conti sit with advocates Ayesha Khan and Jamie Honkawa of the Nantucket PFAS Action Group. During their conversation, they discuss exposure to PFAS in firefighting communities and ways to improve protection for community members. Tune in to learn how certain occupations can lead to increases in exposure to PFAS and related health effects.

EPISODE 5: HALTING THE PFAS CYCLE AND ITS COSTS ON PEOPLE, COMMUNITIES, AND SOCIETY with Guests Kristin Mello and Christopher Clark (President and Vice President of the organization Westfield Residents Advocating for Themselves [WRAFT])

In this final episode, hosts Anchal Malh and Natalie Conti wrap up their conversation on PFAS in the environment with Kristin Mello and Christopher Clark of Westfield Residents Advocating for Themselves (WRAFT). They discuss the ways research, policies, and technology have been implemented to reduce PFAS exposures and their limitations. They also remind us about environmental justice issues related to PFAS, highlighting the work of current advocacy groups. Listeners are left with key takeaways on what the field of environmental health—and all of society—can learn from PFAS. Finally, there is a call-to-action: How can we ensure marginalized communities, particularly communities of color and low-wealth communities, are not experiencing disproportionate impacts from PFAS? Tune in for this concluding episode of The PFAS Chronicles.

Meet the Podcast Hosts

The Full Podcast Series Is Available with Environmental Health