We’ve been hearing a lot about forever chemicals and how they are ridiculously hard to escape…but do you know how forever chemicals affect sleep? Yes, they do that too. This is important because poor sleep is linked to myriad health issues, so if forever chemical exposure induces poor sleep…you have the lovely public health domino effect of doom.
On a recent episode of Causes or Cures, I sat down with Dr. Sherlock Li to explore his recent research on the impact of forever chemicals (PFAS) on sleep, a pressing public health concern given the strong links between poor sleep and a range of health issues. Dr. Li begins by providing an overview of what forever chemicals are and how they persist in the environment and human body. He then delves into the methodology of his latest study, detailing the observed effects of PFAS on sleep patterns and the emerging theories behind these disruptions. The conversation also touches on the broader public health implications of PFAS exposure and Dr. Li’s cautionary note that the replacement chemicals being introduced may not offer any improvements for our well-being. I found the “replacement” bit unnerving because it’s like “the devil you know might be better than the devil you don’t know.” It also shows how sneaky industry can be in the name of profit–they certainly do not put our health first. We are like the United States of Chemicals. Ugh.
Dr. Sherlock Li, PhD, is a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Population and Public Health Sciences at the Keck School of Medicine. Tune in to the episode here!
Also, if you haven’t yet, please listen to this wonderful conversation with international bird flu expert, Dr. Eskild Petersen. It’s a calm, intellectual exchange about bird flu- the current situation and what risk it currently poses to humans- straight from the horse’s mouth. Trust me, you’ll feel better and less panicked after listening to it. :)
Of course, after you listen to the podcast on how forever chemicals affect sleep, scroll through some of the older episodes! I’ve been lucky to feature absolutely amazing, smart guests on the podcast, that you are bound to find at least one that strikes your fancy.
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And please don’t forget to check out each episode’s show notes! The show notes include links to the research papers discussed in the episode, as well as websites, my social media profiles and a link to sign up for my newsletter!
Alright…enough chatter from me. Go and listen to the podcast and report back on what you thought.
Talk soon- Eeks
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