Decrease Environmental Toxins -

In our recent podcast episode, we delved into a deeply impactful subject – the role of environmental health and safer beauty products in cancer prevention. This episode featured an insightful conversation with Kristina Marusic, an award-winning journalist and author of ‘A New War on Cancer,’ to discuss how we can work to decrease environmental toxins.

Kristina’s journey began with a personal experience, the diagnosis of her sister’s thyroid cancer. This sparked her interest in the environmental factors that could contribute to cancer. In her book, she shares alarming facts about the rise in cancer rates among children and young adults since the 1970s. Despite a focus on lifestyle behaviors to prevent cancer in adults, these rates continue to increase. This is a key reason we need to work for change on a local, state, and federal level. By doing this we can help to reduce our exposure to environmental toxins.

It is important for us to be aware of using safer beauty products as well. Kristina interviewed Ami, who grew up as the only Indian girl in her rural North Carolina school. She has dedicated her life to this cause. Her research focuses on racial disparities in exposure to harmful chemicals in beauty products. She has worked to create her own products for dark skinned women that is free of these harmful chemicals.

Kristina’s work also highlights the need for a shift in the industry and regulatory measures to ensure safer beauty products for everyone. Offering practical steps parents can take, such as scrutinizing ingredient lists or leveraging apps and verification programs, to ensure their children are using safe products.

Things to focus on to decrease toxins:

One of the key takeaways from the episode is the emphasis on the power of prevention in the war against cancer. While treatments and cures are crucial, prevention often gets sidetracked due to its less lucrative nature. However, investing in water filtration systems, air purifiers, and advocating for safer personal care products can play a significant role in reducing cancer rates.

In conclusion, the episode serves as a reminder not to feel overwhelmed by the enormity of the problem. Small changes, whether it’s switching to safer beauty products or making conscious choices about our environment, can make a big difference. These changes, coupled with the advocacy for better regulatory measures, can lead to a healthier future for us and our generations to come.

The fight against cancer isn’t just about finding cures. It’s also about understanding and addressing the root causes, which often lie in our environment and the products we use daily. Let’s continue the conversation, learn, share, and grow together towards a healthier environment and a healthier us while working to decrease environmental toxins.

Learn more about Kristina:

KRISTINA MARUSIC is an award-winning journalist at Environmental Health Sciences who covers environmental health and justice at http://EHN.org and http://DailyClimate.org . Her research into cancer-causing chemicals and exposures lead to her new book, A New War on Cancer: The Unlikely Heroes Revolutionizing Prevention (Island Press / May 11, 2023 / $28). Kristina holds an MFA in nonfiction writing from the University of San Francisco, and her personal essays and reporting have been published by outlets including CNN, Slate, Vice, Women’s Health, The Washington Post, MTV News, The Advocate, and Bustle, among others.