麻豆社

Plastic is fantastic! It can be super tough, super flexible, SUPER durable 鈥� all characteristics that have made it indispensable to modern life. But over time, plastics don鈥檛 disappear. They break down into tiny fragments called microplastics, and these fragments get everywhere. They鈥檝e been found in bottled water, in Himalayan rock salt, even inside hard-boiled eggs. More disturbingly still, research from the past few years suggests that they don鈥檛 just pass through us, but can persist in our bodies (and possibly even our brains).

In this second episode of Toxic!, materials scientist Mark Miodownik investigates how we ingest and inhale microplastics in their thousands every day. He discovers the little practical changes we can all make to reduce our exposure and encounters the cutting-edge technology that may soon allow scientists to 鈥渟ee鈥� microplastics throughout our bodies.

Locking into the living room 鈥� but sadly with no time to put their feet up 鈥� Mark and producer Mel reveal the surprising hiding places there for microplastics, PFAS and another class of toxin not usually associated with our homes: parasiticides. The pair flea-treat Mel鈥檚 cat and uncover the frightening potential human health and environmental impacts of us using these chemicals en masse to keep our beloved pets parasite-free.

Series Producer: Mel Brown
Producer Geraldine Fitzgerald
Researcher: Alex Rodway
A 麻豆社 Studios Production