How plastic harms health
As negotiations conclude on a global treaty, we consider how plastic affects our health
As negotiations for a Global Plastics Treaty are due to conclude at the United Nations, we check in on whether health is on the agenda with Dr Cressida Bowyer, Associate Professor in Arts and Sustainability from the University of Portsmouth in the UK who is at the conference.
We also hear from John Chweya, a Kenyan waste picker, who has seen the impacts of plastic waste firsthand and delve into the scientific evidence about how plastic harms health with Dr Stephanie Wright, Associate Professor in Environmental Toxicology at Imperial College London.
25 years on from the SuperAgers research project being established, we catch up with lead investigator Sandra Weintraub who is Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Feinberg Mesulam Institute to find out what factors link these age-defying brains.
Claudia and BBC Health Reporter Philippa Roxby have a go at conch blowing as there is new research saying it might help the breathing disorder obstructive sleep apnoea.
Plus, research into the relationship between a covid-19 infection and RSV in children.
Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producer: Hannah Robins
Assistant Producer: Katie Tomsett
Last on
More episodes
Featured
.
Broadcasts
- Wed 13 Aug 202519:32GMTBBC World Service
- Wed 13 Aug 202522:32GMTBBC World Service Europe and the Middle East
- Thu 14 Aug 202504:32GMTBBC World Service Australasia, Americas and the Caribbean, South Asia & East Asia only
- Thu 14 Aug 202512:32GMTBBC World Service
- Sun 17 Aug 202501:32GMTBBC World Service
Podcast
![]()
Health Check
Health issues and medical breakthroughs from around the world.

