GOSHpods goes Green S4 - Episode 2: Plastics and Their Chemicals: What Do We Know About Health Impacts?

In this episode, we explore a side of plastics that scientists have understood for some time—yet remains largely unfamiliar to the public and even to many working in healthcare. Dr Olwenn Martin, Associate Professor in Health and Environment at University College London, joins Dr Becca Elson, Chief Sustainability Officer’s Clinical Fellow at Great Ormond Street Hospital, to unpack the chemicals within plastics and how they can subtly, and sometimes significantly, affect our health. Together, they break down how these chemicals can disrupt our “normal,” from influencing hormones to shaping long‑term health outcomes, and why this knowledge is only now gaining wider attention. They also highlight promising progress in legislation and research designed to reduce risks and protect both patients and staff. Clear, insightful, and eye‑opening—this conversation reveals why understanding plastic chemicals is no longer optional for a sustainable, healthy future in healthcare.