Bruce Lanphear
@blanphear.bsky.social
For over 30 years, I’ve been studying how invisible poisons—lead, air pollution, fluoride, pesticides—damage human health. I’ve helped shape policies, raise alarms, and remind people that when it comes to toxic chemicals, no dose is safe. .. more
For over 30 years, I’ve been studying how invisible poisons—lead, air pollution, fluoride, pesticides—damage human health. I’ve helped shape policies, raise alarms, and remind people that when it comes to toxic chemicals, no dose is safe.
Environmental science
61%
Geography
15%
Sweet Deception: The Framing of Fluoride
How the Kellogg Foundation helped turn a dietary crisis into a chemical solution.
open.substack.com
Sweet Deception: The Framing of Fluoride
The Kellogg Foundation held a controlling share of Kellogg Company stock. Throughout the mid-20th century, Kellogg’s commercial success—and thus the Foundation’s endowment—depended heavily on the sale of sugar-sweetened breakfast cereals.
The Kellogg Foundation held a controlling share of Kellogg Company stock. Throughout the mid-20th century, Kellogg’s commercial success—and thus the Foundation’s endowment—depended heavily on the sale of sugar-sweetened breakfast cereals.
The Toxic Truth Behind Heart Attacks
How the Auto Industry Fueled the Heart Disease Epidemic
open.substack.com
For 50 years, heart disease has killed more Americans than anything else. Our film traces how a pervasive toxic element—quietly woven into daily life—helped drive a national epidemic, and how pulling that toxic element back helped save hundreds of millions of lives.
Bruce Lanphear
@blanphear.bsky.social
· Sep 30
How Big Sugar pushed fluoride — new study alleges a century of spin
The sugar industry and companies that make sweet drinks and foods have spent nearly a century downplaying sugar’s role in health problems and distorting the science around fluoride — and the practice ...
www.thenewlede.org
In the 1940s, the sugar industry faced a crisis. Research was mounting that sugar was driving the epidemic of tooth decay, but reducing sugar consumption was unthinkable for an industry built on sales. So industry leaders pulled off a sleight of hand worthy of Big Tobacco.
Bruce Lanphear
@blanphear.bsky.social
· Sep 30
THE FLUORIDE EXPERIMENT
How the Sugar Industry Used Fluoridation as a Smokescreen
open.substack.com
The Fluoride Experiment
For decades, Americans have been told that adding fluoride to our drinking water prevents tooth decay. But what if there’s another side to the story—one that involves corporate money, manipulated science, and a policy that may be doing more harm than good?
For decades, Americans have been told that adding fluoride to our drinking water prevents tooth decay. But what if there’s another side to the story—one that involves corporate money, manipulated science, and a policy that may be doing more harm than good?
Bruce Lanphear
@blanphear.bsky.social
· Sep 16
Breakthroughs in Medicine
Seeing the World through an Environmental Lens
open.substack.com
Breakthroughs in Medicine
We often think of medical breakthroughs as new drugs, devices, or diagnostic tests—things we can hold, prescribe, or patent. But revolutions in medicine often begin not with a new molecule, but with a new mindset. It’s not just what we see; it’s how we see it.
We often think of medical breakthroughs as new drugs, devices, or diagnostic tests—things we can hold, prescribe, or patent. But revolutions in medicine often begin not with a new molecule, but with a new mindset. It’s not just what we see; it’s how we see it.
Reposted by Jonathan J. Buonocore
Bruce Lanphear
@blanphear.bsky.social
· Sep 9
The Science of Delay
Why we wait until millions are harmed by toxic chemicals before we act
open.substack.com
The Science of Delay
The lesson of PFAS is the same lesson we should have learned from lead, asbestos, and air pollution: if we wait until the evidence is definitive, we’ve waited too long.
The lesson of PFAS is the same lesson we should have learned from lead, asbestos, and air pollution: if we wait until the evidence is definitive, we’ve waited too long.
Bruce Lanphear
@blanphear.bsky.social
· Sep 2
Which Side Are You On?
Finding Common Ground in an Age of Tribalism
open.substack.com
Which Side Are You On?
The line I draw is with scientists who pretend to be independent while secretly cashing checks from the industries they defend. They don’t just betray themselves—they corrode trust in science itself.
The line I draw is with scientists who pretend to be independent while secretly cashing checks from the industries they defend. They don’t just betray themselves—they corrode trust in science itself.
Bruce Lanphear
@blanphear.bsky.social
· Aug 26
The Chronicles of Lead Toxicity
A History Cast in Fire, Frozen in Ice
open.substack.com
The Chronicles of Lead Toxicity
We know what is typical in a world saturated with lead. But true normal—of health, behavior, intelligence—may have slipped away long ago, buried in the layers of ice, etched into tree rings, and written in our bones.
We know what is typical in a world saturated with lead. But true normal—of health, behavior, intelligence—may have slipped away long ago, buried in the layers of ice, etched into tree rings, and written in our bones.
Bruce Lanphear
@blanphear.bsky.social
· Aug 23
A Thousand Thanks
Six months, 1000 readers and a community that matters
open.substack.com
A Thousand Thanks
One of the unexpected thrills of Substack has been the conversations it sparks. Some of you write thoughtful comments, others send quiet emails, and some simply open and read each post. All of it matters. Writing can be solitary, but this space has never felt lonely.
One of the unexpected thrills of Substack has been the conversations it sparks. Some of you write thoughtful comments, others send quiet emails, and some simply open and read each post. All of it matters. Writing can be solitary, but this space has never felt lonely.
Bruce Lanphear
@blanphear.bsky.social
· Aug 19
There’s a reason Eric Topol stands at the forefront of modern medicine: he combines a critical eye for solid evidence with an uncommon openness to new ideas.
Bruce Lanphear
@blanphear.bsky.social
· Aug 19
“Follow the Science”— or Just the Convenient Parts?
We Keep Ignoring the Warnings at the Cost of Lives—and Trust
open.substack.com
When science that threatens powerful interests is ignored, the public notices—even if they don’t know the details. The irony is that ignoring inconvenient science doesn’t just harm public health—it erodes the very trust needed to mobilize public health measures in the future.
Reposted by Bruce P. Lanphear
Eric Topol
@erictopol.bsky.social
· Aug 17
Chronic Lead Exposure, a Risk Factor for Heart Disease
Plus: My Recommendations for Reducing Risk of Heart Disease
erictopol.substack.com
Things you might not know about chronic, low-level lead exposure and heart disease, including the lead-estrogen hypothesis
"In 2019, a total of 5.5 million deaths from cardiovascular disease were attributed to lead exposure"
Learn from @blanphear.bsky.social
erictopol.substack.com/p/is-chronic...
"In 2019, a total of 5.5 million deaths from cardiovascular disease were attributed to lead exposure"
Learn from @blanphear.bsky.social
erictopol.substack.com/p/is-chronic...
Bruce Lanphear
@blanphear.bsky.social
· Aug 16
Industry loves to say, ‘The dose makes the poison.’ But what if that’s a lie that’s been poisoning policy for decades?
Ken Cook talks with Dr. Bruce Lanphear about how a 500-year-old mantra still shields polluters—and why tiny doses can cause massive harm."
open.substack.com
Industry loves to say, ‘The dose makes the poison.’ But what if that’s a lie that’s been poisoning policy for decades?
Reposted by Bruce P. Lanphear
PSGRNZ
@psgrnz.bsky.social
· Aug 16
Bruce Lanphear Chemical Exposures & Risks. Making Sense of Science, Public Health & Economic Benefit
YouTube video by Physicians & Scientists for Global Responsibility
www.youtube.com
🔥HUGE 🔥🔥 interview with @blanphear.bsky.social public health physician & paediatric epidemiologist.
Chemical Exposures & the Toxic Risks. Making Sense of Science, Public Health, & Economic Benefit.
#DoHaD #lead #pesticides #fluoride #pollution #babies #brains
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgB9...
Chemical Exposures & the Toxic Risks. Making Sense of Science, Public Health, & Economic Benefit.
#DoHaD #lead #pesticides #fluoride #pollution #babies #brains
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgB9...
Bruce Lanphear
@blanphear.bsky.social
· Aug 14
EWG's Ken Cook interviews Dr. Bruce Lanphear
YouTube video by Plagues, Pollution & Poverty
www.youtube.com
Bruce talks with EWG's Ken Cook to take apart the lingering myth that “the dose makes the poison” – a chemical industry claim that there can be safe levels of toxic exposure. www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIGF...
Bruce Lanphear
@blanphear.bsky.social
· Aug 12
The ADHD Epidemic We Choose to Ignore
A Preventable Epidemic of Staggering Proportions
open.substack.com
The ADHD Epidemic We Choose to Ignore
We found that 8.7% of children had ADHD in a national study. That was striking enough. We also attributed one in three cases of ADHD in US children to two toxic chemicals. These weren’t obscure exposures, this was everyday life in America.
We found that 8.7% of children had ADHD in a national study. That was striking enough. We also attributed one in three cases of ADHD in US children to two toxic chemicals. These weren’t obscure exposures, this was everyday life in America.
Bruce Lanphear
@blanphear.bsky.social
· Aug 12
EWG scientists work to identify potential health harms from chemical exposure in everyday products so that consumers can make safer choices—and to debunk the myth that “the dose makes the poison.” Dr. Bruce Lanphear and I discuss why even low-level exposures can be harmful. @blanphear.bsky.social
“The dose makes the poison” is outdated
YouTube video by Environmental Working Group (EWG)
www.youtube.com
I thoroughly enjoyed my conversation with Ken Cook of EWG. Few people have done more to expose the dangers of toxic chemicals. We dug into the old adage “the dose makes the poison”—and why it doesn’t always hold up. Please listen while you walk around the park or enjoy a beverage before dinner.
Reposted by Bruce P. Lanphear
Ken Cook
@ewgprez.bsky.social
· Aug 12
“The dose makes the poison” is outdated
YouTube video by Environmental Working Group (EWG)
www.youtube.com
EWG scientists work to identify potential health harms from chemical exposure in everyday products so that consumers can make safer choices—and to debunk the myth that “the dose makes the poison.” Dr. Bruce Lanphear and I discuss why even low-level exposures can be harmful. @blanphear.bsky.social
Bruce Lanphear
@blanphear.bsky.social
· Aug 7
Rally: Sound Science Saves Lives · Mobilize
Science and public research are under attack in this country. Indiscriminate cuts to federal research agencies and political interference are causing research studies to be paused, programs halted, an...
www.mobilize.us
I won't be able to attend Indivisible Georgia Coalition's event, “Rally: Sound Science Saves Lives” in Atlanta, Goergia—but I wholeheartedly support it.
Bruce Lanphear
@blanphear.bsky.social
· Aug 5
THE CANCER EXPRESS
The Hidden Cost of India’s Green Revolution
open.substack.com
THE CANCER EXPRESS
They are not going to New Delhi to visit family or conduct business. They are going to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences—to be treated for cancer. This train has a name. The locals call it the Cancer Express.
They are not going to New Delhi to visit family or conduct business. They are going to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences—to be treated for cancer. This train has a name. The locals call it the Cancer Express.
Bruce Lanphear
@blanphear.bsky.social
· Jun 24
The Most Honorable Kind of Work
On legacy, humility, and the quiet power of doing good work
open.substack.com
The Most Honorable Kind of Work
The most honorable contributions are those offered without the expectation of recognition, status, or repayment. They are made for the sake of truth, justice, or human progress—regardless of whether anyone notices.
The most honorable contributions are those offered without the expectation of recognition, status, or repayment. They are made for the sake of truth, justice, or human progress—regardless of whether anyone notices.
Bruce Lanphear
@blanphear.bsky.social
· Jun 21
Lead by Mary Oliver
Here is a story to break your heart. Are you willing?
open.substack.com
Lead by Mary Oliver
Here is a story
to break your heart.
Are you willing?
Here is a story
to break your heart.
Are you willing?
Bruce Lanphear
@blanphear.bsky.social
· Jun 17
The Smelter Next Door
How Stories Brings Science to Life
open.substack.com
We need a story that reminds us our lives are stitched to the soil, the air, and the water—that every breath, every bite, every sip binds us to the earth and to one another.
Bruce Lanphear
@blanphear.bsky.social
· May 13
Ancestral Redundancy
The Tangled Branches of Our Family Trees
open.substack.com
Ancestral Redundancy Genealogy changed how I move through the world. I can’t go a day without reading about or meeting someone whose surname appears in the last 10 generations of my ancestry, a constant reminder of how connected we all are.
Bruce Lanphear
@blanphear.bsky.social
· Apr 30
Toxic Toys and the Death of Oversight
A Compelling Case for Stronger Public Health
open.substack.com
Toxic Toys and the Death of Oversight
The people who work in public health agencies are the last line of defense between you and a very dangerous kind of freedom. The freedom to sell anything, no matter how toxic. The freedom to ignore evidence. The freedom to look the other way.
The people who work in public health agencies are the last line of defense between you and a very dangerous kind of freedom. The freedom to sell anything, no matter how toxic. The freedom to ignore evidence. The freedom to look the other way.
Bruce Lanphear
@blanphear.bsky.social
· Apr 24
What the New York Times Keeps Missing
And Why it Matters More Than Ever
open.substack.com
What the New York Times Keeps Missing
If the cause is framed as genetic or behavioral, the solution stays in the clinic. But if the cause includes toxic chemicals, prevention becomes possible.
If the cause is framed as genetic or behavioral, the solution stays in the clinic. But if the cause includes toxic chemicals, prevention becomes possible.
Bruce Lanphear
@blanphear.bsky.social
· Apr 19
All Work is Sacred, but it Shouldn’t Come with a Death Sentence.
You're Gonna Miss NIOSH When It's Gone
open.substack.com
All Work is Sacred, but it Shouldn’t Come with a Death Sentence.
Bruce Lanphear
@blanphear.bsky.social
· Apr 12
Collateral Damage
The Hidden Cost of Living in a Toxic World
open.substack.com
These deaths aren’t random. They’re regulatory failures. They are, quite literally, collateral damage.
Bruce Lanphear
@blanphear.bsky.social
· Apr 12
Nearly $7 trillion USD is invested annually in activities harming nature, while investments in Nature-based Solutions total only around $200 billion.
It’s time to flip these numbers.
Check UNEP’s State of Finance for Nature for more data: financefornature.unep.org
It’s time to flip these numbers.
Check UNEP’s State of Finance for Nature for more data: financefornature.unep.org
Why do we invest against our own best, long-term interests?