The environmental issues caused by plastic waste accumulating in oceans and microplastics pervading the environment are a major topic covered.
A major focus of the episode is 3M's use of toxic 'forever chemicals' that persist in the environment and accumulate in living organisms, causing widespread contamination.
The negative environmental impacts of the fashion industry, such as water pollution from dyeing processes and plastic waste, are discussed, along with potential solutions.
The various forms of pollution generated by the coal industry, including air pollution and toxic waste, are a central theme throughout the discussion.
The podcast episodes cover a range of environmental pollution issues, including the presence of microplastics in various ecosystems, toxic chemical contamination of water sources, and the broader impact of industrial and consumer waste on the environment.
For example, episode 3M's Forever Chemicals and a Therapist's Take on Election Cycle Anxiety discusses the widespread problem of 'forever chemicals' from industrial sources, while episode Microplastics: What They Are, Why They are Dangerous, and How to Protect Yourself delves into the ubiquity of microplastics and their potential health effects.
Other episodes highlight the pollution of rivers and waterways, such as the severe contamination of the Santiago River in Mexico described in episode Cindy McCulligh, "Sewer of Progress: Corporations, Institutionalized Corruption, and the Struggle for the Santiago River", as well as the sewage pollution in the River Thames discussed in episode The ECB readies for rate cuts.
