Launching Hidden Hazards

Welcome to the first edition of Hidden Hazards! It’s great to have you.

This is a newsletter about the invisible dangers—hidden hazards, as I’ve termed them—that lurk in so much of what we eat, drink, wear, breathe in, rub on ourselves, spray on ourselves, and surround ourselves with every day. Its aim is to help us build our understanding of, and reduce our exposure to, hidden harms—and ultimately bring about a world containing fewer of them.

I’ve spent the past couple of years obsessing over the emerging science of microplastics and PFAS in the water supply, phthalates in toiletries and personal care products, volatile organic compounds in furniture and upholstery, pesticides in food and clothing, and countless other hidden hazards we’ll be learning about in this newsletter. I wanted to channel this morbid fascination into something productive—to build a space for sharing the research and thinking I’ve been hoarding on my hard drive with more than just the unlucky handful of friends who receive breathless updates from me whenever a significant new study or article on this topic drops.

The current moment seemed like an opportune time to embark on such a project. Some hidden hazards—microplastics in particular—are beginning to receive just enough mainstream attention that expressing concern about them no longer guarantees you’ll be written off as a collector of tin foil hats. But considering the growing body of research on the risks hidden hazards pose—and how, without action, the problem will only worsen—these issues still fly far lower under the radar than they should, including, often, when it comes to groups for whom they shouldn’t, such as policymakers and those trying to understand and respond to the great challenges of our age.

The truth is that governments, regulators, and the like—whose job, at least in part, should be to shape and influence society such that its members can live flourishing lives free of concern that they’re being poisoned at every turn—are unfortunately unlikely to save us anytime soon. A glance at history reveals a familiar story of a new substance being introduced, its apparent benefits being celebrated, early warning signs being ignored, damage accumulating, and action only being taken once much havoc has already been wreaked. It happened with DDT and leaded petrol and paint, and it’s likely happening today with microplastics, PFAS, and the panoply of other hidden hazards we encounter routinely.

My goal is, primarily, to help you get ahead of the curve—to arm you with the knowledge necessary to become a better-informed consumer and citizen of the toxic planet we inhabit. At the very least, you’ll walk away with a slightly better understanding of the world around you and insights that could nudge you towards being a healthier version of yourself.

The plan is to share, in an easily digestible way:

• Regular updates on news and academic research coming out on environmental pollutants—so you don’t have to track developments yourself.

• Explainers and deep dives relating to specific hidden hazards, as well as more big-picture dispatches on how we ended up in the situation we’re in, what needs to change, and what this problem says about our society and its possible future trajectories.

• Practical tips on limiting exposure in daily life.

• Some good news stories.

Expect posts of some sort to land every one or two weeks, but also expect the rhythm in which they do so to be somewhat sporadic before I establish a regular groove.

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