[Bonus] The Poison Squad and Urinalysis: The Fascinating Lives of ACS Presidents Harvey Wiley and Helen M. Free

This bonus episode continues the celebration of the American Chemical Society’s 150th anniversary by spotlighting two remarkable ACS presidents whose work helped shape public health in very different ways. Hosts Margot and Shane trade stories about these pioneering chemists. Harvey Wiley, ACS president in the 1890s, investigated dangerous food additives like formaldehyde and borax and presided over the infamous “Poison Squad” experiments. He was part of the impetus behind the “Wiley Act,” also known as the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906. Helen M. Free, ACS president in the 1990s, transformed urinalysis diagnostics, co-inventing the first glucose test and countless other tests. Free’s innovations made health monitoring more accessible for millions of people and her legacy continues through the ACS award that bears her name. Learn more and send in your nominations here. Transcripts and episode sources at acs.org/chainreaction