Persistent Pollution: Reducing the Risk of PCBs on Brain Health with Dr. Amanda Bullert episode artwork

EPISODE · Sep 8, 2025 · 25 MIN

Persistent Pollution: Reducing the Risk of PCBs on Brain Health with Dr. Amanda Bullert

from University of Iowa College of Public Health · host CPH Communications

Even though polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were banned nearly 50 years ago, these persistent chemicals are still part of our daily environment. In this episode of Plugged into Public Health, we talk with Dr. Amanda Bullert, neuroscientist and research consultant at the University of Minnesota, about what PCBs are, how exposure still happens today, and what her team’s research reveals about their effects on the brain. Amanda breaks down how PCBs influence metabolism, inflammation, and long-term brain health, why certain communities are more at risk, and what steps individuals and public health leaders can take to reduce harm. It’s a conversation that sheds light on the hidden legacy of environmental pollutants and the lessons they offer for today’s public health challenges. A transcript of this episode is available at https://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/news-items/plugged-in-to-public-health-persistent-pollution-reducing-the-risk-of-pcbs-on-brain-health/ Have a question for our podcast crew or an idea for an episode? You can email them at [email protected] You can also support Plugged in to Public Health by sharing this episode and others with your friends, colleagues, and social networks. #publichealth #environmentalhealth #PCBs #foreverchemicals #brainhealth #pollution #inflammation

Even though polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were banned nearly 50 years ago, these persistent chemicals are still part of our daily environment. In this episode of Plugged into Public Health, we talk with Dr. Amanda Bullert, neuroscientist and research consultant at the University of Minnesota, about what PCBs are, how exposure still happens today, and what her team’s research reveals about their effects on the brain. Amanda breaks down how PCBs influence metabolism, inflammation, and long-term brain health, why certain communities are more at risk, and what steps individuals and public health leaders can take to reduce harm. It’s a conversation that sheds light on the hidden legacy of environmental pollutants and the lessons they offer for today’s public health challenges. A transcript of this episode is available at https://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/news-items/plugged-in-to-public-health-persistent-pollution-reducing-the-risk-of-pcbs-on-brain-health/ Have a question for our podcast crew or an idea for an episode? You can email them at [email protected] You can also support Plugged in to Public Health by sharing this episode and others with your friends, colleagues, and social networks. #publichealth #environmentalhealth #PCBs #foreverchemicals #brainhealth #pollution #inflammation

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Persistent Pollution: Reducing the Risk of PCBs on Brain Health with Dr. Amanda Bullert

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This episode was published on September 8, 2025.

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Even though polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were banned nearly 50 years ago, these persistent chemicals are still part of our daily environment. In this episode of Plugged into Public Health, we talk with Dr. Amanda Bullert, neuroscientist and...

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