Gail Carlson

Episode 1Gail Carlson has a PhD in Biochemistry and teaches Environmental Public Health courses at Colby College, where she also directs the Buck Lab for Climate and Environment. Her research focuses on characterizing local environmental contamination by hazardous pollutants such as arsenic and PFAS in things like pharmaceuticals, personal care products and ski wax. Dr. Carlson teaches her students to become advocates for policy change and practices advocacy, herself, at the state legislature and through board work with Defend Our Health. During the pandemic Dr. Carlson wrote and published a textbook called Human Health and the Climate Crisis (2022). The story of ski wax is described in this interview while connecting this success story to what needs to happen, at the macro level, for a healthier planet. For more information on fluoro-free ski wax options click here. And for general consumer product safety information Gail recommends information from the Environmental Working Group.