Carlos Sonnenschein and Ana Soto – Full Interview

Sonnenschein and Soto Full Interview Final

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(Duration 67:11)

Contents

Part 1 – Introduction to Research (10:27)

1. Describe your work before you began studying environmental toxins. 0:40
2. What caused you to shift the focus of your research? 02:35
3. Please say more about the unexpected results in your lab and how you responded. 4:25
4. Without the manufacturer’s assistance, how did you discover what the contaminant was? 6:25
5. What is the contaminant, and how is it used? 7:55

Part 2 – BPA (8:54)

1. Describe why you changed your focus to BPA. 9:55
2. What was the original purpose of BPA? 12:25
3. Where do humans come into contact with these BPA-laden plastics? 13:45
4. Do you think the public fully appreciates the magnitude of this problem? 15:50

Part 3 – Endocrine Disruptors (14:52)

1. What are endocrine disruptors and what effects do they have? 17:35
2. Are all endocrine disruptors estrogenic? 19:10
3. How do you determine if a compound is an endocrine disruptor? 20:20
4. How did scientists first discover the endocrine-disrupting effects of synthetic estrogens? 21:05
5. Describe the research on endocrine disruptors since then? 22:20
6. Can you say more about the DES experience and the lessons learned from it? 24:00
7. What might experiments on rodents teach us about the risks of endocrine disruptors for humans? 27:20
8. What other risks have scientists attributed to BPA? 29:25

Part 4 – Chemical Regulation I (13:09)

1. How would you describe the U.S. system of chemical regulation? 31:10
2. Please describe the “precautionary principle” used in some other countries. 32:40
3. What is the biggest difference between our regulatory approach and one based on the precautionary principle? 36:25
4. Why has the U.S. government not caught up with science and employed the precautionary principle? 37:20
5. What role is the public playing in this issue? 38:50
6. Are there are any public actors who are making a difference? 40:45
7. We have made some progress, right? 41:30

Part 5 – Chemical Regulation II (14:27)

1. How can a consumer live safely in a toxic environment? 43:06
2. Can you give me an example of a specific regulation that you would like to see enacted? 46:10
3. Do we need to change our regulatory mindset in this country? 46:45
4. What do you mean by the “white paper” approach to regulating chemical? 50:10
5. What is green chemistry? 52:40
6. What are the impediments to effective regulation, and how is that we overcome them? 53:25

Part 6 – Five Favorites (11:34)

Carlos Sonnenschein:

1. What mentor had the greatest influence on your work? 00:50
2. What do you consider to be the best wide-audience book, article, or movie related to your field? 01:50
3. What do you consider to be the most important academic book or article? 02:45
4. Which of your scholarly publications would you recommend to viewers? 03:25
5. Which activist or community organization do you most admire? 04:00

Ana Soto:

1. What are the impediments to effective regulation, and how is that we overcome them? 05:40
2. What do you consider to be the best wide-audience book, article, or movie related to your field? 06:00
3. What do you consider to be the most important academic book or article? 07:00
4. Which of your scholarly publications would you recommend to viewers? 08:10
5. Which activist or community organization do you most admire? 08:40

Return to Dr. Sonnenschein’s main page or Dr. Soto’s main page.