Episode from Hazard NJ Podcast: ”First a Miracle, Then a Curse”

2025-01-03

Happy New Year, Definers! This month we are continuing our break and sharing a podcast episode from an Uproot Project member, independent podcast producer and investigative journalist - Jordan Gass-Poore'. “Hazard NJ” is an NJ Spotlight News podcast that examines serious pollution issues. Season 2 dives deep into the crisis of toxic pollution caused by PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” around New Jersey and beyond. Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and more. We hope you enjoy it!

“Hazard NJ” is an NJ Spotlight News podcast that examines serious pollution issues. Season 2 dives deep into the crisis of toxic pollution caused by PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” around New Jersey and beyond. Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and more.

We hope you enjoy it!

As a reminder, we are still doubling donations to the Uproot Project up to the first $500. Email your donation receipt to hosts@sustainabilitydefined.com, and we will double it!

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Episode Description: Hazard NJ: S2, E1: First a Miracle, Then a Curse

It was 1938 at a DuPont laboratory in far South Jersey when scientists stumbled upon the chemical that would become known as Teflon. The accidental discovery became a scientific miracle, laying the groundwork for an entirely new class of incredibly durable chemicals that would be used for all sorts of purposes. But that progress came with a toxic hidden cost that has only recently become fully understood. Now, the small town where it all started is on the front lines of a global pollution crisis.

Credits:

HAZARD N-J IS AN N-J SPOTLIGHT NEWS PRODUCTION… YOU CAN SUPPORT OUR REPORTING BY HEADING TO N-J SPOTLIGHT NEWS DOT ORG SLASH DONATE.

THE SHOW IS WRITTEN… EDITED… AND HOSTED BY ME… JORDAN GASS-POORE.

MICHAEL SOL WARREN CONTRIBUTED REPORTING. HE ALSO CO WROTE AND PRODUCED ALL EPISODES.

JAMES KRAFT IS THE EXECUTIVE PRODUCER WITH N-J SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

OUR EXECUTIVE IN CHARGE OF PRODUCTION IS JOE LEE.

CHLOE MOTISI IS OUR PRODUCTION MANAGER.

ADDITIONAL RESEARCH WAS DONE BY JUDAH DUKE.

OUR SOUND DESIGNER AND ENGINEER IS MARK BUSH.

MUSIC FOR HAZARD N-J WAS COMPOSED BY NICK PENNINGTON.

ARTWORK BY MATTHEW FLEMING.

SPECIAL THANKS TO THE SCIENCE HISTORY INSTITUTE IN PHILADELPHIA FOR PROVIDING THE ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW OF DUPONT SCIENTIST ROY PLUNKETT…