In this episode, Ashleie sits down with environmental health scientist Sean Stratton to unpack the realities of lead exposure in New Jersey communities like Trenton and Newark — from how it enters our environment through paint, plumbing, and soil, to its lasting effects on children's development and adult health, including emerging links to Alzheimer's and dementia.

They dig into where people and policy diverge: lead remobilized in the body during pregnancy and menopause, why nutrition isn't a full fix, and how reactive, poorly coordinated policy leaves communities exposed. Together, they make the case for centering the people most affected and building more holistic, equity-driven solutions.

About Sean Stratton

Sean Stratton is an environmental health scientist specializing in lead exposure, drinking water qual ...