Ask a tox doc: What’s the big deal with plastic?

March 19, 2026.Reading time 7 minutes.

It’s hard to avoid plastic. So many common objects that we use regularly have plastic, from toothbrushes and soap bottles to juice cartons and kids’ toys.

I sat down with Dr. Shirlee Tan, a toxicologist with Public Health, to chat about plastic and find out: Is it a concern for our health? And if so, how can we protect ourselves?

Stretch your food dollars with programs that can help

March 16, 2026.Reading time 9 minutes.

A farmers market stall displays baskets of fresh vegetables, including leafy greens and carrots, with a sign reading “SNAP Market Match Accepted Here” and informational vouchers showing that SNAP benefits can be used and matched at the market.

When the cost of food rises faster than a family’s income, it can feel like the table is getting emptier. But in King County, there are programs making a real difference. SNAP, WIC, Fresh Bucks, and local food banks are helping households keep food at home, ease daily worry, and feel supported during a tough moment.

Survivors aren’t alone: Family support inside a hospital

March 12, 2026.Reading time 8 minutes.

A man with a bald head, beard, and glasses sits bedside at a hospital, looking concerned. A teen is lying in the bed, eyes closed, head turned away, with an IV in his arm

Survivors of gun violence need support that goes beyond just medical treatment. In this comic strip, we see how Paul, a violence intervention specialist, offers survivors and their families bedside support and immediate help with their basic needs.

King County Community Health Improvement Plan: Building relationships, removing barriers, and centering community voice

March 9, 2026.Reading time 9 minutes.

Grupo de miembros de la comunidad en un gran espacio de reunión de CHIP. Mucha gente levanta la mano.

The Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) is bringing together communities across King County to address health inequities through collaboration, trust, and shared responsibility. Through this process, community members, organizations, and public health leaders are working side by side to identify what matters most and how to move forward together.

What I learned from Duwamish River fishers: Portraits of Public Health

February 25, 2026.Reading time 7 minutes.

Hand drawn portrait of woman with long black hair, smiling

In this Portrait of Public Health, Khanh talks about the meaning she’s found working alongside people who fish in the Duwamish River and why fishers make such good outreach workers. Together, they’ve educated local fishers and residents who live near the Duwamish about the dangers of contaminated seafood.

TB evaluation at Rainier Beach High School

February 24, 2026.Reading time 6 minutes.

Red oblongs - TB germs under a microscope

Public Health – Seattle & King County is following up on the confirmation of an individual associated with Rainier Beach High School, in Seattle, who was diagnosed with active tuberculosis (TB). Public Health is working with Rainier Beach High School to define the extent of any potential TB exposures and supporting the school as Public Health conducts evaluations for those exposed and provides guidance and information to staff, students and families.