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?

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.

A Shared Table: A cookbook for the community and the climate

January 15, 2026.Reading time 8 minutes.

Two hands hold a bowl of Asian eggplants.

We’re launching “A Shared Table: Delicious, Climate-Friendly Recipes from King County,” a cookbook filled with family recipes contributed by people in our local communities. The recipes in the book are vegetarian or low-meat, selected to spotlight how vegetable and plant-focused food choices have a lower environmental impact, in addition to being good for our health.

Keep food poisoning off the menu this holiday season

November 24, 2025.Reading time 7 minutes.

It’s the holiday season, and that means FOOD! Whether you’re hosting a big group or bringing your famous side dish to a gathering, you want to make sure your food is both delicious and safe.

Preparing for cold weather? Rodents are too!

October 15, 2025.Reading time 7 minutes.

As the weather cools down, we spend more time inside, and so do rodents. Rats and mice start looking for warm, dry places with easy access to food. By taking simple steps now, you can keep rodents out before they settle in and create a problem.

How to stop air pollution inside your home: Resources to help our communities

July 30, 2025.Reading time 10 minutes.

Wildfire smoke season is upon us and it’s a good reminder to keep indoor air clean when there’s pollution outside. But keeping indoor air clean is not just something we should do on a smoky day. Air pollution can also be a problem inside your home, especially if there’s not good ventilation. In fact, most of our exposure to air pollution comes from indoors!