Latest / Morning Medical with Dr. Chow / Microplastics in the Brain, Canada's Fentanyl Strategy, and US Food Labeling Updates

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Microplastics in the Brain, Canada's Fentanyl Strategy, and US Food Labeling Updates · Morning Medical with Dr. Chow

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  Welcome to Morning Medical with Dr.
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  Chow, where we bring you the latest in medical and health news from around the world.
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  I'm Dr.
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  Chi-Ming Chow, your host for today's episode.
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  As always, we'll be diving into some of the most pressing healthcare topics, informed by
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  cutting-edge research and insights.
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  Let's get started.
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  Today, we're discussing a fascinating and somewhat alarming study recently published in
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  the journal Nature Medicine.
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  The research highlights the presence of microplastics in the human brain, accumulating
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  over time to the equivalent of a plastic spoon.
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  This discovery has raised serious questions about the potential health implications,
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  particularly concerning neurological diseases.
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  The study was conducted by researchers from the University of New Mexico Health Sciences.
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  They found that the brain contains higher concentrations of microplastics than any other
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  organ analyzed so far.
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  Over the past eight years, plastic accumulation in the brain has surged by fifty percent, with
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  dementia patients showing up to ten times the level of plastics compared to others.
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  Matthew Campen, the lead author and a toxicologist, suggests that these plastics
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  might obstruct blood flow in the brain's capillaries or interfere with the connections
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  between axons.
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  There's also a concern that they could contribute to the aggregation of proteins
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  involved in dementia, though the exact mechanisms remain unclear.
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  Microplastics are tiny particles, typically five millimeters or smaller, that originate
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  from larger plastics breaking down in the environment.
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  Even smaller are nanoplastics, which are invisible to the naked eye.
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  According to Erica Cirino from the Plastic Pollution Coalition, these particles are
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  ubiquitous, present in our food, water, and even the air we breathe.
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  Previous research has identified microplastics in various parts of the body, including the
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  kidneys, liver, testes, and placenta.
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  This new study adds to growing concerns, as microplastics are linked to a range of health
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  issues such as heart disease, stroke, and reproductive problems.
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  There are also potential connections to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's,
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  Parkinson's, and ALS.
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  The University of New Mexico team analyzed brain tissue samples from the New Mexico Office
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  of the Medical Investigator.
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  They found twelve different types of plastics in the brain tissue, with polyethylene being
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  the most common.
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  These tiny fragments, some as small as 200 nanometers, are small enough to potentially
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  pass through the blood-brain barrier, a protective layer that usually prevents harmful
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  substances from entering the brain.
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  Interestingly, the study found significantly higher levels of microplastics in brain tissues
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  collected in 2024 compared to those from 2016, regardless of the individual's age, sex, race,
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  ethnicity, or cause of death.
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  This suggests a growing environmental and health concern.
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  Campen hypothesizes that most microplastics in the body are ingested through food,
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  particularly meat, as commercial meat production tends to concentrate plastics in the
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  food chain.
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  He describes a process where plastic-contaminated water used for irrigation
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  leads to plastics accumulating in crops, which are then fed to livestock.
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  While this study is certainly alarming, Erica Cirino offers practical advice for reducing
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  microplastic exposure.
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  She suggests simple changes like switching from plastic water bottles to stainless steel,
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  ceramic, or glass options, using reusable bags, and buying loose produce instead of packaged
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  goods.
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  This research underscores the urgent need to address the global plastic pollution crisis.
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  As we learn more about the health impacts of microplastics, taking steps to minimize
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  exposure can be a crucial part of safeguarding our health.
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  Let's shift our focus to Canada, where new statistics from Statistics Canada reveal some
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  concerning trends in poverty rates across the provinces.
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  In 2022, Nova Scotia emerged with the highest poverty rate in the country, with 12.5 percent
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  of its population living below the poverty line.
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  This is notably higher than the national average, which stood at 9.9 percent.
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  British Columbia closely followed Nova Scotia with a poverty rate of 12.2 percent.
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  Meanwhile, Manitoba not only had a significant poverty rate of 11.9 percent but also reported
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  the highest rate of deep poverty, with 6.9 percent of its residents living in these
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  conditions.
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  Deep poverty is defined as having an income that is less than 75 percent of the standard
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  poverty threshold.
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  The statistics agency defines someone as living in poverty if they cannot afford a basic basket
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  of goods and services that represent a minimal standard of living.
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  The report highlights a troubling aspect: one in five individuals who immigrated to Canada
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  between 2017 and 2022 lived below the poverty line, with more than half of these immigrants
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  experiencing deep poverty.
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  These figures underscore the challenges faced by certain provinces and demographic groups in
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  Canada, pointing to a need for targeted interventions and policies to alleviate
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  poverty.
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  The data sheds light on the economic struggles that persist despite overall national growth
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  and prosperity.
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  Let's turn our attention to a compelling proposal for improving public health in the
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  United States, brought forth by Robert F.
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  Kennedy Jr.
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  The proposal centers around front-of-package labeling, a strategy that aims to provide
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  consumers with clear guidance on making healthier food choices.
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  Jennifer A.
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  Garner, a behavioral intervention scientist and assistant professor of nutritional sciences,
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  discusses this approach in MedpageToday, highlighting its potential to help 'Make
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  America Healthy Again.'
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  In today's supermarkets, consumers face an overwhelming variety of options, with most of
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  the American diet being composed of ultraprocessed foods.
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  These foods are linked to a higher risk of chronic diseases, yet foundational training on
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  nutrition and food preparation has been deprioritized in schools.
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  As a result, many families find their food budgets stretched and time for preparing
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  healthy meals insufficient.
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  The proposed remedy lies in translating the Food and Drug Administration's updated
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  definition of 'healthy' into a simple symbol on food packaging.
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  This symbol would help guide consumers in making healthier choices by indicating which
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  products meet the criteria for being considered 'healthy.' According to the Food and Drug
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  Administration, a food product can be labeled as 'healthy' if it contains a certain amount of
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  a Dietary Guideline-aligned food group, such as fruits or vegetables, and adheres to limits on
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  added sugar, sodium, and saturated fat.
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  Jennifer Garner points out that the field of nutritional science has advanced significantly
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  since the 1990s, when the Food and Drug Administration last defined 'healthy' for food
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  labeling.
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  We now have a better understanding of the types of fats that affect our health and the issues
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  with replacing fat in foods with sugar.
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  This updated definition aims to reflect these advancements and guide consumers more
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  effectively.
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  The Trump administration's 'Make America Healthy Again' campaign presents an opportunity
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  to finalize the Food and Drug Administration's front-of-package labels.
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  Early prototypes favored a simple symbol, similar to the American Heart Association's red
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  check mark for heart-healthy foods.
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  Such a symbol could provide a straightforward assessment of a product's alignment with health
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  standards, though some argue for a more nuanced label that also warns of high levels of
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  nutrients to limit.
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  Despite the potential benefits, the proposal has faced challenges, such as the removal of a
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  stoplight color system intended to help consumers quickly interpret nutritional
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  information.
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  The Food and Drug Administration is currently open to public comments on the proposal, and
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  Jennifer Garner suggests that the administration has an opportunity to support
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  smart consumer choices and counter false claims by the food industry.
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  As we look to the future, the next health secretary, whether it be Robert F.
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  Kennedy Jr.
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  or another leader, has a chance to make a significant impact on America's health.
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  While a new label could help navigate the overwhelming aisles of supermarket products,
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  it's crucial to integrate this effort with broader strategies, such as enhancing nutrition
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  education and making healthy foods more affordable.
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  This holistic approach could lead to meaningful public health improvements.
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  Our final story today takes us to Canada, where significant developments are underway in the
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  fight against the fentanyl crisis.
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  Public Safety Minister David McGuinty announced that details regarding the appointment of a
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  'fentanyl czar' should be finalized by the end of the week.
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  This new role is set to be pivotal in coordinating efforts between Canada and the
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  United States to tackle the fentanyl epidemic that has been ravaging both countries.
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  The fentanyl czar will serve as a primary liaison, addressing what McGuinty describes as
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  a 'whole-of-society challenge.' The crisis encompasses foreign affairs, law enforcement,
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  public health, and intelligence.
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  With fentanyl being a lethal threat in both nations, this position aims to streamline and
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  enhance cross-border collaborations.
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  McGuinty emphasized the complexity of the issue, noting that it involves tracing the
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  ingredients used in fentanyl production and addressing other drugs, such as
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  methamphetamine, that also cross the border.
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  He highlighted the importance of cooperation, stating, 'We are not going to shy away from
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  raising with our American counterparts that there are also drug challenges coming
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  northward.'
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  The creation of the fentanyl czar role is part of Canada's broader strategy to respond to
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  pressures from the United States, which had threatened tariffs over concerns about fentanyl
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  trafficking.
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  Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has committed to several measures, including listing cartels as
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  terrorists, enhancing border surveillance, and launching a joint strike force with the United
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  States to combat organized crime and drug trafficking.
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  McGuinty pointed out that on a per capita basis, Canada is losing more lives to fentanyl
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  than the United States, making it crucial for American officials to understand the severity
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  of the situation.
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  The fentanyl czar will work across jurisdictions, collaborating with federal and
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  local law enforcement, attorneys general, Health Canada's laboratories, and Global
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  Affairs Canada.
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  As we await further details on the role and the individual who will fill this critical
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  position, it's clear that the fentanyl crisis demands urgent and coordinated action.
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  With the appointment of a dedicated czar, Canada is taking a significant step towards
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  addressing this public health emergency.
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  That wraps up today's episode of Morning Medical with Dr.
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  Chow.
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  We've covered a range of pressing health issues, from the impact of microplastics on our
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  brains to poverty rates in Canada, and the ongoing efforts to combat the fentanyl crisis.
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  Stay healthy, stay informed, and join us again tomorrow for more medical and health news from
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  around the globe.
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  I'm Dr.
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  Chi-Ming Chow.
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  Thank you for listening.