eXXpedition- Making the unseen seen
RESEARCH: EXPLORING TOXICS IN OUR BODIES
Scientists estimate that everyone alive today carries at least 700 contaminants within our bodies, most of which have not been well studied. Wherever you live in the world, you have been exposed to a cocktail of chemicals. Along with tests to identify pollutants in the seawater, all women on an eXXpedition voyage have their blood serum sampled for contamination, known as body burden analysis to assess personal exposure to known toxic substances. This analysis has been conducted on their behalf by Dr Anna Kärrman, and the results are submitted to a global dataset .Through their personal exploration of their internal environments , the hope is to better understand the level of toxic exposure in women. Understanding this invisible pollution by creating a conversation sheds light on the science of ecotoxicology and inspires positive actions to tackle the root causes.
During an eXXpedition voyage environmental samples are collected to assess plastic and pollutants, feeding in these samples to wider studies investigating the impacts of toxics and plastics pollutants and linking this sampling to narratives of ecosystem health, personal health and the products we consume. The eXXpedition crew also participate in biomonitoring with a UN founded initiative to assess personal exposure to known toxic substances. Through personal exploration of our internal environment (MeSearch) the aim is to better understand the levels of toxic exposure in women. Through a shared mission to understand this invisible pollution ,the hope is to create a conversation which sheds light on the science of ecotoxicology and inspire positive actions to tackle the root causes.
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