Audible “Risk”

Science is complex and research findings are often difficult to summarise in two or three short sentences. To make scientific topics more accessible for the public, the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) is starting a new audio format: “Risiko – Der BfR-Podcast” (“Risk - The BfR Podcast”) aims to give detailed insight into what the BfR deals with in its day-to-day work. “Newspapers, news portals and social media posts are constantly warning us about new health risks. Plasticisers in sun creams, microplastics or supposedly carcinogenic substances in food. With this podcast we want to investigate such topics in depth – in a calm, scientific and understandable way”, says Professor Andreas Hensel, President of the BfR.

Episodes of “Risiko – Der BfR-Podcast” will be released around once a month in future. The individual episodes are about 30 minutes long and always focus on one particular health risk. In a casual conversation scientists explain the most important points concerning real or supposed health risks. They also discuss the myths and fake news which might be spreading online and some already circulating for years. In the first episode explains how scientific risk assessment really works and how risks are perceived. The second episode deals with the health risks of tattoos and the third episode is about microplastics.

The “Risiko” podcast is available for free on all usual podcast platforms and apps. All episodes can also be listened to individually on the BfR website.

Episode 1: “Risk perception: Are we afraid of the wrong things?”
Guest: Professor Dr Gaby-Fleur Böl, Head of the BfR Department Risk Communication

Episode 2: “Tattoo inks: Body decoration with adverse effects?”
Guest: Dr Ines Schreiver, Head of the BfR Dermatotoxicology Study Centre

Episode 3: “Microplastics: Small particles – big risk?”
Guest: Dr Holger Sieg, Head of the BfR Working Group on Microplastics