Health and Environment
Ongoing scientific research shows that harmful chemicals present in agriculture, manufacturing and consumer goods are causing a wide range of reproductive, neurological, developmental and immunological health impacts.
The use of these chemicals – known as Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxins (PBTs) because they are retained in the human body or linger in the environment long after exposure – must be curtailed to improve human health.
The program’s goal is to promote state and federal policies and align market incentives to reduce the use of petroleum-based chemicals that are linked to preventable disease. We are accomplishing this goal by:
- Supporting state and national campaigns that tie PBTs to human health;
- Expanding outreach to the people most often impacted by PBTs, including women, minorities and children;
- Raising consumer awareness and changing government policies to increase market pressures on companies that use PBTs and market rewards for those that seek safer alternatives;
- Helping translate cutting-edge scientific research on these toxic chemicals to ensure vulnerable communities understand their risks;
- Focusing on institutions such as hospitals, universities and governments in New England to ensure they are purchasing safer products; and
- Aligning with the Clean Energy Program, because ongoing reliance on fossil fuels is at the root of both issues.
Grantee Profile
Silent Spring Institute
This past September, Silent Spring Institute partnered with other groups to release the first comprehensive analysis of consumer product chemicals found in dust in American homes.
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Special Initiative
Healthy Babies Bright Futures
The John Merck Fund has helped launch Healthy Babies Bright Futures to measurably limit exposure to toxic chemicals in a baby’s everyday environment and reduce the prevalence of these disorders.
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Special Initiative
Chemical Footprint Project
The Chemical Footprint Project is a comprehensive tool for measuring corporate progress towards using safer chemicals in all phases of manufacturing and retail.
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Recent Environmental Health Grant Awards
| Date | Description | Program Area | Focus | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03/2017 |
Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental HealthTo study levels of flame retardant exposure in pregnant women, providing evidence to support regulation of replacement flame retardants. |
Environmental Health |
$85,000 | |
| 03/2017 |
Clean Production ActionTo support the Chemical Footprint Project, which works to set the global standard for measuring corporate progress to safer chemicals by creating an increasingly vibrant community of users, supporters, and advocates. |
Environmental Health |
$210,000 | |
| 03/2017 |
Responsible Purchasing NetworkTo support states and large cities to more aggressively incorporate safer purchasing into their sustainable procurement policies. |
Environmental Health |
$75,000 | |
| 03/2017 |
Center for Environmental HealthTo discourage the use of the five most harmful chemicals found in furniture by accelerating market demand for safer products through a strategic procurement campaign. |
Environmental Health |
$75,000 | |
| 03/2017 |
Clean and Healthy New YorkTo prompt retailer action to ensure all products made for babies and young children are safe and healthy. |
Environmental Health |
$25,000 | |
| 03/2017 |
Safer StatesTo provide general support for SAFER’s core state policy reform and market-based activities as well as provide additional resources to state coalitions likely to achieve chemicals policy reforms or market shifts. |
Environmental Health |
$275,000 | |
| 03/2017 |
Kitchen Table CampaignsTo enable Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families to participate in regulatory rulemaking to implement the new federal chemicals law, and to significantly improve the largest US retailers’ management of chemicals in their products and supply chains. |
Environmental Health |
$400,000 | |
| 12/2016 |
Safer StatesTo support grassroots coalitions in Connecticut and Minnesota focused on eliminating toxic chemicals from consumer products. |
Environmental Health |
$100,000 | |
| 12/2016 |
Toxic-Free FutureTo ensure that Washington State implements its new comprehensive flame retardant policy, supports other state administrative actions to reduce toxic chemical exposures, and participates in national market-oriented campaigns such as Mind the Store. |
Environmental Health |
$225,000 | |
| 12/2016 |
Oregon Environmental CouncilTo secure strong implementation of the Toxic-Free Kids Act through the final phase of rulemaking and launch a campaign for a state procurement program that includes provisions to measure and track the impact of safer product purchasing. |
Environmental Health |
$75,000 |