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
Environmental Health Strategy Center
For the past fifteen years, the Environmental Health Strategy Center has inspired groundbreaking state policy and innovative market-based campaigns to phase out some of the most toxic chemicals from household goods and baby products.
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09/2021 |
West Harlem Environmental ActionTo reduce exposure to toxics in cosmetics and personal care products among women and girls of color. |
Health and Environment |
$50,000 | |
| 09/2021 |
Toxic-Free FutureTo ensure Washington State continues to lead the nation in enacting and implementing model policies and investments that move supply chains to truly safer solutions. |
Health and Environment |
$120,000 | |
| 09/2021 |
Healthy Babies Bright FuturesTo lower levels of neurotoxic chemicals in babies by decreasing the contaminants in the biggest sources of harm, and promoting cities’ successful strategies for protecting babies’ brain development. |
Health and Environment |
Healthy Babies Bright Futures |
$150,000 |
| 09/2021 |
Healthy Building NetworkTo achieve environmental justice and health equity by improving chemical data quality, quantity, and transparency, and scaling product guidance and adoption in the building sector and beyond. |
Health and Environment |
$50,000 | |
| 09/2021 |
Clean Production ActionTo eliminate toxic chemicals and replace them with safer alternatives, thereby enhancing the health of all people, especially the most vulnerable populations, and the planet. |
Health and Environment |
$90,000 | |
| 09/2021 |
Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental HealthTo highlight the benefits of the Transportation and Climate Initiative to children and adults specific to New York City, as part of a larger study of its benefits region-wide. |
Health and Environment |
$45,000 | |
| 06/2021 |
Defend Our HealthTo protect public health and the environment through campaigns that persuade decisionmakers in government and industry to adopt policies and practices that end use of the most harmful and least essential chemicals and plastics, while reducing human exposure and ensuring environmental justice. |
Health and Environment |
$100,000 | |
| 06/2021 |
International Chemical SecretariatTo push the global market towards safer products and materials by increasing the visibility of safer alternatives on ChemSec’s online platform Marketplace. |
Health and Environment |
$30,000 | |
| 06/2021 |
The ArcTo join scientific evidence with advocacy to inform and empower change makers to create policies that ensure no child is exposed to chemicals that contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders. |
Health and Environment |
$50,000 | |
| 06/2021 |
Ecology CenterTo build, scale, and leverage collaborative campaign science to win market and policy changes that drive toxics chemicals out of our economy. |
Health and Environment |
$40,000 |