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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06/2019 |
International Chemical SecretariatTo move the global market toward safer products by ensuring that the Marketplace platform becomes the premier meeting space for buyers and sellers of safer chemicals. |
Health and Environment |
$75,000 | |
| 06/2019 |
The ArcTo support Project TENDR, which joins scientific evidence with advocacy to inform and empower change makers to create policies ensuring no child is exposed to chemicals contributing to neurodevelopmental disorders. |
Health and Environment |
$100,000 | |
| 06/2019 |
Coming CleanTo conduct bottom-up organizing for new environmental health policy outcomes that protect communities impacted by the fossil fuel and chemical industries and reduce environmental health and justice burdens and inequities. |
Health and Environment |
$200,000 | |
| 06/2019 |
Ecology CenterTo leverage product testing results to eliminate toxic chemicals from consumer goods, including food and food packaging, cookware, apparel, children’s products, and building products. |
Health and Environment |
$75,000 | |
| 06/2019 |
Environmental Health Strategy CenterTo phase out dangerous chemicals in food contact materials, and to advance state policies to eliminate toxic chemicals in food packaging as a step toward federal reform. |
Health and Environment |
$200,000 | |
| 06/2019 |
Natural Resources Defense CouncilTo reduce or eliminate human and environmental exposure to toxic chemicals by fighting to ensure that science-based, health-protective policies for all chemicals are put in place. |
Health and Environment |
$50,000 | |
| 03/2019 |
WE ACT for Environmental JusticeTo reduce exposure to PFAS, especially among low-income communities of color. |
Health and Environment |
$50,000 | |
| 03/2019 |
Clean Production ActionTo support the Chemical Footprint Project, which works to transform how corporations set management policies, manage supply chains, select and use chemicals and materials, and publicly report on their progress away from toxic chemicals. |
Health and Environment |
$180,000 | |
| 03/2019 |
Safer StatesTo support core state policy reform and market-based activities and provide additional resources to distribute to state coalitions working on safer chemicals policy. |
Health and Environment |
$250,000 | |
| 03/2019 |
Center for Environmental HealthTo reduce exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals by leveraging the buying power of large purchasers and protecting environmental health policies and programs. |
Health and Environment |
$55,000 |