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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06/2017 |
Natural Resources Defense CouncilTo reduce or eliminate human and environmental exposure to toxic chemicals by fighting to ensure that science-based, health-protective policies are adopted and effectively implemented with particular attention given to priority chemicals of very high concern. |
Health and Environment |
$100,000 | |
| 06/2017 |
Learning Disabilities Association of AmericaTo advocate for the strongest possible protection from neurotoxic chemical exposure for infants, children, and pregnant women in order to prevent learning disabilities. |
Health and Environment |
$100,000 | |
| 06/2017 |
International Chemical SecretariatTo improve the functionality and increase the use of the Marketplace online platform designed to connect safer chemicals developers and suppliers with product manufacturers and retailers. |
Health and Environment |
$120,000 | |
| 06/2017 |
Environmental Health Strategy CenterTo lead and coordinate a collaborative campaign designed to eliminate phthalates, a class of neurotoxicant and hormone-disrupting chemicals, from major exposure routes in the food supply. |
Health and Environment |
$225,000 | |
| 06/2017 |
Ecology CenterTo provide critical information about toxic chemicals in consumer products as part of key collaborative market campaigns designed to reduce exposures to these hazardous chemicals. |
Health and Environment |
$100,000 | |
| 06/2017 |
Coming CleanTo build a robust and sustainable movement for protecting health by reducing exposures to toxic chemicals, and to achieve safer product availability at dollar stores in disproportionately exposed/disenfranchised communities. |
Health and Environment |
$215,000 | |
| 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. |
Health and Environment |
$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. |
Health and Environment |
$210,000 | |
| 03/2017 |
Responsible Purchasing NetworkTo support states and large cities to more aggressively incorporate safer purchasing into their sustainable procurement policies. |
Health and Environment |
$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. |
Health and Environment |
$75,000 |