Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families

There is evidence that industrial pollutants are contributing to America’s obesity epidemic. While personal responsibility is important, we need to address other underlying issues that contribute to the problem.

Peter Syrett, AIA, LEED® AP BD+C Associate Principal Senior Project Designer Perkins+Will architects “Regulation is bad for business” — it is an all too common refrain in the business world today. This old argument is now being used by industry to lobby against efforts to require more transparency about chemicals in the proposed reform of […]

  On March 4, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce held hearings on persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic chemicals (PBTs). As you may know, PBTs include many of the most dangerous substances on the planet, including dioxin, mercury, lead, and cadmium. The hearing was notable because it demonstrated that members of Congress — both Democrats and […]

By Nena Baker, author of The Body Toxic Persistence is a great trait if you’re job hunting, learning to play the piano or potty training your child. But when it comes to toxic chemicals, persistence is a characteristic that spells trouble for people, animals and the environment. Congress, as it sets about updating and reforming […]

 Once again we’re putting Molly Gray and baby Pax front and center. Last month they flew to Washington D.C. to testify before Congress. This time, they star in a full page ad in Roll Call, the daily newspaper read by members of Congress and their staffs. Our goal is to put a human face on […]

One of the least-known casualties of the recent East Coast Snowmaggedon was a cancelled Congressional hearing called by Congressman Bobby Rush to focus on Persistent, Bioaccumulative Toxins (or PBTs). We hope it’s rescheduled soon because, for those advocating for chemical policy reform, PBTs are the equivalent of the FBI’s Most Wanted list. Congress is expected to introduce […]

Our campaign saw lots of action last week – all of it bolstering our conviction that Congress will act to reduce toxic chemicals in our lives this year.

The Mind, Disrupted biomonitoring project illustrates the high stakes game of toxic chemical exposure for one group of people, one groups of parents. But chemical policy isn’t just failing their kids, it’s failing all kids and that raises the stakes for everyone.

I had the highest mercury of all the pregnant women tested. I was shocked that my levels were as high as they were. Turns out these chemicals are ubiquitous in the environment. As clean as I tried to be, it was not enough to protect my baby boy.