Search Results for "how to avoid exposures"

  Children in at least 4 million U.S. homes are currently being exposed to high levels of lead. Exposure to lead can cause lifelong negative health effects in children, including brain damage and developmental delays. It’s very difficult to avoid every lead exposure because the chemical is used in so many things. We need policymakers […]

They are chemicals that are hard to avoid – found in everything from TVs to toys to food, and contaminate homes, offices, and dorm rooms. Scientists keep uncovering new evidence that toxic flame retardants aren’t good for our health, even as companies continue to use them. Cats, thyroid cancer, dorm rooms, and toys are just […]

N-Methylpyrrolidone (a.k.a. 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone or NMP) is a solvent used in a variety of industries and applications, such as paint and coating removal, petrochemical processing, engineering plastics coatings, agricultural chemicals, electronic cleaning and industrial/domestic cleaning.

Easily inhaled, methylene chloride converts to carbon monoxide once inside the body—making it especially dangerous for people with heart or lung disease, and pregnant women.

Formaldehyde is widely used in many consumer products, including building materials, pressed wood, cosmetics, shoe-care products, and textiles. It is also used as a disinfectant and as a preservative, including in mortuaries and medical labs. It has been identified as a cause of leukemia and nose and throat cancer, and linked to asthma and skin irritations.

The Air We Breathe We recruited 10 prominent Washington residents—elected officials, members of the media, a firefighter, a social services leader, and environmental experts—and asked them to take a personal air sample to measure the flame retardants in the air they breathe. The results of this testing show us we can’t avoid exposure to dangerous […]

Pesticides are chemicals used to kill pests, such as insects or weeds. Many different kinds of synthetic (human-made) pesticides are used in agriculture or in home-use products.

Tackling toxic chemicals involves complex science and systems. Through our original research and investigative reports, our scientists bring important environmental health issues to the forefront to support policymakers, corporate decision makers, government agencies, health advocates, and non-scientists in making an [...]

Toys should inspire imagination, creativity, and fun! However, inadequate protections for products mean that toys, even those made for very small children, can contain hazardous chemicals and plastics.

Phthalates are plasticizers and fragrance carriers used in a wide array of consumer products, especially those containing PVC (polyvinyl chloride).