Toxic threats
The chemicals used in everything from perfumes to cleaners to fertilizers should make our lives better — not harm our health or our environment.
There are more than 80,000 chemicals on the market in the United States, used in everything from perfumes and household cleaners to fertilizers and industrial solvents. Surprisingly, most chemicals go into use without testing their long-term impact on our health or the environment. We should make sure that any chemical in use is safe, eliminate any we know are dangerous, and when industries make a toxic mess, we should know right away, and they should pay to clean it up.
The Latest on Toxic threats
Has PFAS contaminated your beach?
Major PFAS manufacturer will pay more than $10 billion for clean-up
What You Can Do
Featured Resources
Accidents Waiting to Happen
Accidents Waiting to Happen: Hazardous Materials by Rail
Accidents Waiting to Happen: Oil Pipelines
Milestones: Preventing the spread of ‘superbugs’
The Latest
How e-waste is creating a growing environmental and health crisis across the world
We need policies like Right to Repair to address the dangerous flood of electronics waste
Statement: FDA plans to reduce toxic metal in baby food
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said Friday it will adopt a plan aimed at reducing toxic substances in food for babies and toddlers.
Toxic chemicals in single-use plastics are harming human health
Plastic is a problem not just for our environment, but also for our health. Chemicals used to make plastics anti-microbial, flame retardant, and more, can be toxic.
PFAS Free & I’m Lovin’ It
McDonald’s just committed to phasing out PFAS-treated food packaging from its restaurants globally by 2025. Other restaurants, like Burger King and Wendy’s, should follow its lead.
McDonald’s commits to eliminating toxic ‘forever chemicals’ in food packaging globally
McDonald’s announced a commitment to eliminate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food packaging used in its restaurants by 2025. PFAS are linked to kidney and liver problems, high cholesterol, reduced immune system function, and cancer.