Individual donations to support our work are more important than ever before. Today's challenging economy, and its impact on federal and state budgets, has made traditional funding sources increasingly unpredictable.

How is Silent Spring Institute different from other breast cancer organizations?

This year, more than 200,000 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Most current breast cancer research funding focuses on diagnosis, treatment, or finding a cure, while ignoring research into preventable causes. With only one-fourth of all breast cancer traceable to genes, research focused on the environmental risks of breast cancer must continue and expand. This research offers perhaps the greatest promise for identifying other risk factors that may be avoidable causes of this disease.

How will my donation be used?

Your donation will support current and planned research that investigates potential links between environmental pollutants and breast cancer using the most advanced scientific techniques and geographic environmental data.

Silent Spring Institute research in 2002 includes expanded analysis and use of data collected by Institute researchers in the Cape Cod Breast Cancer and Environment Study from 1995 through 2002. In this major study, Silent Spring Institute uses state-of-the art research tools to identify geographic patterns of breast cancer and to detect chemicals in the environment that may increase breast cancer risk and integrates this information with data on land use, water supply, and pesticide application.

Planned projects include additional testing of drinking water and groundwater on Cape Cod to follow-up on our research that identified estrogen mimics leaching from septic systems into groundwater, and expanding our research to include women who have been diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), a non-invasive breast cancer that often precedes invasive disease.

To see your dollars at work at Silent Spring Institute, click here.

Is my donation tax deductible?

Yes. Silent Spring Institute is a non-profit organization based in Massachusetts and
is exempt from federal income tax under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue
Code. Donations are deductible to the extent allowed by law.

How can I support Silent Spring Institute?

To make a donation, click here.