The number of children with asthma has gone up in the last few years. Some people think that allergens and chemicals that are common inside homes are adding to the problem.
We wanted to learn more about some of the chemicals in pesticides (used to kill bugs or weeds) and everyday things – from shampoo and soap to couches and shower curtains.
In this study:
• We went to 94 homes to measure the...
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Our handbook for reporting results to participants in biomonitoring and personal exposure studies. In the past researchers usually didn't tell study participants their own chemical exposure results except for the few chemicals that have medical guidelines, like lead and mercury. But increasingly researchers recognize that participants have a right to know. This handbook aims to help guide other...
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About 85% of Cape Cod residents—and 25% of Americans nationwide—rely on septic systems to process their wastewater. So how well do septic systems fare at removing chemicals such as pharmaceuticals, consumer products, and flame retardants? Silent Spring Institute researchers recently compiled the most comprehensive dataset on contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) discharged from septic systems....
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In February 2011, Silent Spring Institute tested 20 private drinking water wells in 7 towns on Cape Cod for emerging contaminants to learn more about the effect of septic systems and other sources of groundwater pollution on water quality on the Cape.
Emerging contaminants include chemicals such as pharmaceuticals and consumer product chemicals that may have health effects but are not currently...
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In October 2009, Silent Spring Institute, in collaboration with nine Cape Cod public water suppliers, tested for emerging contaminants in public drinking water supplies to learn more about how septic systems and other sources of groundwater contamination are affecting water quality on the Cape.
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Where’s that smoking gun? Unfortunately, definitive proof of environmental causes of breast cancer is difficult to establish, largely because multiple factors throughout a woman’s lifecycle affect her risk of developing the disease. The kind of studies that could provide the simplest evidence—randomized controlled trials—would be unethical; no one should be intentionally exposed to suspected...
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This 2006 update provides an extensive overview of the Cape Cod Study’s findings.
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In 2004, Silent Spring Institute interviewed dozens of leaders of grassroots breast cancer organizations in the United States and Canada to learn about their priorities, particularly how they viewed environmental issues in relation to breast cancer advocacy. Results of the interviews showed a substantial interest in the environment among leaders of grassroots organizations.
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Silent Spring Institute researchers have compiled information about breast cancer and the Cape Cod environment as part of the Cape Cod Breast Cancer and Environment Study (Cape Cod Study).
Expanding on the extensive geographic data resources of MassGIS and the Cape Cod Commission, Silent Spring Institute, working with Applied Geographics, Inc. (AGI), developed an innovative geographic...
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“Satura combines three scientific discoveries to help your skin look younger and chiffon-fine,” the advertisement proclaims. “The minute you smooth on a film of fluffy petal-pink Satura it disappears into your skin and begins working.” One of those key ingredients in the woman’s quest for chiffon-fine skin? Estrogenic hormones, a possible contributor to breast cancer. This advertisement,...
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This publication summarizes the results of the first phase of research in the Cape Cod Study.
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