Pollution Gets Personal: When Study Participants Learn their Chemical Levels
To find out how chemical contaminants affect health, scientists measure them in people’s blood, urine, breast milk and other tissues, and in household air and dust.
News
Whether it’s tracking toxic chemicals in drinking water or uncovering new mechanisms by which they trigger breast cancer, we publish updates about our work throughout the year.
Here, you’ll find the latest news about our research and our impact. For detailed information about our past and present projects, please explore Our Science.
News
Study identifies priority breast carcinogens and biomonitoring methods
We identified 17 types of chemicals that should be top targets for breast cancer prevention. These include chemicals in gasoline, diesel and other vehicle exhaust, flame retardants, stain-resistant textiles, paint removers, and disinfection byproducts in drinking water.
Contaminants pervasive in Cape Cod's drinking water supply
Study is among the first to examine the impact of septic systems on groundwater used for drinking supplies
Experts Call for Federal Government to Increase Breast Cancer Prevention Efforts
Citing Silent Spring research, a major federal interagency report calls for greater investment in research on breast cancer prevention.
Gathering Dust: Many Toxic Flame Retardants Linger in Homes, Sometimes at Levels Above Health Guidelines
Study finds most houses had levels of at least one flame retardant that exceeded a federal health guideline.
Consumer Products Contain Potentially Harmful Chemicals Not Listed on Labels
Largest study to date analyzes consumer products for a wide range of chemicals associated with hormonal effects and asthma.
New chemicals screening initiative launched to identify breast carcinogens
Silent Spring Institute has embarked on a new research effort to develop high throughput screening tools for identifying chemicals most likely to increase breast cancer risk.
The Institute of Medicine releases report on breast cancer and the environment
Silent Spring Institute’s perspective on the report’s top take-home points related to environmental chemicals
Emerging Contaminants in Cape Cod Private Drinking Wells
Results demonstrate widespread impact of wastewater, primarily from septic systems, on Cape groundwater and drinking water.
Fresh food diet reduces levels of hormone disruptors BPA and DEHP
Study shows food packaging is a major source of exposure to hormone disrupting chemicals BPA and DEHP in children and adults.