Moving from toxic chemicals to safer alternatives
The problem: Millions of people are exposed to harmful chemicals in food, personal care products and other consumer goods — many of which are made using fossil fuels. People who live or work near chemical facilities are also at much higher risk of illness or death, and 6-10 million U.S. households get their drinking water through toxic lead pipes.
What we’re doing about it: We’re working with communities, scientists, governments and industry to reduce the risks from toxic chemicals by changing how manufacturers make and use them and moving toward the safest possible alternatives. Our goal is to drive demand for safer products and ensure access to safer drinking water by replacing lead pipes.
Our work reducing people’s risk from toxic chemicals
- Explainer
Protections against toxic chemicals are under attack in the U.S.
- Initiative
Reducing harmful chemicals in our food
- Initiative
Lead pipes that deliver drinking water are a major health threat
- Blog post
New analysis identifies 25 cancer-causing substances allowed in U.S. food
- Article
Families celebrate EPA ban on killer paint stripper chemical
- Blog post
Unveiling EDF’s Chemical Exposure Action Map
Updates
Read the latest articles, blogs and press releases on safer chemicals.
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The Toxic Substances Control Act is working to keep potentially dangerous new chemicals off the market and out of our lives
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The fight over America’s most important chemical safety law
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Here’s how a harmful Republican proposal to weaken the Toxic Substances Control Act would make it harder for EPA to keep dangerous chemicals out of our lives
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This is how the House Republicans’ proposal to weaken the Toxic Substances Control Act hamstrings EPA’s ability to protect us from the worst toxic chemicals already on the market
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New Proposal in Congress Would Gut Key Provisions of Landmark Chemical Safety Law, Putting Families’ Health at Risk
Press release, -
The Toxic Substances Control Act is working to protect millions of Americans. So why do Congressional Republicans want to weaken it?
Blog post,
Safer chemicals resources
Dig deeper into our work with these resources for researchers, policymakers, journalists and communities.
- Explainer
This bedrock chemical safety law protects people in the U.S.
- Explainer
Broken GRAS: How the FDA lets unsafe ingredients into our food
- Interactive tool
Map of public lead service line replacement programs in the U.S.
- Interactive tool
Chemical Exposure Action Map
- Report
Cumulative risk assessment framework
- Timeline
Unleaded: Inside EDF’s 50-year battle against lead
Our chemical safety experts
Media contact
Cecile Brown
(202) 271-6534 (office)