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 Toxic chemical pollution threatens every American family and every community. In 2005 alone, more than 923 million pounds of cancer-causing chemicals were released into our air and water.
Sierra Club's Toxics website provides information on a variety of toxics-related subjects including lead in kids products, Superfund, brownfields redevelopment, hazardous substances, public health as related to toxics in our environment and many other issues.
June 23, 2008
EPA Agrees to Study Methods to Reduce Formaldehyde in Homes, Offices, and Schools
Agency investigation comes in response to Sierra Club, petitioners' pressure.
In response to a petition from Sierra Club, 24 other organizations and more than 5,000 individuals representing every state in the country, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) agreed to conduct a four-part investigation of formaldehyde in our homes, schools and offices.
 Sierra Club press release
EPA decision
News:
Sierra Club Recommends National Indoor Formaldehyde Standards
The Sierra Club continued its leadership on the issue of safe and healthy
indoor air quality by filing a petition with the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) to adopt nationwide formaldehyde standards from composite wood
products used to make paneling, flooring, cabinets, furniture, countertops,
molding, and doors. These standards would greatly reduce formaldehyde levels
in schools, offices, and homes including trailers.
Recent testing by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
showed that many common brands of recreational vehicles and mobile homes
have unsafe levels of formaldehyde. Manufacturers have stated that they used
the same processes to make FEMA trailers as they did to make units for sale
to the general public. Sierra Club has received complaints about high
formaldehyde levels from across the country in RV's, mobile homes, offices,
freestanding homes and schools. Many people have suffered health problems,
and a number of early deaths are believed linked to exposure to the
carcinogenic gas.
View the petition and email Oliver Bernstein for more
information.
Take Action:
Protect Our Nation's Infants from Bisphenol A
Baby Bottles Leach Toxic Chemical, According to New U.S. and Canadian Study
Dozens of state and national environmental health organizations in the U.S. and Canada are calling for an immediate moratorium on the use of bisphenol A (BPA) in baby bottles and other food and beverage containers, based on the results of a new study that demonstrates the toxic chemical BPA leaches from popular plastic baby bottles when heated. Bisphenol A is a hormone-disrupting chemical used to make hard polycarbonate plastic that more and more studies are linking to health problems in animals and humans at low levels of exposure. Researchers say BPA may play a role in rising levels of obesity, hormone-related cancers like breast and prostate cancers, behavioural problems such as hyperactivity, immune system effects, early puberty and miscarriages. Results of the study, "Baby's Toxic Bottle: Bisphenol A Leaching from Popular Baby Bottles," contribute to a growing body of evidence that calls for immediate protective action to reduce exposure to BPA, especially for infants and children. Last month, Michigan Representatives John Dingell and Bart Stupak launched a Congressional investigation to ascertain the safety of BPA used also to line the cans of infant formula products. This investigation will also probe into the tactics apparently employed by the Weinberg Group, a chemical company consulting group, and will explore the possibility that the science surrounding bisphenol A has been "for sale."
Take Action: Tell leading baby bottle manufacturers that toxic chemicals like bisphenol A (BPA) do not belong in baby bottles!
Feature: Just because it smells clean, doesn't mean it's clean
Phthalates are a particularly dangerous type of chemicals found in some air fresheners. They are hormone-disrupting chemicals that can be particularly dangerous for young children and unborn babies. Exposure to phthalates can affect testosterone levels and lead to reproductive abnormalities, including abnormal genitalia and reduced sperm production. Far too little is known about what chemicals make up air fresheners, and there is virtually no government oversight monitoring the health risks those chemicals pose. Air fresheners do not clean the air; they just add toxic chemicals to the air we breathe. Instead of thorough cleaning or effective ventilation, the air fresheners are too often used as a mask for smells from sewage, mold, rodents and cockroaches, all health risks in and of themselves. The Sierra Club has urged the EPA to take action. On December 18, EPA sent letters to seven major manufacturers of air fresheners asking for a voluntary list of chemicals in their products, the range of concentrations for each chemical, the chemical's function, and total annual amount used. Learn more about hormone-disrupting chemicals and what you can do to avoid them.
Feature: Keeping Your Kids Safe from Lead Jewelry
The Sierra Club has been an integral player in the effort to ensure the safety of our kids products. Read more about what we've done and how you can help.
Feature: DDT and Malaria
 Sierra Club responds to the World Health Organization's decision to promote DDT to combat malaria in Africa.
The Sierra Club says that the World Health Organization should give priority to safer tools for fighting malaria.
Read our full position here.
USA TODAY: October 28, 2007
Toxic Legacy - Despite Ban Risks Remain
Chicago Tribune: October 9, 2007
Where do the recalls end up?
SF Gate: September 20, 2007
Where do the recalls end up?
MSNBC: July 25, 2006
Are FEMA trailers 'toxic tin cans'?
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