PEER Protects Public Health
Reducing Toxic Risks for a Healthier Future
Environmental and public health specialists work hard to protect the health of children, workers, and the public at large.
PEER works with these specialists to correct the problems when public agencies fall short in their public health mandates. We have a large network of federal, state and local government employees that work with us to expose information about the effects of toxic chemicals and environmental pollution on public health and challenge industry’s influence over regulators.
Together, we fight for stronger laws and regulations, vigorous enforcement of existing laws, and greater transparency in government actions. And we partner with affected communities to elevate their concerns.
Our future depends on our ability to protect and promote public health by addressing environmental policies and practices.
Chemical Regulation
PEER has emerged as a national leader in exposing the hidden dangers of toxic chemicals in products and in pushing for government reforms to protect us from the potential risks of toxic chemicals.
PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’
PEER works to protect public health and wildlife from toxic exposures to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and fights for comprehensive solutions to the PFAS crisis.
Pollinators & Pesticides
PEER highlights key new science and exposes coverups of the dangers of pervasive pesticide use. Learn what actions are needed and how you can help.
Artificial Turf
PEER works to expose the dangers of toxic, plastic grass proliferating on playing fields, playgrounds, parks, and backyards and support communities fighting for natural grass playing fields. Learn and share the facts.
Air Pollution
PEER has worked with whistleblowers throughout the country to improve air quality. Here is an example of PEER‘s work with whistleblowers to halt illegal permitting practices in Colorado.
Superfund Accountability
PEER is working to expose efforts to scale back the Superfund program that gives EPA authority to identify responsible parties and make them help pay to clean up their pollution.
A SNAPSHOT OF PEER’S PAST EFFORTS
Here are some examples of how PEER has made a difference:
- Organized more than 300 groups to join our drive to reduce our exposure to harmful chemicals from 400 incinerators burning industrial, medical, municipal solid waste, and sewage sludge.
- Defended a long-tenured professor, one of the nation’s most respected experts on health effects of chemical exposure, from an industry scheme to stop his research.
- Successfully fighting to close major human and environmental exposure pathways from toxic forever chemicals called PFAS.
- Shut the pathway for lead poisoning for 1.4 million children under age 7 living in 5 million older residential units with lead paint. A PEER lawsuit forced long-overdue rules requiring that all repairs and renovations on these older units be conducted in a lead-safe manner.
- Forced adoption of safeguards for human exposure testing of pesticides and other toxins.
- Worked with concerned public school teachers, staff and agency professionals to identify and remedy toxic schools plagued by PCBs and other contaminants.
- Outlined policy steps that can help prevent future pandemics.
READ MORE NEWS ON PUBLIC HEALTH
Video Shows how Chemical Safety Reviews Weakened
EPA Staff Coached on Getting to “Yes” to Dismiss Unreasonable Health Risks
FDA Spurns CT Scan Reliability Safeguards
Current Lax Standards Put Patients at Risk and Pose Regulatory Violations
Groups Challenge Trump Administration’s Phoenix Ozone Pollution Waiver
EPA Blamed City’s Air Violations on Asia, Mexico in Granting Free Pass to Pollute
Call for California Crackdown on PFAS-Laden Pesticide
Herbicide May Pose Undisclosed Threat to Health and the Environment
Toxic Sewage Sludge Fertilizer Fight at the Appeals Court
EPA Shirking Its Duty to Protect Farmers, Gardeners, Food, and Water from PFAS Contamination
LETTER | Tell Congress to Prioritize People Over Chemical Companies
Letter calling on the House of Representatives to reject provisions in the Farm Bill draft that grant chemical companies legal immunity and undermine the authority of local governments to protect their residents from harmful chemicals.
Letter re: Pesticide Provisions in Farm Bill
Letter to Senate and House Agriculture Committees from 85 conservation groups opposing pesticide provisions in Farm Bill
REPORT | The Collapse of Environmental Enforcement Under Trump’s EPA
The Department of Justice settled just 15 of the cases referred by EPA for civil prosecution in the year since President Trump’s second inauguration.