Toxics & Health

Toxics & Health

Toxics & Health

We are working to address the widespread pollution of air, water, and the food supply. We recognize that the burden posed by toxic chemicals falls most heavily on marginalized people, including Black and Brown communities, low income families, and children. We are focused on actions that bring attention to people and places most impacted by pollution.


Despite legal protections that exist to regulate pesticides, the safeguards are woefully inadequate.

About Our Program

Polluters, not everyday people, must be responsible for halting the use of these chemicals, and paying to clean up the pollution and contamination they’ve created. Sierra Club is focused on actions that reduce environmental inequities. We call for long-lasting solutions, including stronger government oversight, pollution prevention, and increased corporate accountability.

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November 26, 2019

Geneva, Switzerland-- Today, during the third convention on the Minamata Treaty on Mercury, the Zero Mercury Working Group, The Beautywell Project and Sierra Club released results from their tests of mercury levels in Amazon and eBay skin-lightening…

November 19, 2019

Minneapolis, MN— Today, The Beautywell Project and the Sierra Club’s Gender, Equity & Environment Program launched a media campaign targeting major online retailer Amazon to stop selling skin lightening creams that contain illegal levels of…

November 12, 2019

Washington, DC-- Today, eighty two public health and environmental organizations sent a letter to Sen. Inhofe, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, signaling concern about  proposals to remove critical provisions related to per- and…

November 7, 2019

Washington, DC-- Today, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler released an update on the agency’s per and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) Action Plan. In the update, the agency said it would begin the process to set a legal…

October 30, 2019

Today, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto came out in opposition to the continued buildout of polluting plastic and petrochemical facilities in Western Pennsylvania in favor of climate action.