Toxic threats

It’s up to us to protect our ecosystems and communities from toxic chemicals.

Most of the 80,000 chemicals on the market in the United States have been put into use without testing long-term consequences for the environment, or their impacts on our health. We should make sure that any chemical in use is safe, eliminate those we know are dangerous, and stop using any that are damaging healthy ecosystems. And if an industry makes a toxic mess, we should know right away, and they should be the ones to pay for cleaning it up.

The Latest on Toxic threats
Updates
What You Can Do
Featured Resources
I am moved to contribute to Environment Illinois because I know that governmental policy is at the root of many of our environmental difficulties. Now that I am a grandparent, the necessity of carving out a more sustainable future becomes ever more urgent. Nick Bridge, Member, Environment Illinois

The Latest
Saying farewell to fluorescents
Fluorescent bulbs

Energy efficiency

Saying farewell to fluorescents

Fluorescent light bulbs are a common sight in offices, garages, and basements—but they contain toxic mercury and are incredibly inefficient compared to newer alternatives. It's time to phase them out.

Environmental, public health groups to Senate: Act on toxic PFAS in drinking water

Clean water

Environmental, public health groups to Senate: Act on toxic PFAS in drinking water

Eighty-two organizations, including Environment America and U.S. PIRG, delivered a letter Wednesday to the U.S. Senate’s Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee calling for comprehensive federal legislation to protect Americans’ drinking water from contamination by the toxic class of chemicals known as PFAS. The organizations, which hail from 30 states, asked the EPW Committee to designate all PFAS as hazardous substances, prohibit their use in firefighting foam, and direct the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue drinking water standards and stop the dumping of PFAS into our nation’s waterways.

Media Releases  

Show More