Mission

The Center for Environmental Health (CEH) protects the public from environmental and consumer health hazards. It is committed to environmental justice, reducing the use of toxic chemicals, supporting communities in their quest for a safer environment, and corporate accountability. CEH was founded to directly challenge corporations to reduce their use of toxic chemical. Strategies for this work include: conducting research on corporate use of toxics and the resulting health hazards faced by consumers, workers and communities; defining feasible alternative practices that minimize health hazards resulting from corporate activities; partnering with industry to implement these alternatives; enforcing compliance with environmental laws through public interest litigation; and providing technical support to environmental and community groups working to protect public health and the environment.

Issues

Toxics, Lead, Air pollution, Water pollution, Waste disposal, Environmental racism, Environmental design

Activities

Outreach, Education, Surveys, Media/Press campaign, Advocacy, Policy development and implementation

Programs/
Projects

CEH is currently working in five project areas. On corporate accountability projects, CEH uses litigation, publicity and alternative design strategies to regulate industries' use of toxic chemicals. Most recently, they have worked on the enforcement of Proposition 65, on opposing the use of arsenic-laden wood in playground materials and on opposing anti-diarrheal medications that contain lead. As part of the Health Care Without Harm coalition, CEH works toward preventing and eliminating pollution from health care facilities without compromising care or safety by promoting the use of environmentally safe materials technology and by educating health care institution providers, workers and patients. In its third project area, CEH also works with partner organizations to provide technical assistance to communities, on such efforts as mapping toxic hazards in East Oakland and forcing the medical waste incinerators in Oakland to stop emitting dioxins and heavy metals from their stacks. In the area of public policy, CEH works for two different public agencies. For the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) Bay Area Dioxins Project, CEH was hired to help facilitate public involvement in the Dioxins Project decision-making process. For the city of San Francisco, CEH designs, develops and implements city policies and plans to reduce exposure to persistent bioaccumulative toxins. Finally CEH works directly to promote changes in industry practices, through a campaign to phase out toxic chemicals and promote non-toxic alternatives and through a project to create ecologically sustainable and healthy buildings.

Constitutency

General public, Low-income, People of color

Geographical Focus

Neighborhood, City, Regional, Statewide

Staff

5 full-time, 2 part-time, 2 work-study students

Volunteers

4

Publications

Summer and winter newsletters; annual report

Annuual Budget

$500,000-$1,000,000

Year Founded

1996