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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May 17, 2019

Today, over 125 people on land and 50 people on water gathered at the “No Methanol Land and Water Action Community Camp-Out” opposing the proposed fracked-gas-to-methanol refinery in Kalama, WA. Speakers called on the Washington Department of…

May 15, 2019

Washington, DC-- Today. the House of Representatives Energy and Commerce committee heard testimony on a suite of new bills that would protect Americans at risk of PFAS contamination. More than 20 bills have been introduced recently to study the…

May 1, 2019

Denver, CO—Yesterday evening, the Colorado Senate passed the Firefighting Foams Control Act (HB 19-1279) to ban the sale of firefighting foams that contain harmful PFAS. The bill will head to Governor Jared Polis’ desk for his signature.

April 26, 2019

Washington, DC-- Yesterday, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released interim guidance for cleanup of two toxic fluorinated chemicals known as PFOS and PFOA in groundwater. The proposed guidelines are meant to inform the clean-up of…

April 18, 2019

Denver, CO-- Moments ago, the Colorado House unanimously passed the Firefighting Foams Control Act (HB 19-1279) to ban the sale of firefighting foams that contain harmful PFAS. It now goes to the Colorado Senate. The law would prohibit the sale of…