The Hippocratic Oath declares that disease should be prevented whenever possible because prevention is preferable to cure.

Furthering this oath, the Healthier Hospitals Initiative (HHI), a program involving more than 1,300 hospitals and health care centers in the United States and Canada, has developed a safer chemicals program as part of its broader sustainability mission.

Major food companies are still coating the lining of their metal food cans with Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical that has been linked to serious health problems like cancer, infertility and obesity, according to a new study.

The study, conducted by a group of nonprofit organizations including the Breast Cancer Fund and Ecology Center, tested nearly 200 cans from food giants such as Campbell Soup Company, Del Monte and General Mills. Two out of three cans had the additive in their lining, according to the authors.

Washington State's Ecology Department has identified "alternative" brominated flame retardants in 89% of freshwater fish, sampled from rivers and lakes across the state.

Department scientists measured levels of the flame retardants (BFRs), alkylphenolic compounds, and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) in fish samples collected in 2014. All of them contained PBDEs, which were also present at the highest concentrations, followed by alkylphenolic compounds, then HBCD and non-BDE flame retardants.

The objective of this study was to explore an environment-friendly route to synthesize nonisocyanate based poly(ester urethanes) of poly(1,10-bis(hydroxyethyloxycarbonylamino) decane-co-dicarboxylic acid) (PBDA) from renewable materials/resources. ... The results indicated that the PBDAs possessed reasonably good properties and thus could potentially be used for engineering applications; moreover, because their macromolecular chains/backbones contained ester and urethane groups (which would usually result in excellent cytocompatibility), it was envisioned that these PBDAs might also be suitable for some biological and/or biomedical applications.

The Environmental Protection Agency is clearing the way for additional chemicals to replace hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), potent greenhouse gases that are used as refrigerants.

An EPA proposal released in late March "would reduce the use and emissions of some of the most harmful HFCs, which are thousands of times more potent than carbon dioxide," in terms of their global warming potential, says agency Administrator Gina McCarthy. As part of its effort to combat human-caused climate change, the Obama Administration is promoting a global phaseout of HFCs.

EPA's proposal would also allow use of safer, more climate-friendly alternatives to HFCs. For instance, it would clear the way for more uses of hydrofluoroolefin-1234yf, a substance gaining popularity in automobile air conditioners as an alternative for HFC-134a. HFO-1234yf has less than one thousandth of the global warming potential of HFC-134a. The proposal would allow use of the HFO-1234yf in heavy-duty pickup trucks and vans sold in the U.S.

...Air pollution from chemicals associated with oil and gas development causes such health effects as burning eyes, dizziness, and nausea, as well as potential development of chronic diseases including damage to cardiovascular or endocrine systems. To prove that such damages are caused by oil and gas operators, and to counter industry and government arguments that such development does not unduly harm people and the environment, evidence and data are needed. ...

Urgent research is needed to assess the possible risks to human health and ecosystems from the ever-increasing amounts of engineered nanomaterials going into household waste and ending up in the environment, according to a new OECD report.

    It ultimately took two U.S. senators, four congressmen and the White House to respond to public concern that swept across the country about the environmental impact and safety of artificial turf playing fields. Scattered and inconclusive research had confused and subverted the ability of local officials to protect children, adults and the environment. ...

    - In November 2015, ten questions about Artificial Turf were sent to Gina McCarthy, EPA director by members of the house energy and commerce committee.

    - Senators Bill Nelson and Richard Blumenthal of the Consumer Protection and Product Safety Committee followed up with a similar letter to Elliot Kaye, chairman, Consumer Product Safety Commission and also requested assistance from President Obama.