}}
}}
”’Environment and Human Health, Inc.”’ (”’EHHI”’) is a nonprofit organization based in North Haven, Connecticut, United States, that works to protect human health from environmental harms through research, education, and policy advocacy. Founded by public health professionals, physicians, and scientists, EHHI focuses on the links between environmental exposures and health outcomes, with an emphasis on vulnerable populations such as children and pregnant women.
”’Environment and Human Health, Inc.”’ (”’EHHI”’) is a nonprofit organization based in Haven, Connecticut, United States, that works to protect human health from environmental harms through research, education, and policy advocacy. Founded by public health professionals, physicians, and scientists, EHHI focuses on the links between environmental exposures and health outcomes, with an emphasis on vulnerable populations such as children and pregnant women.
== History ==
== History ==
 |
This is a draft Articles for creation (AfC) submission. It is not currently pending review. While there are no deadlines, abandoned drafts may be deleted after six months. To edit the draft click on the “Edit” tab at the top of the window. To be accepted, a draft should: It is strongly discouraged to write about yourself, your business or employer. If you do so, you must declare it. Where to get help
Improving your odds of a speedy review To improve your odds of a faster review, tag your draft with relevant WikiProject tags using the button below. This will let reviewers know a new draft has been submitted in their area of interest. For instance, if you wrote about a female astronomer, you would want to add the Biography, Astronomy, and Women scientists tags. |
| Abbreviation | EHHI |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1997 |
| Founder | Nancy Alderman |
| Type | Nonprofit organization |
| Headquarters | North Haven, Connecticut, U.S. |
|
Interim Executive Director |
Gaboury Benoit, Ph.D. |
| Website | www.ehhi.org |
Environment and Human Health, Inc. (EHHI) is a nonprofit organization based in New Haven, Connecticut, United States, that works to protect human health from environmental harms through research, education, and policy advocacy. Founded by public health professionals, physicians, and scientists, EHHI focuses on the links between environmental exposures and health outcomes, with an emphasis on vulnerable populations such as children and pregnant women.
EHHI was founded in the late 1990s by environmental advocate Nancy Alderman to address the growing evidence of environmental impacts on human health. Alderman served as president for almost three decades, during which EHHI produced numerous reports and policy recommendations. Following Alderman’s passing in early 2025, Gaboury Benoit, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Environmental Chemistry at Yale University, assumed leadership of the organization.
EHHI’s stated mission is “to protect human health by reducing environmental harms through science, education, and policy advocacy.” The organization identifies major environmental threats to human health, evaluates the causes and patterns of exposure, and proposes public and private policy solutions. Its work often emphasizes environmental justice, recognizing that pollution burdens are unevenly distributed across communities.
Selected Research and Reports
[edit]
Plastics and Microplastics
[edit]
In 2022, EHHI released Plastics and Microplastics: A Threat to the Environment and Health, authored by Yale environmental chemist Gaboury Benoit, Ph.D. The report reviewed nearly 500 scientific studies and called for sweeping policy reforms at all levels of government. It emphasized that microplastics—tiny plastic fragments found in air, food, and water—pose unknown but potentially serious health risks, particularly to fetuses and children.[1]
Artificial and Synthetic Turf
[edit]
In 2007, EHHI commissioned the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station to analyze crumb rubber used in artificial turf fields. The study found 25 chemical species, including known irritants and carcinogens such as benzothiazole, n-hexadecane, and butylated hydroxyanisole.[2] EHHI’s follow-up reports challenged industry safety claims and advocated for safer alternatives in school and recreational settings.[3]
Wood Smoke and Outdoor Wood Furnaces
[edit]
EHHI has issued multiple reports on the health risks of wood smoke, including The Dangers from Outdoor Wood Furnaces (2010) and The Harmful Effects of Wood Smoke and the Growth of Recreational Wood Burning (2018). These reports linked wood smoke to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and criticized weak regulatory standards.[4] The organization’s findings have been covered by NBC News and Clean Water Action.[5][6]
EHHI’s 2013 report on flame retardants called for state and federal policies to limit public exposure to these persistent chemicals, which are found in furniture, electronics, and building materials. The study, led by Yale professor John Wargo, Ph.D., documented bioaccumulation of synthetic flame retardants in human tissues and wildlife, including polar bears and whales.[7]
Herbicide Exposures
[edit]
In 2021, EHHI issued a brochure detailing the dangers of glyphosate-based herbicides such as Roundup, urging federal policy reform to protect public health.[8]
EHHI’s research and advocacy cover a wide range of environmental health topics, which fall into the following categories:
- Air quality – asthma, vehicle emissions, and residential wood burning
- Water contamination – pesticides, fracking chemicals, and well safety
- Consumer products – flame retardants, plastics, and cell phones
- Built environment – healthy schools and the safety of artificial turf
EHHI’s work is guided by a multidisciplinary board that includes physicians, environmental scientists, and public health experts from institutions such as Yale University. The organization has been profiled in ProPublica’s Nonprofit Explorer for its transparency and public reporting.[9]
EHHI’s work has been featured in national and regional outlets, including NBC News, Clean Water Action, and Food Sleuth Radio, where Alderman and Benoit have discussed the organization’s research on plastics, turf, and air pollution.[10]
- Environmental health
- Plastic pollution
- Environmental justice
- Air quality in the United States
