As a follow-up to its Household Exposure Study on Cape Cod, Silent Spring Institute is launching similar household exposure studies in other communities around Massachusetts. This new research is funded, in part, by a state grant through the University of Massachusetts–Lowell.

“How do we live our lives in an environment that increasingly is contaminated in ways we don’t understand?” asked Dr. David Wegman, dean of the university’s School of Health and Environment, in announcing the grant. “We want to use chemicals, but we want to do so knowingly and responsibly.”

Silent Spring Institute will direct the project. “This project lays the groundwork for ongoing tracking of indoor pollution in Massachusetts communities,” says Dr. Julia Brody, executive director of Silent Spring Institute. “It will be an early warning system for new pollutants that emerge from new consumer products and track exposure reduction successes, too.”

The Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition will lead education and advocacy programs linked to the project. The coalition played a key role in securing funding from the legislature.