Our year in numbers: Silent Spring’s impact in 2025

We uncovered dangerous chemicals in beauty products, gave expert testimony on major legislation, and more.

This past year brought new challenges for the research community amid major disruptions in federal funding. But just as we’ve done for more than 30 years, Silent Spring Institute continued to produce cutting-edge science on the links between environmental chemicals and women’s health—and we shared our findings with communities who need answers. 

Our scientists advanced science on toxic chemicals across a range of common sources, from drinking water to beauty products marketed to Black women. We found immigrant women are more likely to work in jobs that expose them to breast cancer-causing chemicals, and we launched an early-onset breast cancer program to examine the role of environmental pollutants in this disturbing trend among young people.

We shared our science widely, reporting back study results to firefighters, revamping our PFAS online resource hub with new features, hosting Science Cafés, and creating a new summer program for high school students. Our science also informed important legislation, like the first state law to ban formaldehyde releasers in personal care products.

Here’s a closer look at another impactful year at Silent Spring, by the numbers:

40,000

Views of the nearly-two dozen peer-reviewed articles we published in 2025. Our two most-read studies uncovered toxic formaldehyde releasers in everyday personal care products and exposed disparities in drinking water across the country.

400

Health care professionals who gathered at our Cancer & Environment Forum to learn about the latest science on environmental chemicals and cancer, and the role clinicians can play in reducing exposures.

200

Media outlets where Silent Spring research was featured, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, National Geographic, NBC News, and Consumer Reports. Our executive director published a powerful op-ed on early-onset breast cancer in The Boston Globe.

77

Conferences, workshops, and community meetings where our scientists presented. These events brought vital public health information to more than 4,000 physicians, researchers, and families exposed to environmental pollution. 

49

Chemicals relevant to breast cancer that our scientists identified in artificial turf. The findings are now being used to support local legislation aimed at reducing exposure among young people.

11

Critical bills and regulations that heard expert testimony from Silent Spring scientists, including a Massachusetts bill to protect children from toxic products and a proposal to strengthen chemical safety rules nationwide. 

None of our successes would be possible without our community of supporters. Thank you for helping us advance the prevention of breast cancer and other women’s health issues with strong science. Check out our full 2025 Annual Impact Report to learn more about our achievements and impacts, and keep this work going by donating here.