Silent Spring Institute
Silent Spring Institute is a nonprofit organization dedicated to studying and reporting primarily on breast cancer prevention, although its research covers other health-related topics as well.
Founding and purpose
The nonprofit organization was founded in 1994 "as an outgrowth of the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition." It engages in research on the links between risk of breast cancer and exposure to chemicals found in everyday products. Its scientific team does field testing on Cape Cod and collaborates with private and academic laboratories. In 2014 the Cape Cod Times recalled that:From the start, Silent Spring Institute researchers were interested in whether environmental toxins were having a particular influence on the Cape's drinking water, which is served by a sole source aquifer and leaches through sandy soil that in theory allows wastewater – and contaminants – to drain into the water supply more quickly than through other types of soil.
Silent Spring researchers have tested water in public and private wells for the presence of chemicals known as emerging contaminants and have visited scores of Cape homes to measure for the presence of hormone-disrupting chemicals.
Based in Newton, Massachusetts, the institute was named in honor of environmentalist Rachel Carson, who died of breast cancer.
Research
Background
The only independent research institute dedicated to studying breast cancer prevention, Silent Spring Institute has established a reputation for exemplary research. In keeping with Silent Spring's commitment to collaboration between scientists and activists, researchers report individual exposure results to all individuals and communities participating in its studies. It has become a pioneer in developing ethical methods for communicating results when the health implications are uncertain. In 2000, Silent Spring's research was honored with a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Merit Award.The papers of Silent Spring Institute from 1988–2006 are archived at the Schlesinger Library at Harvard, which has prepared a detailed finding aid.
Projects
- The institute partnered with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in a research project on "Chemicals and Breast Cancer: Building on National Initiatives for Chemical Safety Screening," which focused on the development of rapid in vitro screens for breast carcinogens in mammary cells. A report was published in 2014.
- Researchers from the institute and from the University of Antwerp, Belgium, reported in 2014 that there had been "limited information" about Americans' exposure to phosphate flame retardants and how such exposure might affect their health, so in 2011 a urine analysis and study was made of sixteen California residents, and all were found to have traces of three harmful chemicals – bis- phosphate, tris- phosphate and bis- phosphate.
- Early in 2014 the institute published a paper in Environmental Health Perspectives that listed "17 types of chemicals to avoid, including those in gasoline, diesel exhaust, flame retardants and paint thinner." Forbes magazine called the paper a "massive synthesis of data from the National Toxicology Program and consensus reports from international cancer authorities" which "identified 102 chemicals as critical for breast cancer research and prevention." The institute said the study was "a road map for breast cancer prevention by identifying high-priority chemicals and evaluating tools to measure exposure."
- In 2013 the Science of the Total Environment journal published a study led by institute scientist Laurel Schaider that "looked at emerging contaminants in septic systems" on Cape Cod and their impact on water wells. It found that "Caffeine and acetaminophen were very well removed" by sewage treatment but "Not so well removed were an antibiotic containing sulfa, and PFOS, a chlorinated flame retardant commonly used in a number of home stain-resistant and nonstick coatings, as well as firefighting foams." It was "estimated that 80–85 percent of nitrogen comes from human waste not being properly processed via the Cape’s septic systems."
- A study by the institute, reported in 2012, found that a test of 50 household products such as cleaners, cosmetics and personal-care products found a "troubling amount" of "potentially harmful" products. Julia Brody of the institute advised consumers to avoid "antimicrobial products like some hand sanitizers and soaps" and "many products that contain fragrances." According to a television news report, "Silent Spring says look for 'paraben-free' products when shopping for deodorant, shampoo or cosmetics, and avoid vinyl products especially pillow and mattress protectors. The problem, the study finds, is that manufacturers are not required to list all ingredients."
- In 2007, Silent Spring published a database of 216 chemicals that cause mammary gland tumors in animal studies. Dubbed "the breast cancer list" by Science magazine, the study made headlines by highlighting new hypotheses about environmental risks and showing that common exposures, including diesel and benzene in gasoline, were biologically plausible links to breast cancer.
- In its first decade, the research team focused on identifying biologically suspect chemicals and measuring personal exposure. Silent Spring's 2003 Household Exposure Study was the first and most comprehensive assessment of endocrine disruptors in homes; it documented consumer products as the primary source of the chemicals.
- Silent Spring began by investigating the links between hormone disruptors and human health among women on Cape Cod. The study, published in 2004, showed that the longer that women lived on Cape Cod, the higher was their breast cancer risk.
Other activities
Leadership
In late 2014 Julia Brody was executive director, and Cynthia Barakatt was chair of the board. Ellen Calmas was a board member.Funding
During the seven years after its founding in 1995, the institute received $8.5 million in state grants, but as it prepared to celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2014, state support had vanished and no help at all was granted in the state budget that year. Nor had it been granted in the 2010, 2011 or 2012 fiscal years. Speaking about the falloff in appropriations, Representative Randy Hunt of Sandwich said, according to the Cape Cod Times, that "some people associated with Silent Spring have ." Hunt was quoted as saying that Silent Spring "activists" had been known to "denigrate anyone who they don't feel is pushing for their cause as hard as they want." The Times quoted co-founder Cheryl Osimo as responding, "I understand perhaps my passion can be misunderstood as abrasive." She said the loss of funds was caused by a "difficult economy," resulting in an increased need for private donations.Sylvia Connor of East Sandwich, a breast cancer survivor and Silent Spring volunteer, said... that she and other survivors feel strongly about continuing the work of the research institute.
She said... it was a "slap in the face" to see Brian Mannal join forces with actor Mark Ruffalo on his Water Defense organization at a time when Silent Spring has been doing without state funds.