Printed fact sheets and brochures are also available free of charge by mail.
Make A RequestIf you are giving a presentation about an environmental health topic or just looking for general information about environmental health research or the institute, this webpage will help.
Acrylamide
(1MB)
(1MB)
Acrylamide is a chemical widely used during the manufacturing of paper, dye, and other industrial products. It can also be formed when certain foods are cooked at high temperatures. Frying, baking, or roasting certain foods, such as potatoes or grains, can create acrylamide. French fries and potato chips, for example, may have measurable acrylamide levels. Acrylamide is also found in cigarette smoke.
Last Updated:
06/2011Agricultural Health Study
(329KB)
(329KB)
Farmers have a higher risk for developing some cancers, including prostate cancer. Gloves Matter! Use of chemically resistant gloves can reduce pesticide exposure 50-80%.
Last Updated:
08/2012A Human Health Perspective on Climate Change (Full Report)
(4MB)
(4MB)
Climate change endangers human health, affecting all sectors of society, both domestically and globally. The environmental consequences of climate change, both those already observed and those that are anticipated, such as sea-level rise, changes in precipitation resulting in flooding and drought, heat waves, more intense hurricanes and storms, and degraded air quality, will affect human health both directly and indirectly
Last Updated:
10/2010A Human Health Perspective on Climate Change (Summary)
(1MB)
(1MB)
There is abundant evidence that human activities are altering the earth’s climate and that climate change will have significant health impacts both domestically and globally. While all of the changes associated with this process are not predetermined, the actions we take today will certainly help to shape our environment in the decades to come.
Last Updated:
09/2011Aloe Vera
(914KB)
(914KB)
Aloe is a succulent plant widely used in alternative medicine. There are at least 420 different plant species of Aloe. Aloe vera specifically refers to the Aloe barbadensis Miller plant, which is the most common form used in Aloe-based products.
Last Updated:
06/2016Arsenic
(676KB)
(676KB)
Arsenic is a naturally occurring element that is widely distributed in the Earth’s crust. It is found in water, air, food, and soil. There are two general forms of arsenic — organic and inorganic. Inorganic arsenic, which affects the drinking water of millions of people worldwide, has been shown to be a human carcinogen.
Last Updated:
07/2014Artistolochic Acids
(792KB)
(792KB)
Aristolochic acids are a family of acids found naturally in the plants Aristolochia and Asarum, which grow throughout the United States and worldwide.
Last Updated:
06/2011Asbestos: Worker and Employer Guide to Hazards and Recommended Controls
(1MB)
(1MB)
Asbestos is a mineral fiber that occurs in rock and soil. Because of its fiber strength and heat resistance, asbestos has been used in many materials produced for building or home construction, particularly if they were manufactured prior to 1980, such as shingles, ceiling and floor tiles, and attic and pipe insulation. If these materials are broken, crushed, or disturbed, the asbestos fibers may be released into the air and become a health hazard. High exposures to asbestos may occur during demolition and rebuilding.
Last Updated:
06/2015Asthma and Its Environmental Triggers
(226KB)
(226KB)
Asthma is a chronic lung disease. Common symptoms are wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. During an asthma attack, the sides of the airways in lungs swell and the airways shrink, making it harder to breathe.
Last Updated:
05/2019Autism Spectrum Disorder and the Environment
(505KB)
(505KB)
Research shows that both genetics and environmental factors likely play a role in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) supports research to discover how the environment may influence ASD.
Last Updated:
04/2019Autoimmune Diseases
(284KB)
(284KB)
Autoimmune diseases result from a dysfunction of the immune system. The immune system protects you from disease and infection. Sometimes, though, the immune system can produce autoantibodies that attack healthy cells, tissues, and organs. This can lead to autoimmune disease.
Last Updated:
11/2012Bisphenol A (BPA)
(421KB)
(421KB)
Bisphenol A, more commonly known as BPA, is a chemical widely used to make polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins.
Last Updated:
09/2010Breast Cancer Risk and Environmental Factors
(1MB)
(1MB)
For millions of women whose lives have been affected by breast cancer, the 1994 discovery of the first breast cancer gene by researchers from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and their collaborators was a welcome sign of progress in the fight against this disease.
Last Updated:
11/2018Campos Eléctricos y Magnéticos Relacionados Con el Uso de la Energía Eléctrica
(3MB)
(3MB)
Desde mediados del siglo XX, la electricidad ha formado parte esencial de nuestras vidas. La electricidad suministra energía para nuestros electrodomésticos, equipos de oficina y un sinnúmero de otros dispositivos que usamos para que la vida sea más segura, más fácil y más interesante.
Electric and Magnetic Fields Associated with the Use of Electric Power: Questions and Answers (Spanish Version)
Electric and Magnetic Fields Associated with the Use of Electric Power: Questions and Answers (Spanish Version)
Last Updated:
09/2004Cancer and the Environment
(788KB)
(788KB)
This booklet was created by scientists at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) in response to many public requests for information.
Last Updated:
08/2003Cancer-Causing Viruses
(1MB)
(1MB)
Given that about 12 percent of cancers worldwide are linked to viruses, and there are no vaccines available for any of these five viruses, prevention is critical for reducing potential cancer risks.
Last Updated:
11/2016Career Development Grant Awards
(530KB)
(530KB)
NIEHS offers a variety of targeted Career Development Awards to provide support and time for an intense career development experience in the environmental health sciences.
Last Updated:
02/2019Cell Phone Radiofrequency Radiation Studies
(1MB)
(1MB)
Personal (cellular) telecommunications is a rapidly evolving technology that uses radiofrequency energy or radiation for mobile communication.
Last Updated:
11/2018Certain Glass Wool Fibers (Inhalable)
(888KB)
(888KB)
Glass wool fibers are synthetic or man-made, very small finely spun fibers of glass that form a mass resembling wool. There is considerable variation in the properties of individual fibers within this class, depending on the manufacturing process and end use. They are commonly used for insulation or filtration.
Last Updated:
06/2011Children’s Health – Why the Environment Matters
(382KB)
(382KB)
NIEHS is committed to understanding how the environment affects children’s development and health. Children’s environmental health research funded by the institute focuses on preconception, prenatal, and childhood environmental exposures to certain chemicals, pollutants, nutrients, and activities.
Last Updated:
09/2019Climate and Human Health
(904KB)
(904KB)
Climate is significant to the health of the American people. Temperatures and the frequency of heavy rain and snow have been increasing in the United States (see map). The changes in temperature and precipitation, as well as other changes, such as more intense severe weather and rising sea levels, may have effects on people’s environments that may, in turn, harm theirhealth and well-being.
Last Updated:
04/2019Cobalt and Cobalt Compounds That Release Cobalt Ions In Vivo
(988KB)
(988KB)
Cobalt is a naturally occurring metallic element that can be present in different forms. It is mixed with other metals to make cemented carbides, bonded diamonds, and alloys that can be used to make durable industrial products, such as military and industrial equipment.
Last Updated:
11/2016Cosmetics and Hair Dye
(1MB)
(1MB)
Millions of women and men around the world enhance or change their appearance with cosmetics and hair dye. The term makeup refers to cosmetics that are applied to the face and include foundation, eye shadow, eye liner, mascara, blush, lipstick, and more. Other common cosmetics include body wash, body lotion, shampoo, conditioner, hair spray, hair gel, perfume, and cologne.
Last Updated:
10/2018Dioxins
(2MB)
(2MB)
Dioxins are mainly byproducts of industrial practices. They are produced through a variety of incineration processes, including improper municipal waste incineration and burning of trash, and can be released into the air during natural processes, such as forest fires and volcanoes. Almost every living creature has been exposed to dioxins or dioxin-like compounds (DLCs).
Last Updated:
06/2012Electric and Magnetic Fields Associated with the Use of Electric Power: Questions and Answers (English)
(10MB)
(10MB)
Since the mid-twentieth century, electricity has been an essential part of our lives. Electricity powers our appliances, office equipment, and countless other devices that we use to make life safer, easier, and more interesting. Use of electric power is something we take for granted.
Last Updated:
06/2002Endocrine Disruptors
(621KB)
(621KB)
Endocrine disruptors are naturally occurring compounds or man-made substances that may mimic or interfere with the function of hormones in the body. Endocrine disruptors may turn on, shut off, or modify signals that hormones carry, which may affect the normal functions of tissues and organs.
Last Updated:
05/2010Environmental Management of Pediatric Asthma - Guidelines for Health Care Providers (English)
(8MB)
(8MB)
These guidelines are the product of a new Pediatric Asthma Initiative aimed at integrating environmental management of asthma into pediatric health care. This document outlines competencies in environmental health relevant to pediatric asthma that should be mastered by primary health care providers, and outlines the environmental interventions that should be communicated to patients.
Last Updated:
10/2008Environment and Health A to Z
(2MB)
(2MB)
No two people live in the exact same environment. The SOIL beneath our feet, the AIR we breathe, and the WATER flowing through our pipes and waterways can all differ greatly, depending on where we live. On top of that, each of us eats different foods, shares our space with different plants and animals, and has access to different medicines and technology. NIEHS explores the connections between the environment and health, gathering scientific knowledge to help prevent human disease.
Last Updated:
02/2019Fellowship Grant Awards
(2MB)
(2MB)
NIEHS offers a variety of Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Fellowships. These fellowship awards support full-time research training for predoctoral and postdoctoral students, as well as experienced scientists wishing to broaden their scientific background.
Last Updated:
02/2019Flame Retardants
(2MB)
(2MB)
Flame retardants are chemicals that are added or applied to materials in order to slow or prevent the start or growth of fire.
Last Updated:
07/2016Formaldehyde
(912KB)
(912KB)
Formaldehyde is a colorless, flammable, strong-smelling chemical widely used by industry to make home building products. It is a colorless gas at room temperature, or available as a liquid called formalin.
Last Updated:
06/2011Ginkgo
(514KB)
(514KB)
Ginkgo or Ginkgo biloba is one of the world’s oldest living tree species. Ginkgo has been used for many years for a variety of medicinal purposes.
Last Updated:
04/2013Global Environmental Health and Sustainable Development
(453KB)
(453KB)
A healthy population is essential for economic development. The poorest people on the planet tend to suffer most from the health effects from exposures to environmental hazards like air pollution and impure water. In turn, disease and disability related to polluted environments slows and blocks economic development.
Last Updated:
10/2011Hexavalent Chromium
(1MB)
(1MB)
Hexavalent chromium is a form of the metallic element chromium. Chromium is a naturally occurring element found in rocks, animals, plants, soil, and volcanic dust and gases. It comes in several different forms, including trivalent chromium and hexavalent chromium.
Last Updated:
02/2018Hydraulic Fracturing and Health
(296KB)
(296KB)
Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a method used to extract natural gas and oil from deep rock formations known as shale. Using this method, drilling operators force water, sand, and a mix of chemicals into horizontally drilled wells, causing the shale to crack and release natural gas or oil.
Last Updated:
12/2014Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods
(927KB)
(927KB)
The Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods (ICCVAM) is 15 federal research and regulatory agencies working together to advance the acceptance of scientifically valid alternative test methods.
Last Updated:
02/2019Lead and Your Health
(1MB)
(1MB)
Tremendous progress has been made in the United States to reduce lead exposure and to lower blood lead levels. Much of this success is due to research supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and others who have helped to identify and reduce the health effects of lead exposure in children and adults.
Last Updated:
10/2013Linking Early Environmental Exposures to Adult Diseases
(483KB)
(483KB)
All complex diseases have been shown to have both a genetic and environmental component. A growing body of research is beginning to suggest that many chronic adult diseases and disorders, including asthma, diabetes and obesity, may be traced back to exposures that occur during development.
Last Updated:
10/2008Manejo Ambiental del Asma Pediátrica
(1MB)
(1MB)
Estas guías son el producto de la nueva Iniciativa para el Asma Pediátrica orientada a la integración del manejo ambiental del asma dentro de la atención de salud pediátrica. Este documento es un resumen de las materias en la salud ambiental pertinentes al asma pediátrica que deben ser ampliamente dominadas por los proveedores de salud primaria. El documento también delinea de las intervenciones ambientales que deben ser comunicadas a los pacientes.
Environmental Management of Pediatric Asthma - Guidelines for Health Care Providers (Spanish Version)
Environmental Management of Pediatric Asthma - Guidelines for Health Care Providers (Spanish Version)
Last Updated:
03/2009Mold
(1MB)
(1MB)
Mold is a visible group of fungi that forms and spreads on various kinds of damp or decaying organic matter, such as dry wall and other building materials. There are many different types of mold, with some 1.5 million species estimated to exist. Some people may refer to mold as mildew. Both are terms used to describe fungal growth.
Last Updated:
06/2013Myositis Studies at NIEHS
(335KB)
(335KB)
What is myositis? Myositis is a related group of autoimmune diseases that results in muscle inflammation and muscle destruction.
Last Updated:
08/2015National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, The
(4MB)
(4MB)
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) is one of 27 institutes and centers of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). NIEHS is located in Research Triangle Park (RTP), North Carolina.
Last Updated:
06/2014National Toxicology Program: Informing Policy, Protecting Public Health
(722KB)
(722KB)
The National Toxicology Program (NTP) is an interagency program that coordinates toxicology research and testing across the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Since 1978, NTP has been generating information that helps health agencies and members of the public make informed decisions about public health.
Last Updated:
02/2018NIEHS: Your Environment. Your Health
(149KB)
(149KB)
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) is one of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Last Updated:
05/2013NIEHS/EPA Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research: Protecting Children's Health for a Lifetime
(727KB)
(727KB)
We all want our children to thrive and grow into a healthy and productive adult population. Since 1998, the NIEHS/EPA Children’s Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research Centers (Children’s Centers) have studied individual, regional, national, and global environmental exposures and children’s health.
Last Updated:
10/2013NIEHS High School Summer Internship Program
(834KB)
(834KB)
The High School Summer Internship Program at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) provides an opportunity to spend a summer working at the institute, side by side with some of the leading scientists in the world, in an environment devoted exclusively to environmental health research.
Last Updated:
11/2018NIEHS Strategic Plan 2018-2023 (Booklet)
(2MB)
(2MB)
The mission of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences is to discover how the environment affects people in order to promote healthier lives.
Last Updated:
10/2018NIEHS Strategic Plan 2018-2023 (Tri-Fold)
(1MB)
(1MB)
The mission of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences is to discover how the environment affects people in order to promote healthier lives.
Last Updated:
10/2018NIEHS Summer Internship Program
(876KB)
(876KB)
The Summer Internship Program at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) provides an opportunity to spend a summer working at the institute, side by side with some of the leading scientists in the world, in an environment devoted exclusively to environmental health research.
Last Updated:
11/2018NIEHS Sustainability Report 2015
(4MB)
(4MB)
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) mission is to seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems, and the application of that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce the burdens of illness and disability.
Last Updated:
12/2015NTP Botanical Dietary Supplements Program
(1MB)
(1MB)
Botanical dietary supplements are sometimes referred to as herbals or herbal dietary supplements. Botanical dietary supplements are available to consumers as plants, plant parts, or plant extracts.
Last Updated:
04/2016NTP Chemical Effects in Biological Systems (CEBS)
(117KB)
(117KB)
Chemical Effects in Biological Systems (CEBS), an integrated database of toxicology and toxicogenomics study information and data from NTP, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), other government agencies, academia, and pharmaceutical companies.
Last Updated:
02/2014NTP Drug Matrix and ToxFX
(127KB)
(127KB)
DrugMatrix® database, one of the world’s largest toxicogenomic reference resources ever assembled.
Last Updated:
02/2014NTP Nonneoplastic Lesion Atlas
(581KB)
(581KB)
The NTP Nonneoplastic Lesion Atlas is a new searchable, Web-based resource containing thousands of high-quality images and guidelines for diagnosis of nonneoplastic lesions in experimental rodent models.
Last Updated:
03/2019Obesity and the Environment
(862KB)
(862KB)
Millions of Americans and people worldwide are overweight or obese. Obesity is a complex health disorder that affects both adults and children. Childhood obesity has become a serious problem in the United States.
Last Updated:
09/2015Oceans of Discovery: How the Study of Oceans and Lakes Can Improve People's Health
(910KB)
(910KB)
Oceans and lakes are more than a place to play — people depend on them for food, drinking water, and even clean air. Human health can be harmed when these waters become contaminated with toxin-producing algae or chemical pollutants.
Last Updated:
12/2016Oil Spill Response and Research
(208KB)
(208KB)
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) is part of the National Institutes of Health. From its home in North Carolina, NIEHS responded immediately to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion, by providing safety training for cleanup workers, and initiating the largest research enterprise ever conducted on human health and oil spills.
Last Updated:
02/2015Overview: Training and Career Development Opportunities
(1MB)
(1MB)
Developing a diverse biomedical workforce is an important part of the NIEHS mission to advance environmental health. To that end, NIEHS supports a wide range of high-quality internships, training, and career development opportunities.
Last Updated:
08/2018Ozone Alerts
(1MB)
(1MB)
Ozone is a special form of oxygen. Like ordinary oxygen, ozone is one of the many gases in the air we breathe. Like oxygen, ozone is made up of oxygen molecules. But, while the molecules of ordinary oxygen are made up of two chemically linked oxygen atoms, the molecules of ozone are made of three such atoms.
Last Updated:
04/2010Parkinson’s Disease and Environmental Factors
(680KB)
(680KB)
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) is one of the lead research agencies studying the environmental causes of Parkinson’s disease, a neurodegenerative disease thought to be caused by the interaction of genes and environment.
Last Updated:
02/2014Partnerships for Environmental Public Health (PEPH)
(441KB)
(441KB)
The PEPH program brings together scientists, community members, educators, health care providers, public health officials, and policymakers to coordinate environmental public health research at local, state, regional, tribal, national, and global levels.
Last Updated:
03/2015Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)
(1MB)
(1MB)
PFAS are a large, complex, and ever-expanding group of manufactured compounds that are widely used to make everyday products more resistant to stains, grease, and water.
Last Updated:
03/2019Postdoctoral Training at NIEHS
(510KB)
(510KB)
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) is one of 27 institutes and centers of the National Institutes of Health, which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Unlike the majority of NIH institutes located in Bethesda, Md., NIEHS is located in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, a major U.S. center of biotechnology and health research.
Last Updated:
09/2019Postdoctoral Training at the National Toxicology Program
(344KB)
(344KB)
The National Toxicology Program (NTP) offers a limited number of postdoctoral training fellowships that prepare scientists for careers in pharmaceutical and chemical industries, regulatory agencies, and academia. The NTP fellowships are offered in seven areas of toxicology sciences.
Last Updated:
09/2019Report on Carcinogens, The
(854KB)
(854KB)
The Report on Carcinogens is a scientific and public health document that identifies substances that pose a cancer hazard for people in the United States. It is intended to help people make informed decisions about their own health.
Last Updated:
11/2016Sharon Encuentra el Medio Ambiente
(2MB)
(2MB)
Una mañana Sharon se despertó temprano. Quería encontrar el medio ambiente. Su maestra, la señora Clark, le había dicho que la gente debe mantener limpio el medio ambiente. Pero para mantenerlo limpio, primero Sharon debía encontralo. Como era sábado, tenía mucho tiempo para buscarlo.
Sharon Finds the Environment (Spanish Version)
Sharon Finds the Environment (Spanish Version)
Last Updated:
09/2001Sharon Finds the Environment (English)
(1MB)
(1MB)
One morning Sharon woke up early. She wanted to find the environment. Her teacher, Miss Clark, had told her that people need to keep the environment clean . But to keep it clean, Sharon had to Find it First. Since it was Saturday, she had plenty of time to look.
Last Updated:
09/2001Styrene
(744KB)
(744KB)
Styrene is a colorless, flammable liquid, which has a sweet odor and is highly volatile. It is an industrial chemical used to make polystyrene and resins, such as reinforced plastic and rubbers.
Last Updated:
06/2011Superfund Research Program
(1MB)
(1MB)
The Superfund Research Program (SRP) has provided practical, scientific solutions to protect health, the environment, and communities since 1987. SRP works to learn more about ways to protect the public from exposure to hazardous substances, such as industrial solvents, arsenic, lead, and mercury, which can cause death, disease, and birth defects.
Last Updated:
03/2018Systematic Review
(873KB)
(873KB)
Systematic review is a method for answering specific research questions. It should not be confused with a regular literature search. It is much more than that. Systematic review uses a predefined, multistep process to identify, select, critically assess, and synthesize evidence from scientific studies to reach a conclusion.
Last Updated:
02/2015Tox21: Understanding the Potential Health Risks of Chemicals
(585KB)
(585KB)
The Toxicology in the 21st Century program, or Tox21, is a unique collaboration between several federal agencies to develop new ways to rapidly test whether chemicals may affect human health.
Last Updated:
04/2019Trichloroethylene
(1MB)
(1MB)
Trichloroethylene, also known as TCE, is a colorless, volatile liquid that is produced in large volumes for commercial use.
Last Updated:
11/2016West Virginia Chemical Spill: NTP Research Response and Findings
(162KB)
(162KB)
The National Toxicology Program completed a series of studies on the toxicity of chemicals that spilled into the Elk River in West Virginia, January 2014.
Last Updated:
08/2019Worker Training Program
(660KB)
(660KB)
The Worker Training Program (WTP) provides healthand safety training for thousands of workers who may be involved in handling hazardous materials or in responding to emergency releases of hazardous materials. These workers gain new skills on how to safely handle, remove, and contain hazardous waste, such as chemicals, asbestos, radiation, and lead.
Last Updated:
10/2018to Top