Reduce pollution. Save lives. Protect the planet.

For over 20 years, our teams around the globe have been working to achieve a world where all, especially children, are able to live healthy lives and reach their full potential, free from exposure to toxic pollution.

What's New

EDUCATING MILLIONS ABOUT LEAD POISONING
EDUCATING MILLIONS ABOUT LEAD POISONING
Report notes Pure Earth's leadership, cites urgent need for more funding
Report notes Pure Earth's leadership, cites urgent need for more funding
SEE WHY GIVEWELL RECOMMENDS PURE EARTH
SEE WHY GIVEWELL RECOMMENDS PURE EARTH
We believe the pollution crisis can be solved

In a world where pollution doesn’t stop at borders and we benefit from an interconnected global economy,
we all have a responsibility to be part of the solution.
Join us.

Together we can reduce pollution, save lives, and protect the planet.

90% of children with high blood lead
levels are in low-
and middle-income
countries.

Clean up local environments
Improve local
industrial practices
PURE EARTH partners with governments, communities and industry leaders to identify and implement solutions that stop toxic exposures, protect health, and restore environments.
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What We Do

We prioritize actions to protect the developing brains and bodies of children and pregnant women. We work to stop the multigenerational cycle of poisoning that is endemic in low and middle-income countries.

Lead and mercury are two of the most prevalent pollutants in low and middle-income countries. There is widespread use of, and exposure to, dangerous forms of lead and mercury. Global Burden of Disease data indicate lead and mercury exposure pose a greater risk than all other Top Ten Chemicals of Concern identified by WHO.

Focusing on Lead and Mercury

Both lead and mercury pollution travel through the global environment in air, water, soil, and through global food supply chains to reach all corners of the earth.

Because of widespread exposure, both toxicants have a significant impact on the trajectory of societies, causing disability, IQ loss, increased violence, and restricted futures for poisoned children.

The Toxic Truth

REPORT

The Toxic Truth:

Children’s Exposure to Lead Pollution Undermines a Generation of Future Potential

UNICEF and Pure Earth Call for Urgent Action to Protect 800 Million Children Affected by Lead

Download Report

Our Projects

Understanding Our Impact

Toxic Site Identification Program
Toxic Site Identification Program
Reducing the Threat of Toxic Chemical Pollution

Pure Earth trained investigators have  assessed 5,000+ toxic sites in 50 countries. TSIP is the largest global database of sites contaminated with toxic chemicals. The program provides governments with information on the sources and potential impacts of severely polluted sites to facilitate the prioritization of pollution control and remediation efforts.

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Taking Action - Protecting Health
Taking Action - Protecting Health
Cleanups and Interventions

Our teams have completed 120+ environmental and health interventions in 24 countries, improving the lives of almost 5 million people. Project solutions range from small-scale containment and community awareness, to complex multi-modal interventions.

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Global network of pollution fighters
Global network of pollution fighters
Training Environmental and Health Investigators

Pure Earth has trained and supported a network of 500 environmental health and pollution remediation professionals in 50 mid- and low-income countries.  Many more interdisciplinary advocates,  professionals, researchers and policy/regulatory specialists need to be trained and activated in affected countries.

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Seminal research on pollution and health
Seminal research on pollution and health
Elevating pollution in the global public health agenda

Pure Earth co-led The Lancet Commission on pollution and health.  The report garnered 3,000 media stories and has been cited in over 900 other research papers to date.  Our report, co-published with UNICEF, The Toxic Truth, was also widely covered around the globe, igniting commitments to address the global lead poisoning crisis.

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