Chemical Research to Inform Decision Making
EPA is committed to producing research results that address real-world problems, inform implementation of environmental regulations, and help EPA partners make timely decisions based on sound science. The research approach emphasizes partner engagement and strives to develop research which informs a public health or environmental solution or decision. EPA research emphasizes:
- Planned partner engagement throughout the research process, starting with problem formulation and informing all elements of research planning, implementation, dissemination, and evaluation.
- Solutions-oriented research deliverables identified in collaboration with partners.
- Coordination, communication, and collaboration both among EPA researchers and between researchers and partners to develop integrated research that multiplies value to partners.
- Cooperation with partners to apply research results to develop solutions that are feasible, appropriate, meaningful, and effective.
Chemicals and Materials We're Researching
EPA's Safer Chemicals Research is transforming chemical risk-based decisions by conducting high-quality, innovative science. The pressing environmental and health challenge in chemical safety evaluations has been, and continues to be, a lack of sufficient information on most chemicals used in commerce, industry, and agriculture. Research results support the Agency, states, tribes, and other stakeholders in fulfilling shared objectives to protect human health and the environment.
- Substances we are researching, including PFAS, 6PPD-quinone, and endocrine disrupting chemicals
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Research on evaluating risk across the life cycle of manufactured chemicals, materials, & products
Risk Assessment
What is Risk? While there are many definitions of the word risk, EPA considers risk to be the chance of harmful effects to human health or to ecological systems resulting from exposure to an environmental stressor. Learn more about risk and risk assessments.
Children's Environmental Health Research
EPA conducts children’s environmental health research to inform public health decisions, to advance scientific understanding of potential early life susceptibility to environmental stressors, and to inform community efforts that create sustainable and healthy environments protective of children’s health. Learn more about ORD's children's health research.