Protecting Consumers from Harmful and Toxic Chemicals in Everyday Products
When companies don’t warn people about or remove harmful chemicals, we take legal action to hold them responsible and push for safer practices.
Our Mission
ERC is dedicated to reducing the use and misuse of hazardous and toxic substances. On a mission to safeguard the public from health hazards that impact families, workers, and the environment, Environmental Research Center was established in 2009 under the leadership of Executive Director, Chris Heptinstall. Environmental Research Center (ERC) advocates on behalf of the public by creating awareness to manufacturers concerning the hazardous substances present in their products.
How it Works
Product Testing
Independent lab testing
Consumer Advocacy
Notify companies that are in violation
Inform
Report findings to consumers
Support
Provide scholarships and resources
Our Focus Areas
It is not only the goal of ERC to create awareness for manufacturers but also to facilitate the appropriate changes to products in violation by reformulating or providing warning labels on product packaging to better assist consumers 'on the floor' in making more informed decisions. Through independent lab testing, ERC monitors many products on the market today. Although ERC focuses primarily on nutrition products in the form of capsules, tablets, and powders, concerned citizens are encouraged to contact us to inquire about any and all products they may have questions about.
Daily Vitamins
Herbal Products
Protein Supplements
Energy Drinks
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Prevention is the goal but mitigation is vital. Click on either of the links below to apply for one of our scholarship programs.
These scholarships are available to provide financial assistance to high school seniors interested in environmental health sciences and the pursuit of a higher education.
These scholarships are available to provide financial assistance to high school seniors interested in environmental health sciences and the pursuit of a higher education.
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ERC focuses testing on products purchased and ingested on a daily basis, with a particular emphasis on the products used by California consumers, as we are evaluating products based on Proposition 65 which is a California standard.
We test products in the form of capsules, tablets, and powders. We also test meal replacement products such as bars and shakes. We even test energy drinks and hydration products.
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TSCA Reform
The Toxic Substance Control Act of 1976 (TSCA) is a contemporary public policy issue under review because it is outdated. It is one of the few environmental policies from the 1970s not updated to reflect changes in technology and American principals. Though the many stakeholders in this issue cover a range of positions, most of them contend that reformation is necessary for effectiveness and efficiency. Among these many stakeholders, three prominent players are the American Chemistry Council, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Safer Chemicals Healthy Families Coalition.
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ERC offers donations to other organizations whose projects and activities are in line with ERC’s mission statement regarding the reduction and/or elimination of hazardous and toxic chemicals. Understand that any donations received must be used for activities/projects within the State of California and you must provide a report detailing how the funds were used.
Please provide ERC with the following information:
Describe your organization
Problem statement: What problems, needs, or issues does it address?
Briefly describe your organization's history and major accomplishments.
Describe your current programs and activities
Describe your request
(If you are requesting general support, you may skip this bullet.) If other than general operating support, describe the program for which you seek funding, why you decided to pursue this project and whether it is a new or ongoing part of your organization.
What are the goals, objectives and activities/strategies involved in this request? What is your timeline?
If you are a grassroots group, describe your community. If you are a state, regional, or national organization, describe your work with local groups, if applicable, and how other regional and/or national organizations are involved.
Describe systemic or social change you are trying to achieve.
Organizational Structure/ Administration
Briefly describe how your organization works: What are the responsibilities of the board, staff, volunteers, and, if a membership organization, the members?
Who will be involved in carrying out the plans outlined in this request? Include a brief paragraph summarizing the qualifications of key individuals involved.
Provide a list of your board of directors with related community and employment affiliations.
Provide an organizational chart showing decision-making structure.
Finances
Organization's current annual operating budget.
Current project budget, if other than general support.
List individually other funding sources for this request. Include amounts and whether received, committed, or projected/pending.
Most recent completed year's organizational financial statement (expenses, revenue and balance sheet), audited, if available.
A copy of your IRS 501(c)(3) letter if applicable.
Other supporting material
Letters of support/commitment (up to three).
Recent newsletter, articles, newspaper clippings, evaluations, or reviews (up to three).
Recent annual report.
Describe your plan for evaluating the success of the project or for your organization's work. Who will be involved in evaluating this work-staff, board, constituents, community, consultants? How will the evaluation results be used?
PFAS Testing
Wellness Products
If you want to test a wellness product (protein power, vitamins, supplements, etc.) Fill out our product submission form and we will see if it's something we can test.
If your product is eligible for testing, this process usually take around 60 days.
Water Contamination
If you are interested in finding out if your tap water is contaminated, you have several options including:
Free Consultation with a Water Filtration Company
We’ve linked one such company here though there are many others. Like this one, they will come out and test the water in your home or business.
This map gives a more general overview of the known PFAS contamination sites in your area.
This map gives you a summary of all the known contaminants and their levels in your location by county.
Textiles and Other Goods
Though we don’t test inedible goods ourselves, we have worked with Mamvation, a great organization that does just that. Here is a direct link to their product investigations:
Lead Testing
Today's health-conscious society has witnessed a gradual increase in the production of consumable products that assist in achieving a healthier life. Unfortunately, testing the contents of these products sometimes reveals just the opposite.
Some products in the marketplace today contain contaminated ingredients which, if consumed as directed, can cause harm to the person ingesting the product. Lead is one such chemical that is often found in these products.
ERC believes that the potential dangers lurking behind labels of so-called health enhancing products should be known prior to purchasing that product. ERC is dedicated to identifying products in the marketplace that contain potentially harmful amounts of lead and works hard to protect California consumers by locating the products, testing for contamination, and working with the companies directly to bring about change in the industry.
The old saying "You are what you eat" has never been more true than it is today. ERC seeks to help you know what you are eating before exposing yourself to products that might contain lead, a chemical known by the State of California to cause cancer or reproductive harm or birth defects. The purpose of the Got Lead? Program is to give consumers FREE access to test results of products that may be contaminated.
To participate in the Got Lead? Program, simply fill out the form below and let us know the names of the products you are consuming. ERC will then confirm your online submission, analyze the products submitted, purchase and test the products if warranted, and provide you the results of our findings – All for FREE.
ERC focuses testing on products purchased and ingested on a daily basis, with a particular emphasis on the products used by California consumers, as we are evaluating products based on Proposition 65 which is a California standard.
Terms of Service
These Terms of Use (“Terms”) govern each individual’s (“you” or “your”) use of the Environmental Research Center Website, located at www.erc501c3.org (the “Website”), Social Media, and services and constitutes an agreement between you and the Environmental Research Center, Inc. (“ERC”).
Your use of the ERC Website is conditioned upon your acceptance and continued adherence to these Terms. If you do not wish to be bound by these Terms of Use, discontinue using and accessing the ERC Website.
You understand and agree that ERC may modify these Terms at any time without prior notice and such modifications will be effective upon ERC’s posting of the new Terms on the Website. You agree to review the Terms periodically so that you are aware of any modifications. Your continued use of the ERC Website after any modifications indicates your acceptance of the modified Terms.
Disclaimers
While the information contained on the Website is periodically updated, ERC makes no representations, warranties, or guarantees of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability with respect to the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the Website for any purpose. All information published by ERC is subject to change without notice. Any reliance placed on information obtained from the Website is strictly at your own risk. In no event will ERC be liable for any loss or damage arising out of or in connection with the use, reference to, or reliance on any information contained within this Website.
Nothing on this Website should be taken to constitute professional advice, medical advice, or a formal recommendation. Inclusion of a product within ERC’s Website does not constitute an endorsement by ERC of the Companies or their products. While ERC believes that the use of such data in decision-making can reduce risk, and every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, it must be pointed out that data sometimes contains errors. Users are directed to countercheck facts when considering the use of those facts in this and other applications.
The Website is dynamic, which means information may change based on new information, or other factors. The Website is provided solely for your personal, non-commercial use. It is meant to help consumers make informed choices and decisions about products. Unless explicitly authorized in writing by ERC, you may not modify, copy, reproduce, republish, upload, post, transmit, translate, sell, create derivative works, exploit, distribute, or use as marketing materials in any manner or medium any material from the Website.
Through ERC’s Website you may be able to link to other websites which are not under the control of ERC. ERC has no control over the nature, content, and availability of those sites. The inclusion of any links on ERC’s Website does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within those sites. This provision includes search engine driven websites that may cache older images or information to the public. In no event will ERC be liable for third party links or information provided in connection with third party websites.
Indemnity
You agree to indemnify and hold ERC and its directors, officers, agents, contractors, partners, attorneys, and employees harmless from and against any damage, loss, liability, claim, or demand, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, arising out of any claim, action, investigation, or proceeding made or instituted by any third party due to or arising out of your use of the ERC Website.
Age Restrictions
In order to use the ERC Website, you must be 13 years of age or older. If you are 13 years of age or older but less than 18 years old, you must request permission from your parent or guardian before accepting these Terms or using the ERC Website.
Intellectual Property
All text, video, audio, sound, graphics, software, information, and other materials made available as part of the ERC Website, including but not limited to the look and feel of the Site and the Apps, are protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws, and are owned solely by ERC and its licensors. Except as expressly set forth in these Terms, you may not use, copy, distribute, display, or modify the ERC Website.
You agree to access the ERC Website only through the interface that is provided by ERC. You agree not to use any automated means, including but not limited to agents, robots, scripts, spiders, or screen scraping tools, to access, monitor, download, or copy any part of the ERC Website, unless ERC has provided prior written consent.
Feedback
ERC has the perpetual, unrestricted right to use and disclose any questions, comments, suggestions, ideas, feedback, or other information relating to modifying or improving the ERC Website (“Feedback”), provided by you to ERC, whether solicited or unsolicited.
International Use
ERC make no representations that the ERC Website is appropriate or legally available for use in locations outside the United States. If you are accessing the ERC Website from outside the United States, you are solely responsible for complying with all applicable laws.
Governing Law
These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the substantive laws of the State of California, USA, without reference to conflicts of law provisions. Any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with these Terms shall be finally settled by binding arbitration in San Francisco, California, in accordance with the then-current rules and procedures of the American Arbitration Association by one (1) arbitrator. Judgment on the award rendered by the arbitrator may be confirmed, reduced to judgment, and entered in any court of competent jurisdiction. You agree that, any provision of applicable law notwithstanding, the arbitrator shall have the authority to award the prevailing party its costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees. ERC reserves the right to seek any interim, preliminary, or other equitable relief from a court of competent jurisdiction as necessary to protect its rights or its property or the rights or property of its agents, suppliers, and subcontractors.
In the event that the above arbitration provision is held invalid or unenforceable, then any dispute with respect to these Terms shall be brought and heard in the California state courts located in San Francisco County. In such an event, you consent to the personal jurisdiction and venue of such courts. You agree that service of process upon you in any such action may be made if delivered in person, by courier service, by facsimile, or by first class mail.
Termination
ERC may terminate or suspend your access to the ERC Website and these Terms at any time without notice if you breach any provision of these Terms. In the event of termination, those Sections in these Terms that provide for continuing obligations on your part shall survive indefinitely.
Miscellaneous
Both you and ERC agree that no partnership, agency, joint venture, or employment relationship is formed between you and ERC by your use of the ERC Website and that you do not have the power or the authority to obligate or bind ERC. These Terms set forth the entire agreement between you and ERC pertaining to your use of the ERC Website. If any provision of these Terms is held invalid or unenforceable, such provision shall be revised to the extent necessary to cure the invalidity or unenforceability, and the remainder of these Terms shall continue in full force and effect. ERC’s failure to exercise any right or provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision.
If you do not agree to or are not able to abide by these Terms, you have no right to access or use the ERC Website.
Should you have additional information regarding this disclaimer or any information contained within the Website, you may contact ERC directly via email at: info@erc501c3.org or via phone at: 619-500-6434.