Shining a Light on Hidden Heavy Metals
When companies don’t warn people about or remove harmful chemicals, we take legal action to hold them responsible and push for safer practices.
Who We Are
Founded in 2009 under the leadership of Executive Director Chris Heptinstall, the Environmental Research Center was built on a straightforward belief: consumers deserve honesty about the safety of the products they rely on every day.
Over the past decade, ERC has become a national leader in product safety testing and Proposition 65 enforcement. By partnering with accredited laboratories, scientific experts, and legal specialists, we uncover harmful contaminants that manufacturers either overlook or choose not to disclose.
Our mission is driven by a commitment to transparency, scientific integrity, and the protection of public health across all communities.
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.
Why Our Work Matters
Many everyday consumer products—especially supplements and wellness goods—contain hidden toxins that can impact long-term health. Without transparent testing, consumers have no way to know what they are being exposed to.
Chemicals such as lead, cadmium, arsenic, and PFAS have well-documented health risks. When companies neglect safety or fail to disclose these contaminants, ERC stands in the gap to ensure the public is protected.
Through scientific testing, legal enforcement, and public advocacy, we reduce toxic exposures, hold corporations accountable, and push the industry toward transparency and safer formulations.
Health Protection
Helping communities starts with clear, accurate information. We simplify complex environmental rules like Proposition 65, enabling smart decisions by sharing facts on chemical risks, product safety, and the environment.
Environmental Safety
We actively promote sustainable practices and evidence-based policies that effectively minimize pollution and safeguard the environment, ensuring the health and well-being of both current and future generations.
Consumer Transparency
Through research, public reporting, and regulatory engagement, we identify harmful practices and advocate for corrective action. Our goal is simple: create a market where transparency is the norm and public health is always protected.
The Process
Inquiry: When a consumer questions the purity of a product and we agree to investigate, we order the product in question and submit it to a third party laboratory for testing.
Notice: If the lab results come back with certain contaminants, such as heavy metals, above the accepted standard, we first send a notice of violations and file that information with the Attorney General’s office. The Attorney general then takes the next 60 days to review the notice.
Noncompliance: Once that 60-day notice expires, if the company has not responded or communicated their intentions we take steps to legally support the public’s right to know what they are buying and consuming. We advocate for a company’s transparency of information with regard to our allegation about a product’s contamination. We want to make sure YOU, the consumer, know about the alleged violation.
Resolution: Resolution can take anywhere from a few months to several years. You can check the status of a particular case by visiting the Attorney General’s website. You will need to search for the company as the defendant bracketed by quotation marks.
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.
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
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.
Diet Supplements
Daily Vitamins
Herbal Products
Hydration Products
Protein Powder
Energy Drinks
Community Support
Environmental Research Center (ERC) offers two scholarships to help students focused on environmental health and safety. These scholarships support those working to protect families, workers, and the environment from health risks. ERC also provides donations to groups with similar goals to strengthen their community efforts. Through these scholarships and donations, ERC promotes education and action for a safer, healthier environment.
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This scholarship aims to support survivors in pursuing higher education and advancing their careers. It is designed to alleviate financial barriers and empower individuals to achieve their full potential.
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.
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The Eco Scholarship offers financial support to high school graduates who are interested in environmental health sciences who wish to further their education.
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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.
Get Involved
Whether you want to submit products, apply for scholarships, or support our advocacy work, your involvement strengthens consumer protection.