Silent Spring Institute
Silent Spring Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit research organization founded in 1994 that investigates environmental causes of breast cancer and other diseases through chemical exposure research, peer-reviewed publications, policy advocacy, and free consumer tools including the Detox Me mobile app.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersNewton, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Silent Spring Institute does
Silent Spring Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit scientific research organization founded in 1994 and headquartered in Newton, Massachusetts, with field offices in Hyannis and Ayer. Its mission is to identify environmental causes of breast cancer and other diseases by researching how people are exposed to toxic chemicals through consumer products, drinking water, food packaging, and indoor environments. The Institute's primary deliverables are peer-reviewed scientific publications (the leadership has authored 450+ papers), policy advocacy contributions, and a portfolio of consumer- and researcher-facing tools including the Detox Me mobile app (270+ evidence-based tips, English/Spanish), the Digital Exposure Report-Back Interface (DERBI), the RNHANES R package for analyzing CDC NHANES data, the sdftosvg NPM visualization library, and the PFAS Exchange community resource. Its research has produced documented regulatory and corporate impacts including the EPA's first enforceable PFAS drinking water limits, the CPSC's organohalogen flame retardant ban, Massachusetts flame retardant legislation, and Oral-B's elimination of PFAS from its Glide dental floss.
The Institute does not sell products or charge for its research outputs. Its revenue model is entirely grant- and donation-based, drawing on federal agency grants (CDC, ATSDR, NIH, NSF), foundation grants (Massachusetts Environmental Trust, Schocken Foundation, California Breast Cancer Research Program), and individual philanthropic donations solicited through its website and an annual Gala Celebration. Its customer base is therefore heterogeneous funders rather than end consumers: scientific and policy communities consume its publications and testimony; regulators (EPA, CPSC, state agencies) consume its evidence base; and the general public consumes its free mobile app and educational content.
The Institute operates a hybrid go-to-market model that combines open-access publishing, free digital tools, and direct community engagement. Community-based participatory research in PFAS-contaminated Massachusetts towns (Hyannis, Ayer) pairs residents with academic collaborators (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Columbia University, UC Santa Barbara) and local advocacy organizations (Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition, PACE). In 2026, Dr. Mary Beth Terry assumed the Executive Director role succeeding the founding-era 28-year leader Dr. Julia Brody. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors, is not owned by any parent or investor, and reports an EIN of 04-3237106.
Silent Spring Institute firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Silent Spring Institute
- Legal name
- Silent Spring Institute
- Website
- https://silentspring.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Silent Spring Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit research organization founded in 1994 that investigates environmental causes of breast cancer and other diseases through chemical exposure research, peer-reviewed publications, policy advocacy, and free consumer tools including the Detox Me mobile app.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Silent Spring Institute industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Environmental Health Research
- NAICS
- Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Environmental Consulting Services (541620), Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Emerging Contaminants Testing & Risk Management (PFAS, microplastics, pharmaceuticals) (EUANAJAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Emerging Contaminants Testing (PFAS, Microplastics) (AFALAFAI), Radiological & Hazardous Materials Monitoring (Radiation, Asbestos, Lead) (EUAHACAJ)
Keywords
Where Silent Spring Institute is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Newton
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Silent Spring Institute business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Philanthropic Donations: Individual donations from supporters, with options to donate through their website donation portal
- Federal Government Grants: Funding from CDC, ATSDR, and NIH for multi-site health studies on PFAS and other environmental health research
- Foundation Grants: Support from foundations including Massachusetts Environmental Trust, Schocken Foundation, California Breast Cancer Research Program, National Science Foundation
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Silent Spring Institute product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Silent Spring Institute conducts independent scientific research on the environmental causes of breast cancer and other diseases, studying how people are exposed to harmful chemicals through consumer products, drinking water, food packaging, and indoor environments. It also produces free consumer tools (notably the Detox Me mobile app) and open-source analytical software (RNHANES R package, sdftosvg NPM package, DERBI report-back interface) to support researchers, communities, and the public in reducing chemical exposures.
Product overview
Silent Spring Institute offers a portfolio of research tools, mobile applications, and software packages focused on environmental health and chemical exposure reduction. The core consumer-facing product is the Detox Me mobile app, which provides evidence-based guidance for reducing toxic chemical exposures. The organization also develops open-source software tools including the RNHANES R package for analyzing CDC health data and the sdftosvg NPM package for chemical structure visualization. Additionally, DERBI (Digital Exposure Report-Back Interface) provides a web-based platform for returning personalized exposure results to study participants. The PFAS Exchange serves as an online resource for community PFAS education and action.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Detox Me: A free mobile app developed by Silent Spring Institute to help consumers reduce their exposures to toxic chemicals in their everyday environment, based on more than 20 years of research. Available in English and Spanish.
- RNHANES
Products and services
- Detox Me Mobile App A free mobile app providing over 270 evidence-based tips to help consumers reduce their exposure to toxic chemicals in everyday products, food, and the home environment. Available in English and Spanish on iOS and Android, plus a web browser version.
- Detox Me Action Kit A crowdsourced biomonitoring study that provides participants with a urine test detecting 10 common chemicals (including BPA, parabens, and triclosan), enabling individual report-back of personal exposure results. Over 800 participants enrolled.
- RNHANES R Package An R package that streamlines downloading, analyzing, and visualizing CDC's National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data for environmental health research. Distributed publicly on CRAN.
- sdftosvg NPM Package An NPM package for rendering chemical structures from SDF (Structure-Data File) format to SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) for scientific visualization. Distributed publicly on NPM.
- Digital Exposure Report-Back Interface (DERBI) A web-based tool for creating personalized exposure reports for study participants, enabling return of individual chemical exposure results in environmental health studies.
- PFAS Exchange An online resource helping communities understand their PFAS exposure and take action to reduce exposure, with expanded information and fresh design.
Quantifiable outcome
- Oral-B eliminated PFAS from Glide dental floss after landmark Silent Spring study on floss as PFAS exposure source
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Silent Spring Institute
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Silent Spring Institute technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Silent Spring Institute partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public HealthcoreCollaboration on CDC/ATSDR Multi-site Health Study on PFAS. Dr. Tamarra James-Todd serves as Co-Principal Investigator alongside Silent Spring's Dr. Laurel Schaider. Also includes collaboration with faculty members Philippe Grandjean, David Bellinger, and Elsie Sunderland.
- Eastern Research GroupcoreCollaboration on Massachusetts PFAS and Your Health Study. Researchers include Rebecca DeVries (Senior Epidemiologist) and Naida Gavrelis (Vice President), and Clifton Dassuncao (Environmental Epidemiologist).
- Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition (MBCC)coreCommunity partner in PFAS health study. Cheryl Osimo serves as Executive Director of MBCC and Cape Coordinator for Silent Spring Institute.
- People of Ayer Concerned about the Environment (PACE)coreCommunity partner organization for the Ayer PFAS health study. Laurie Nehring is President of PACE.
- UC Santa BarbaramajorResearchers from UC Santa Barbara collaborated on analysis of 150 'Target Clean' hair products, finding 70% contained hidden fragrance chemicals despite marketing claims.
- Columbia UniversitymajorResearchers from Columbia University collaborated on the beauty products study analyzing chemical hazards in products marketed to women of color.
- Black Women for WellnessmajorPartner organization in the beauty products study examining hazardous chemicals in hair products marketed to Black women for textured hair.
- Public Health Institute, Berkeley, CAcoreCollaboration on 2019 dental floss and PFAS study. Used blood samples from 178 women enrolled in the Child Health and Development Studies, a multigenerational study of environmental chemicals and disease.
- Breast Cancer ActioncoreCo-hosted workshop bringing together 65+ scientists, advocates, and policy experts to discuss toxic chemicals and breast tissue effects, and improve federal chemical safety testing.
- Breast Cancer Prevention PartnersmajorPolicy advocacy partner working to ensure access to scientific knowledge for stronger science-based protections for public health.
- Safer Chemicals, Healthy FamiliesmajorCoalition partner advocating for chemical safety policies and regulations to protect public health from toxic chemical exposures.
- EarthjusticemajorEnvironmental law organization partner providing legal support for chemical safety advocacy efforts and regulatory actions.
- Green Science Policy InstitutemajorPartner providing scientific expertise on flame retardants and other chemical safety issues, including input on California flammability standards revision.
- Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI)majorProvided scientific expertise to TURI's scientific advisory board regarding listing PFAS as a class under Massachusetts' Toxics Use Reduction Act.
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)coreFunding and coordination of PFAS Multi-site Health Study through CDC and Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), one of seven projects in the national study.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Silent Spring Institute competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Environmental Working Group (EWG): Independent nonprofit focused on chemical safety in consumer products and drinking water; directly comparable to Silent Spring in mission, public-facing research, and policy advocacy around PFAS and toxic chemicals.
- Breast Cancer Prevention Partners (BCPP): State and national policy advocacy organization working to identify and eliminate toxic chemicals linked to breast cancer; an active partner of Silent Spring and a near-direct peer in mission and advocacy tactics.
- Green Science Policy Institute: Science-policy nonprofit focused on flame retardants, PFAS, and chemical safety; collaborates with Silent Spring on California flammability standards and chemical class regulation — directly comparable in niche expertise and regulatory focus.
- Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families Coalition: Coalition coordinating advocacy for federal chemical safety policy reform including TSCA; a current Silent Spring partner with directly overlapping advocacy on chemical regulation.
- Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI): University-based Massachusetts institute that develops safer alternatives to toxic chemicals and advises on the state's Toxics Use Reduction Act; a current Silent Spring collaborator with overlapping PFAS and chemical safety focus.
Broad incumbents
- Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): Large environmental advocacy organization with significantly broader scope (climate, water, energy) but overlapping chemical safety, PFAS, and consumer product work where it competes with Silent Spring for policy influence.
- Earthjustice: National environmental law organization that litigates chemical safety cases; a current Silent Spring partner and a broader incumbent that competes for donor attention and policy wins in PFAS and toxics regulation.
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR): Federal public health agency funding and coordinating the multi-site PFAS health studies that Silent Spring participates in; a key incumbent that shapes the research agenda and grant funding in this space.
Regional players
- CHEM Trust: UK and EU-focused charity addressing harmful chemical exposures and hormone-disrupting chemicals with overlapping PFAS, flame retardant, and consumer product work; comparable in mission but operating in a different geography.
- Silent Spring Institute Australia / Minderoo Foundation PFAS Initiative: Australian philanthropic effort funding PFAS contamination research and community health studies; a regional peer with overlapping PFAS exposure and biomonitoring focus but operating primarily in Australia.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Silent Spring Institute social profiles
Digital presenceSilent Spring Institute financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Silent Spring Institute leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Silent Spring Institute funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Silent Spring Institute M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Silent Spring Institute
What does Silent Spring Institute do?
Silent Spring Institute conducts independent scientific research on the environmental causes of breast cancer and other diseases, studying how people are exposed to harmful chemicals through consumer products, drinking water, food packaging, and indoor environments. It also produces free consumer tools (notably the Detox Me mobile app) and open-source analytical software (RNHANES R package, sdftosvg NPM package, DERBI report-back interface) to support researchers, communities, and the public in reducing chemical exposures.
Is Silent Spring Institute a public or private company?
Silent Spring Institute is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Silent Spring Institute founded?
Silent Spring Institute was founded in 1994. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Silent Spring Institute based?
Silent Spring Institute is headquartered in Newton, United States, in the North America region.
How does Silent Spring Institute make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Philanthropic Donations are the primary driver. The others are federal Government Grants and foundation Grants.
Who are Silent Spring Institute's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Environmental Working Group (EWG), Breast Cancer Prevention Partners (BCPP), Green Science Policy Institute, Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families Coalition and Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI). Broad incumbents are Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Earthjustice and Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Regional players are CHEM Trust and Silent Spring Institute Australia / Minderoo Foundation PFAS Initiative.
Does Silent Spring Institute have an API?
No public API is recorded for Silent Spring Institute.
What industry is Silent Spring Institute in?
Silent Spring Institute's product category is Environmental Health Research. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUANAJAF, Emerging Contaminants Testing & Risk Management (PFAS, microplastics, pharmaceuticals), with a secondary code of AFALAFAI, Emerging Contaminants Testing (PFAS, Microplastics). Its NAICS code is 541714 and its SIC code is 8731.