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  • PSR leaders decry efforts to block the EPA from regulating carbon pollution

    PSR Executive Director Dr. Peter Wilk and Director of Environment and Health Programs Kristen Welker-Hood, ScD MSN RN, spoke at a Congressional briefing hosted by Senator Boxer (CA) supporting EPA authority. Wilk and Welker-Hood denounced the efforts of Senator Murkowski (AK) to overturn the scientific findings of the EPA, finalized in December 2009, that carbon pollution endangers public health. Dr. Wilk stated that "this brazen attempt to block EPA authority to implement life-saving regulations is unacceptable." Read more »

  • Ira Shorr and Reverend William Sloane Coffin

    Toasters For Congress: PSR Launches Global Video Contest

    We are excited to celebrate the amazing legacy of PSR's National Field Director, Ira Shorr, who is leaving our staff at the end of February. In the spirit of Ira's Back to the Brink campaign, PSR is launching a YouTube contest named "Toasters For Congress." We are asking you to participate by making a short video with creative effective ideas on engaging on any of PSR's core issues. Watch our videos to find out why the contest is named "Toasters For Congress," learn more about how you can be involved, and see PSR staff on YouTube! Read more »

    Left: Ira Shorr and Reverend William Sloane Coffin promote the "Presidential Report Card" for the SANE FREEZE Test Ban Campaign.

  • Coal’s Assault on Human Health

    Physicians for Social Responsibility released a groundbreaking medical report, "Coal's Assault on Human Health," which takes a new look at the devastating impacts of coal on the human body. Coal combustion releases mercury, particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and dozens of other substances known to be hazardous to human health. This report looks at the cumulative harm inflicted by those pollutants on three major body organ systems: the respiratory system, the cardiovascular system, and the nervous system. The report also considers coal’s contribution to global warming, and the health implications of global warming. Download the report »

    The report garnered media coverage coast to coast and internationally. Read more about our successful media release »

  • Toxic Chemicals Found in Doctors and Nurses

    Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) in partnership with American Nurses Association (ANA) and Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) have released the “Hazardous Chemicals In Health Care” report, detailing the first investigation ever of chemicals found in the bodies of health care professionals. The inquiry found that all of the 20 participants had toxic chemicals associated with health care in their bodies. Each participant had at least 24 individual chemicals present, four of which are on the recently released Environmental Protection Agency list of priority chemicals for regulation. These chemicals are all associated with chronic illness and physical disorders.

    Read more »
more top stories

Nuclear Weapons

The nuclear weapons danger is real and growing:  nuclear terrorism, proliferation, and thousands of weapons still on hair-trigger alert in the United States and Russia. Fortunately, there also are new opportunities to eliminate this threat.

Read More »

Environment and Health

Toxics and global warming create pervasive threats to health. PSR responds via chemical policy reform, climate policy advocacy, practitioner education, and “Code Black,” a campaign to reduce pollution and global warming.

Read More »

Safe Energy

The Safe Energy program focuses on protecting public health, taxpayer dollars, and national security by preventing the construction of expensive, dirty, and dangerous new nuclear reactors.

Read More »

Latest News & Events

  • U.S., Russia Close In on Nuclear Treaty
    February 3, 2010

    U.S. and Russian arms-control negotiators have reached an "agreement in principle" on the first nuclear-arms-reduction treaty in nearly two decades, administration and arms-control officials said Tuesday.

    Source: The Wall Street Journal
  • Tauscher: Nuclear disarmament not the holy grail
    February 3, 2010

    Speaking at the Global Zero non-proliferation summit in Paris today, Undersecretary of State Ellen Tauscher said that Washington and Moscow are in the "endgame" of negotiations to sign a successor strategic arms reduction treaty.

    Source: Politico
  • House Ag Chairman Backs Bid to Block EPA Greenhouse Gas Regs
    February 3, 2010

    A trio of House lawmakers yesterday introduced a bill to block U.S. EPA's authority to regulate greenhouse gases, marking the latest in a string of bipartisan attacks against forthcoming climate rules.

    Source: The New York Times

Latest Resources

  • Coal's Assault on Human Health

    Physicians for Social Responsibility has released a groundbreaking medical report, “Coal’s Assault on Human Health,” which takes a new look at the devastating impacts of coal on the human body. Coal combustion releases mercury, particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and dozens of other substances known to be hazardous to human health. This report looks at the cumulative harm inflicted by those pollutants on three major body organ systems: the respiratory system, the cardiovascular system, and the nervous system. The report also considers coal’s contribution to global warming, and the health implications of global warming. Read more »

  • Hazardous Chemicals In Health Care

    Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) in partnership with American Nurses Association (ANA) and Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) have released the “Hazardous Chemicals In Health Care” report, detailing the first investigation ever of chemicals found in the bodies of health care professionals. The inquiry found that all of the 20 participants had toxic chemicals associated with health care in their bodies. Each participant had at least 24 individual chemicals present, four of which are on the recently released Environmental Protection Agency list of priority chemicals for regulation. These chemicals are all associated with chronic illness and physical disorders. Read more »

  • More Extreme Heat Waves

    Global warming will bring more extreme heat waves. As the United States warms another 4 to 11°F on average over the next century, we will have more extremely hot summer days. Every part of the country will be affected. Urban areas will feel the heat more acutely because asphalt, concrete, and other structures absorb and reradiate heat, causing temperature to be as much as 10°F higher than nearby rural areas. Read more »

Preventing What We Cannot Cure

Physicians for Social Responsibility is the medical and public health voice working to prevent the use or spread of nuclear weapons and to slow, stop and reverse global warming and the toxic degradation of the environment.

Urgent Public Health Emergency: Haiti Earthquake Response


As healthcare professionals, we are saddened and moved by this catastrophe. Please support relief efforts. Read more »

Latest Action

The Clean Air Act, our only regulatory tool to cut carbon emissions and prevent catastrophic climate change, is under attack. To protect our nation's health, we need your help!

When you make a purchase from Amazon.com through PSR’s connection, as much as 15% of the cost of your order will be donated to PSR. Just click Amazon.com from anywhere you see it on PSR’s website and Amazon will automatically send a portion of the proceeds from your sale to PSR.

Social Justice

Guided by the values and expertise of medicine and public health, PSR seeks to protect human life worldwide from the impact of social injustice and structural violence. Read more »

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In the Spotlight


Greater Boston PSR's Dr. Dick Clapp (a professor at the BU SPH) and speaker Jill Stein MD at Boston University Medical School taping of Healthy People, Healthy Planet for University of Delaware Nursing School course.