Pure Earth/Blacksmith Institute

Pure Earth is a leading international not-for-profit organization dedicated to solving pollution problems that affect public health (www.pureearth.org). The organization focuses on reducing exposures to toxic chemical pollutants resulting from industrial, commercial, or informal/artisanal activities. Pure Earth identifies and cleans up severely polluted places, advises governments and development agencies on related issues, and conducts groundbreaking research on pollution and its devastating impacts on public health and economic development. In addition to our field work, Pure Earth recently spearheaded two landmark reports that have advanced the global dialogue around pollution: a joint report with UNICEF on children’s exposures to lead titled The Toxic Truth: Children’s Exposure to Lead Pollution Undermines a Generation of Future Potential; and the Lancet Commission on Pollution and Health – one of the most cited works from the world-renowned medical journal, The Lancet. Pure Earth recently completed a 10-year strategic plan to assess how the organization can have maximum impact in the next decade. Key recommendations include focusing on lead and mercury pollution in a select number of countries and building the capacity of those country offices. To that end, Pure Earth is launching a five-year, $40 million campaign, Project R.E.A.L.M.E., which will impact more than 100 million children in 12 countries, and will double the annual operating budget.

Pure Earth works in most regions of the world to find places where pollution is causing substantial human health issues. We survey these sites, review with a Technical Advisory Board, design an implementation strategy that includes funding and appropriate technologies, and assist local champions in implementing and completing a remediation process. Projects are conducted in a cooperative fashion with all stakeholders.

Pure Earth is a practical, can-do organization committed to improving the health and wellbeing of the disadvantaged of the world, especially children, who have no choice in their place of abode, and who are poisoned by industry and mining.