What Is a Bright City?
A Bright City works to lessen the harm of neurotoxic chemicals in ways that are tailored for each community.
Example actions include restricting the use of toxic pesticides on lawns, parks and pets, implementing integrated pest management in public buildings and housing, replacing lead painted windows or requiring training for landlords about lead abatement.
Example actions may include increasing screening of blood lead levels in pregnant women and infants or bolstering policies to reduce exposures to mercury and PCBs in locally caught fish and shellfish.
Example actions include reducing emissions through no-idle policies, requiring diesel engine retrofits in high traffic areas or reducing emissions from wood stoves, including the requirement of EPA certified models.
Example actions include reducing lead, arsenic and perchlorate levels in drinking water or replacing lead service lines in water distribution systems.
Example actions include avoiding the purchase of products containing mercury, flame retardants, pesticides, phthalates, lead and arsenic; and setting performance measures to track reductions in exposures to these chemicals.
Example actions include helping child care facilities avoiding purchasing products containing mercury, flame retardants, pesticides, phthalates, lead and arsenic; and setting performance measures to track reductions in exposures to these chemicals.
Example actions include testing soil in community gardens and playgrounds and remediating as needed; promoting breastfeeding; and increasing access to food grown without harmful pesticides.
Example actions include conducting city-wide audits to identify sources of neurotoxic chemical exposure and hot spots along with improving communications to at-risk populations.
How It Works
Work with Healthy Babies Bright Futures to Transform into a Bright City.
Healthy Babies Bright Futures works with cities and local nonprofit partners to assess their particular community’s needs and risks. Together, we then develop the most effective strategies to lower exposures to harmful chemicals. HBBF provides resources to cities to implement those strategies. Cost-effective and meaningful improvements are achieved through public policy and programs, advocacy and public engagement. By targeting areas for improvement, we reduce women and children’s exposure to dangerous neurotoxic chemicals that cause developmental delays. The Bright Cities program aims to protect the long term health of this and future generations.
