The state’s only environmental nonprofit organization with a science team, we seek to understand the science behind the issues that affect our health and environment.

Our science department supports the work and mission of Clean Wisconsin through a broad range of research and technical services and keeps us on the forefront of key environmental issues confronting our state.

Human Health Impacts of Pollution

We know exposure to pollution in our air, water and food can have devastating impacts on our bodies. Clean Wisconsin is beginning important research to identify pollution hotspots in Wisconsin, understand exposure routes, and connect public health harms.

The work ahead

Eventually, this work will detail the real, human cost of pollution across our state, whether it’s increased asthma rates, heart attacks and strokes caused by air pollution in our cities, or greater cancer risks in rural areas with drinking water contamination. Quantifying the public health cost of pollution will be a powerful tool in the fight for clean air, clean water and healthy communities.

Join us on this important journey

You can find our latest research briefs posted here on the Science and Research page. The briefs provide an overview of the many pollution issues facing Wisconsin. Once we have a complete picture of the issues, Clean Wisconsin will begin the important work of connecting contamination data with health data, solidifying the relationship between pollution and public health harms. Please join us on this important journey.

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Fact-based scientific research underpins all of our work. Clean Wisconsin has been involved in a number of studies looking at the impact of pollutants on our health and our environment. We also provide expert testimony and analysis to educate lawmakers and the public on environmental issues.

Analysis of the variety of ways Wisconsin communities have used environmental impact fees from transmission projects.

Analyzing fine particulate matter (PM) exposure from different sources for different racial-ethnic groups in Wisconsin.

Evaluating PAH concentrations and source identification for river and lakebed sediments in and upstream of three smaller Wisconsin municipalities: Eau Claire (Eau Claire River), Stevens Point (Plover River), and Racine (Root River)

Analysis finding that EPA’s proposed power plant rules will bring nearly $50 million in healthcare-related benefits for Wisconsin.