Chemical Insights Research Institute (CIRI) of UL Research Institutes is a nonprofit organization dedicated to scientific research, publication, education, and communication on environmental exposures resulting from technologies and practices, their impact on human health, and processes for reducing health risks. CIRI provides actionable data and resources to help manufacturers, educators, healthcare providers, and consumers make informed environmental health decisions and risk reduction strategies for the protection of human health.

Our core mission at Chemical Insights Research Institute is to help improve the health of people and the planet. More than 90% of children across the globe are exposed to a toxic mixture of chemicals in the air daily. At Chemical Insights Research Institute, we are working to change that by combining the best minds with rigorous scientific research and a commitment to thorough and accurate results. We then deliver these impactful scientific insights in actionable ways so educators, manufacturers, healthcare providers, and consumers can make informed environmental health decisions and extend lives.  

Chemical Insights Research Institute contributes to the protection of public health and well-being by conducting scientific research. Our approach identifies sources of pollutants, determines human exposure levels, evaluates toxicity and human health risks, and develops solutions for exposure reduction. We share our knowledge to manage and mitigate sources and adverse impacts of environmental pollution on public health.

Our library contains resources and articles on our research plans, findings, and applications. Key research topics examine the linkage between health and pollutant exposures and include 3D printer emissions, chemical exposure, e-cigarettes and vaping, flame retardants and furniture flammability, global air pollution, toxicology, PFAS exposure and wildfire smoke.

• Clear, focused research mission: Each new initiative we undertake, each new study we field, every council and advisory group we convene must be vetted against our clear research mission before work begins.
• Trusted scientific source: With years of specific research experience on pollution and its human health impact, Chemical Insights Research Institute has become a trusted source of knowledge and a “go to” resource for environmental health information. We share our knowledge and tools to manage and mitigate sources of environmental pollution and its adverse impact on public health.
• Proven five-step process: To ensure our initiatives deliver meaningful insights, we follow a proven five-step process that includes (1) convening stakeholders to define the public health risks associated with evolving technologies, consumer products and emerging issues; (2) conducting independent research on the health impact; (3) analyzing data to confirm key findings; (4) sharing discoveries with stakeholders and the general public; and (5) working to support the development of standards and best practices for the safer commercialization of evolving technologies and materials.
• Quality, accessible research: We execute and publish research findings on pollution exposure sources with scientific rigor and peer review. Accessible, understandable, and actionable information on key topics including human health risks associated with emissions of 3D printing, consumer use of flame retardants and other chemicals, global air pollution sources, e-cigarettes and vaping emissions, and the health impact of wildfire smoke at the wildland-urban interface (WUI).
• Specialized technology: Our analytical toxicology lab is a clean room with world-class chambers and toxicology tools for measuring human exposure to chemical and particle pollutants.
• Transparent, trusted collaborations: We conduct our scientific research both independently and in collaboration with trusted research universities and leading experts. We then transparently share this knowledge with scholars, public health advocates, and business leaders to establish standards and provide guidance on the safer development of emerging technologies and consumer products.
• Research applications to drive change: Because we don’t see research as the “end game,” we seek to effectively communicate and apply our research for the greater good – to make the world a safer, healthier place.

At Chemical Insights Research Institute, we combine the best minds with rigorous scientific research and a commitment to thorough and accurate results. Partnerships are key to delivering findings and effectively sharing actionable information. We collaborate with professional organizations spanning across academic, government, community and professional fields in a variety of ways to

• Convene summits, workgroups, conferences, and events
• Conduct research on emerging technologies and consumer products and their impact on human health
• Support organizations by providing actionable information to help further their mission
• Educate professionals with information tailored to meet their needs
• Share resources to amplify research findings and provide solutions

• Atlanta Public Schools, USA
• Duke University, USA
• Duke Kunshan University, China
• Emory University, USA
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA)
• Georgia State University, USA
• Georgia Institute of Technology, USA
• Harvard University, USA
• Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, India
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA
• Purdue University, USA
• Shanghai General Hospital, Pediatrics Department, China
• Tsinghua University, China
• University of Southern California (USC), USA
• University of Wisconsin, USA
• Washington University, USA
• Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel

• American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA)
• American Society of Interior Designers (ASID)
• The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE)
• AsthmaCommunityNetwork.org supported by the U.S. EPA
• Campus Safety, Health, and Environmental Management Association (CSHEMA)
• Greenstrides.org (Resource of the U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools, managed by the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council)
• National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)
• National Science Teaching Association (NSTA)
• Society of Toxicology (SOT) Global Partner
• Sustainable Furnishings Council (SFC)
• U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)