The Environmental Mutagen Society (EMS) is the primary scientific society fostering research on the basic mechanisms of mutagenesis as well as on the application of this knowledge in the field of genetic toxicology.

The Environmental Mutagen Society members have long informed regulatory decision making by providing toxicological and mechanistic understanding of the effects of chemicals and other environmental agents on people and other biota. At a fundamental level society members have made significant contributions to development of the science required for evaluation of the biological effects of toxic chemicals and radiations. These concepts and tools provide indicators that are essential for development of sustainable practices required to fulfill human needs by providing for assessment of requirements for a healthy environment.

Society Overview

The EMS has over 750 members, of who more than 150 are from outside the United States. The EMS is affiliated with the International Association of Environmental Mutagen Societies (IAEMS), which has about 2,500 members from over 50 countries. The membership is composed of a unique mix of academic, government, and industrial scientsts and policy makers. In addition, the EMS publishes the highly regarded journal Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis.  

EMS members are also founding supporters of grassroots associations including the Genetic Toxicology Assocation (GTA), the Genetic and Environmental Toxicology Association (GETA) ( Northern California), and the Genetic and Environmental Mutagen Society (North Carolina) (GEMS). 

Essentially all of the mutagenesis assays used for:

1. screening new chemicals (pesticides, pharmaceuticals, etc.)
2. detecting mutagenic activity in environmental samples (air, water, food, soil, etc.)
3. establishing criteria for regulatory purposes throughout the world

have been developed by EMS / IAEMS members.

In recent years, the work of hundreds of EMS / IAEMS scientists has contributed substantially to the recognition of the critical role of mutation in the etiology of cancer. The EMS is currently the primary intellectual forum for researchers interested in the development and application of transgenic technology of toxicological studies and for the development of methods for studying mutations and the mechanisms of mutation and DNA repair in model cellular systems as well as humans. The annual meetings of the EMS provide an important setting for the presentation of data emerging from the Human Genome Project, especially mutation spectra, mutational mechanisms, and new techniques for detection of mutation and genomic instability in humans.