This week, the PFAS Action Act was introduced by Reps. Debbie Dingell (D) and Fred Upton (R), both from Michigan. The bipartisan legislation seeks to protect all Americans from the harmful "forever chemicals" known as PFAS.
“We need deadlines to ensure that the EPA will take the steps needed to reduce PFAS releases into our air, land and water, to filter PFAS out of tap water and to clean up legacy PFAS pollution, especially near Department of Defense facilities,” said Scott Faber, EWG’s senior vice president for government affairs. “We applaud Reps. Dingell and Upton for continuing to make PFAS pollution a priority.”
The Duke Energy Accountability Coalition, a coalition of public interest, environmental and economic justice organizations, took out a full page ad in the April 11 edition of the Charlotte Observer, calling on Duke Energy to reverse years of company practices that have punished its low-income ratepayers and communities of color.
As spring gets into gear across the nation, EWG is here breaking down ways to protect and boost your health as you wake from your winter hibernation.
Last Friday, President Biden released his administration’s first budget proposals. EWG applauded the president’s ambition in proposing billions of dollars for critical environmental, public health and clean energy programs – a major departure from the Trump years.
“President Biden’s budget reflects his pledge to rebuild and strengthen the federal government’s commitment to safeguarding human health and the environment from pollution,” said EWG President Ken Cook.
In this week’s edition of EWG’s “None of the Above” energy series, EWG welcomed Mary Booth, director of the Partnership for Policy Integrity, to discuss biomass energy. Booth argues that federal investment in biomass will actually pump more carbon into the atmosphere, doing the opposite of its intended goals.
And finally, EWG applauded Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) for reintroducing legislation that rewards climate stewardship on farm and forest lands.
Here’s some news you can use going into the weekend.
Children’s health
The nonprofit Environmental Working Group (EWG) does not recommend using any bug spray on children under six months of age but suggests treating clothes with permethrin. After a child reaches six months, picaridin is the safest choice.
FDA limits on heavy metals in baby foods
CBS News: FDA to propose limits on arsenic and lead in baby food
The FDA's action drew muted praise from advocacy groups including the Environmental Working Group, which called on the agency to take stronger and speedier action on heavy metals.
“The agency, for the first time, is treating this issue with seriousness, and now there’s really a clock on the FDA,” said Scott Faber, senior vice president of government affairs for Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit that specializes in research and advocacy around toxic chemicals. “We will know this year whether they are setting limits that protect babies or that protect the baby food industry.”
Parent Herald: FDA To Set Mercury, Lead, and Arsenic Content Limits in Baby Food
Although FDA gained muted praises from many advocacy groups, such as the Environmental Working Group, on the other hand, the groups called them for more decisive and speedier action.
PFAS Action Act
Consumer Reports: Federal Lawmakers Push Bill to Tackle PFAS Contamination in Drinking Water
Upward of 200 million people are estimated to be exposed to water contaminated by PFAS, according to estimates by the Environmental Working Group, an advocacy organization.
Deadlines are needed, said Scott Faber, senior vice president for government affairs at the Washington-based nonprofit Environmental Working Group.
"After decades of inactions, it's time to immediately designate PF and FPP as hazardous substances at a minimum," said Scott Faber, senior vice president of government affairs at the Environmental Working Group.
E&E News: Sweeping House PFAS crackdown bill returns (subscription)
Scott Faber, who leads government affairs efforts for the Environmental Working Group, called Biden's PFAS pledges "welcome news" but said legislation is still important.
"Communities impacted by PFAS have heard pledges and promises before," Faber said, positioning Congress as a player able to hold EPA accountable.
Inside EPA: Bipartisan House PFAS Bill Adds To Pressure On EPA For Regulations
Scott Faber, the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) senior vice president for government affairs, said Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), now ranking member of the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee, has been “an incredible champion for addressing PFAS pollution,” leading efforts to establish a two-year deadline for a drinking water standard. He suggested, therefore, that he believes they will “see real progress in the Senate.”
The Hill: Mark Ruffalo joins bipartisan lawmakers in introducing chemical regulation bill
Ruffalo said he was astonished to learn that about 2,500 companies in 2020 were still releasing the substances into the environment, according to a report from the Environmental Working Group.
The Hill: Michigan reps reintroduce measure for national 'forever chemicals' standard
Research by the Environmental Working Group, an environmental advocacy and research organization, indicates 328 military sites nationwide have been contaminated by PFAS, resulting in drinking water contamination that affects more than 200 million Americans.
Michigan Live: Actor Mark Ruffalo: ‘Amazing’ that PFAS chemicals still aren’t regulated
Ruffalo joined U.S. Reps. Debbie Dingell, D-Ann Arbor and Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, on Tuesday, April 13 on a call with reporters organized by the Environmental Working Group to announce a new attempt to get the PFAS Action Act through the U.S. House and Senate.
Mother Jones: A New Bill Wants the EPA to Shield Drinking Water From “Forever Chemicals”
“Communities impacted by PFAs have heard pledges and promises before. And under current rules it could be almost four years before the EPA sets a drinking water standard and years longer before utilities have to meet it,” said Scott Faber, senior vice president for government affairs for the Environmental Working Group, who spoke at a press conference about the bill along with Dingell and Upton and actor Mark Ruffalo.
Courthouse News: Bill Targeting Toxic Chemicals Reintroduced in House
“Since the enactment of the fiscal year 2020 [National Defense Authorization Act], the Department of Defense’s PFAS Task Force has increased, the number of PFAS contamination sites at active or closed military installations increased from 401 to 702 nationwide,” Dingell said. “And the Environmental Working Group has also separately identified 327 military sites with known PFAS contamination.”
The Environmental Working Group says there are 2,337 PFAS contamination sites in 49 States. There are 162 sites in Michigan. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Dearborn) says this is a national crisis.
Biden budget includes $75 million for PFAS
Bloomberg: Reaction Mixed to Biden $75M ‘Forever Chemicals’ Budget Ask
The request would be a $26 million bump compared to $49 million in the fiscal 2021 appropriations bill provided the EPA’s scientific, regulatory, grant-making and cleanup work on PFAS, according to information from the Environmental Working Group, which has brought attention to PFAS since the mid-2000s.
Aldicarb use in Florida
Olga Naidenko, with the Environmental Working Group, said in a news release that aldicarb is a neurotoxic pesticide especially risky for young children who may be exposed through food.
CAFOs
Mercola: Modern Agriculture Is Militarized
As the leader among hog-producing states, Iowa had more than 22.7 million hogs in 2017, which produce 68 billion pounds of manure annually — at least 68 times the amount of fecal waste produced by Iowa’s 3.15 million residents, the Environmental Working Group reported.
Cleaning products
Prevention: 15 Easy Ways to Detox Every Room in Your Home
Review EWG’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning for laundry products rated “B” or better. Vinegar also packs a strong antimicrobial punch in the laundry, and can help soften clothing naturally, as can baking soda. Instead of chlorine bleach, Silent Spring recommends lemon juice and oxygen bleach to brighten whites.
Climate Stewardship Act
“Farmers are already reeling from the effects of climate change,” said Colin O’Neil, Legislative Director of Environmental Working Group. “The investments proposed in the Climate Stewardship Act will not only help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from farming but will also help farmers better withstand the impacts of severe weather. We applaud Sen. Booker and Rep. Spanberger for their leadership.”
Skin Deep® cosmetics database
Business Insider: The 7 best nontoxic nail polish brands that you can feel good about using
"It's important to remember that...if one specific chemical isn't used in a particular polish, another one likely is" – so check that ingredients list if you're concerned. "The Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep database is a good place to start researching," suggests Kate Hoffman PhD, assistant research professor at Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University.
The brand says the ingredients are quite close to what you'd find in a baby wipe and that they're well-rated from the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Directory.
Popsugar: Sustainable Beauty Is a Confusing Game — Here's a Guide to the Terms You Need to Know
"When I ask companies to explain, I get responses like that a product is vegan, organic, natural, or has no chemicals, preservatives, is 'ethical' with minimal waste, or ingredients that are on the warning list with the Environmental Working Group that would be glass and not plastic."
EWG VERIFIED®: Cosmetics
The Skimm: theSkimm on if 'Clean Beauty' is Good for the Environment
Some brands use third party certifications to give them a stamp of approval. EWG Verified — a mark used by brands like Saie, Beautycounter, Juice Beauty, and W3LL PEOPLE — means that products meet transparency standards and avoid chemicals on the organization’s ‘unacceptable’ list. Last year, Revlon unveiled its first product, a skin primer, to meet EWG’s standards.
Us Weekly: The Best Clean, Sustainable and Planet-Friendly Beauty Products to Shop for Earth Day
Not only does this product have Witherspoon’s stamp of approval, it’s also has one from the Environmental Working Group. Whether you want to amp up your brightness or get an added dose of hydration, this eco-conscious oil going to be your skin’s savior.
Medium: We Shouldn’t Be Afraid of Sharks. But They Should Be Afraid of Us.
To find a list of sustainable products, just reference the Environmental Working Group website and look for products with the EWG seal. Lush and L’Oreal are two brands that have moved to use plant squalene. But many brands hide which type of squalene they are using.
Food additives: TBHQ in processed foods
Medical News Today: The Recovery Room: News beyond the pandemic — April 9
According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), the preservative tert-Butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) is present in up to 1 .250 popular foodstuffs. The EWG monitors the presence of toxic chemicals in food and drinking water.
Queens Gazette (Queens, N.Y.): I On Politics
A new study from the Environmental Working Group suggests that TBHQ could harm the body’s immune system. In a letter to Susan Mayne, director for the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Gillibrand urged the FDA to consider new science when determining the safety and potential health effects of food additives and, specifically, to complete a thorough review of the safety of TBHQ and other food chemicals that may harm the immune system.
PFAS
Environmental Health News: ‘Forever chemicals’ coat the outer layers of biodegradable straws
When PFAS accumulate in landfills or littered waste, they often leach into groundwater. Additionally, they are difficult to remove from wastewater, leading to high levels in effluent-fed surface water. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) estimates there are 2,337 contaminated private and public drinking water sites in the U.S.
Michigan Live: Kalamazoo airport zip-ties valve shut after PFAS firefighting foam spilled
An April 2020 statement published by Environmental Working Group entitled, “It’s Time To Switch to PFAS-Free Firefighting Foams” makes the case to speed up the switch. The FAA should quickly move to allow airports to use fluorine-free foams that meet international aviation standards, the article states.
PFAS in water
Bay Journal (Mayo, Md.): Navy finds ‘forever chemicals’ at MD bases near two Chesapeake rivers
PFAS have been found in groundwater, streams and drinking water supplies in nearly 1,600 places nationwide, according to the Environmental Working Group. There are several dozen sites in the six-state Bay watershed.
Great Bend Tribune (Great Bend, Kan.): Water quality center stage at Monday meeting
In her letter, Zoller cited a report by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) indicating 19 total contaminants in Hoisington’s water system, 11 which exceeded EWG health guidelines. According to the EWG report, the city water supply’s Arsenic levels are 188 times the recommended guidelines.
Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce™
We have an ally in knowing what products on the shelf contain more or fewer pesticides in the nonprofit Environmental Working Group, which just published its annual Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen lists in March. The lists are based on analysis of U.S. Department of Agriculture data documenting pesticide use, and you can find them at ewg.org/foodnews/summary.
Cancer Connect: Ask The Expert Questions about Cancer Nutrition?
When it comes to fruits and vegetables, the more the better, the benefits from these foods outweigh any risks related to pesticides. For more information on pesticides in produce, visit the Environmental Working Group’s Shopper’s Guide.
USC Annenberg Media: How to live a nourished life on a college budget
Created and updated each year by the Environmental Working Group, the Dirty Dozen currently includes: apples, celery, tomatoes, cherries, grapes, kale/mustard/collard greens, nectarines, peaches, pears, spinach, strawberries, and hot and sweet peppers.
Tap water database
Hot on Beauty: Gorgeous in Green
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) assembled the results of 20-million drinking-water tests in 2009, which revealed 316 contaminants in water that was supplied to 256-million Americans.