This week, the Department of Agriculture published its latest pesticide residue test results for thousands of samples of domestic and imported fruits and vegetables. Each year, EWG uses the testing results to update the annual Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce™.
“The latest round of residue tests clearly shows conventional agriculture continues its heavy reliance on toxic pesticides,” said EWG’s Vice President for Science Investigations Olga Naidenko, Ph.D.
“Chemical agriculture companies will of course claim that levels detected are below the legal limit set by the Environmental Protection Agency, but it’s worth reminding consumers, particularly parents and pregnant women, that just because the levels are legal doesn’t mean they are safe for babies and young children,” Naidenko said.
Later in the week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry released a report finding high levels of a toxic “forever chemical" used in firefighting foam in the blood of residents of a West Virginia community near an Air National Guard base.
“West Virginia is just a snapshot of the widespread problem of PFAS contamination plaguing communities across the United States,” said EWG Senior Vice President for Government Affairs Scott Faber. “Every time studies are released on PFAS, the scope of the problem becomes even clearer, and so does the harm to people who are exposed.”
Here’s some news you can use going into the weekend.
Children’s health
Eat This, Not That!: 6 Ways to Cleanse Toxins From Your Body
Educational resources from Environmental Working Group and Center for Disease Control can help you learn more about protecting yourself and your family, including important do's and don'ts for avoiding unnecessary risks, including protecting your children if you think they might have been exposed to lead poisoning.
ATSDR report on PFHxS
“West Virginia is just a snapshot of the widespread problem of PFAS contamination plaguing communities across the United States,” said Scott Faber, EWG senior vice president for government affairs. “Every time studies are released on PFAS, the scope of the problem becomes even clearer, and so does the harm to people who are exposed.”
California solar net metering
CleanTechnica: Is The California Solar Dream Fading Fast?
The Sierra Club isn’t happy. Neither are the Climate Center, Coalition for Community Solar Access, Environment California, Environmental Working Group and Vote Solar, all of which issued news releases slamming the proposed decision, according to the LA Times.
Cleaning products
Mashed: The Untold Truth Of Costco's Kirkland Brand
Other items you might want to avoid include the Kirkland Signature Environmentally Friendly Laundry Detergent. For a product that claims to be environmentally friendly, it's ... not great that the Environmental Working Group gave it an F rating.
Scary Mommy: The 10 Best Dishwasher Detergents to Make Dirty Dishes a Thing of the Past
One reviewer said, “Better Life Dishwasher Gel is on the top of EWG’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning list for dishwasher detergents.
Skin Deep® cosmetics database
MSN: Don’t buy personal care items with these words on the label
But while Health Canada still considers petrolatum to be non-toxic, organizations like the Environmental Working Group (EWG) in the United States do not agree. The problem is that petrolatum can be contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs. And studies have suggested that PAHs are associated with cancer, skin irritation, and allergies.
Byrdie: Sodium Tallowate: What to Know About the Unique Soap
Generally speaking, sodium tallowate is a relatively safe ingredient. The Environmental Working Group gives it an 'A' rating, noting a low level of concern for things such as allergies (more on that point in a moment) and developmental and reproductive toxicity, as well as environmental impact.
InStyle: We Tested Over 20 Eyeshadow Primers, and These Are the Only Ones Worth Buying
Best Eco-Friendly Option: C'est Moi Visionary Gentle Non-Toxic Makeup Crayon… The clean beauty product is hypoallergenic and dermatologist-approved, so even people with sensitive skin can use it without fear of irritation. Even better, the brand itself is Environmental Working Group-vetted, and all of its products are made with recyclable materials and without animal testing.
Treehugger: What Is Mica Powder? Uses in the Beauty Industry and Sustainability Concerns
According to the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Database, neither ingredient is considered environmentally toxic or harmful to the body. However, information regarding synthetic mica is limited, and according to the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, the dust from natural mica powder has been shown to cause respiratory issues in workers.
EWG VERIFIED®: Cosmetics
Editorialist: The 10 Best Clean Sunscreens to Protect Your Skin Sans Toxins
Biossance Squalane + Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 PA +++… Not only is this clean sunscreen verified safe by EWG’s exacting standards, but it also boasts an impressive 42,000+ “loves” from Sephora shoppers.
Farm Subsidies Database
In addition to the PPP and Coronavirus Food Assistance payments, Bailey has received $2.1 million in federal agriculture corn, soybean, wheat and sorghum subsidies for his five-county farming operation since 1995, according to a database compiled by the Environmental Working Group, an organization backed by progressive money.
Food Scores database
Insider: This $27 case of canned sardines is a pantry staple I go to when I don't feel like cooking
While Wild Planet's sardines receive a relatively middling score from the EWG ranging from 2.8-4 out of a possible 10 (1 being best; 10 being worst), it suited me well enough compared with other brands within my budget.
Healthy Living Home Guide
CNET: Best full mattress for 2022
If you're looking for a comfortable full-size mattress minus any potentially harmful chemicals, the Avocado Green is the mattress brand for you. It's constructed of cotton, wool and natural latex (or you can opt for the vegan mattress, which is the same sans wool) -- which is the safest combination recommended by the Environmental Working Group.
PFAS in food
Eat This, Not That: The 10 Most Toxic Ingredients Lurking In Fast Food
"It's concerning that people could be exposed to these toxic chemicals through the food they eat," said lead study author Dr. Laurel Schaider, an environmental chemist at Silent Spring Institute, as reported by the Environmental Working Group. "PFASs have been linked with numerous health effects including cancer. Children are especially at risk because their developing bodies are more vulnerable to toxic chemicals."
PFAS in water
To address the problems, the Environmental Working Group or EWG has urged the United States Environmental Protection Agency to "take a stronger stance" in restricting the said chemicals to prevent contamination.
EHS Daily Advisor: DuPont Water Contamination Case Dismissed
“DuPont was for decades a leading U.S. manufacturer of PFAS chemicals, which it used to make Teflon and other nonstick products,” says the Environmental Working Group. “Chemours was created in 2015 when DuPont spun off its chemical division, in part to limit liability relating to PFAS chemicals. Corteva, formerly the agricultural division of DowDuPont, was spun off in 2019.
Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce™
Insider: 2 easy ways to clean strawberries to ensure you’re washing away pesticides and bacteria
Strawberries rank at the top of the Dirty Dozen List released by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) each year. That first-place ranking means strawberries contain higher levels of pesticides than other fruits and vegetables.
Guide to Sunscreens
Who: The 10 best sunscreens to shop in Australia
So, if you want the best of the best (like the stuff approved by the Environmental Working Group or Cancer Council), here is a list that can help you figure out which sunscreen to slip, slop, slap on your precious skin.
The Eco Hub: Zero Waste Sunscreen That’s Safe For Your Skin & The Planet
The Environmental Working Group recommends consumers avoid sunscreens with oxybenzone. Octinoxate is an organic UV filter. It is readily absorbed into the skin and continues to be absorbed after the sunscreen has been applied. It has been found in blood 16 times above the proposed FDA safety threshold.
Tap Water Database
Beeville Bee-Picayune (Beeville, Texas): City water in violation of TCEQ standards
According to the EWG’s website, bladder cancer, skin cancer and harm to fetal growth and development are among the health concerns associated with long-term consumption of water contaminated with trihalomethanes.
Toxics Release Inventory PFAS listing
Inside EPA: Environmentalists Sue EPA Over Reporting ‘Loopholes’ In PFAS TRI Listing
The suit is the latest step in a long-running battle over those exemptions, which several environmental groups have charged hamstrung the first round of TRI data on PFAS, released in July 2021. For instance, Environmental Working Group argued that data showed only 38 facilities had reported releases above the level despite previous data showing that more than 30,000 facilities use PFAS in some capacity.
Walmart’s Built for Better
Retail Dive: Walmart adds digital tools to match products with health preferences
Last year, Walmart added an online shopping destination called Built for Better to help customers find products aligned with their healthy food, clean living or sustainability goals. Digital icons identify products that meet independent standards like EWG Verified, Energy Star Certified or Rainforest Alliance Certified and are split under two labels: "For You" for nutrition and products made without specific materials or ingredients and "For the Planet" for products made in a way to reduce environmental impacts.