This week, EWG released a new analysis that shows farmers received more than $143.5 billion in federal crop insurance payouts from 1995 through 2020, much of it subsidized by taxpayers and most of it linked to extreme weather exacerbated by the climate crisis. The analysis was released in conjunction with EWG’s newly updated Crop Insurance Database.
“The numbers don’t lie: The climate crisis is already pummeling American farmers, at taxpayers’ expense,” said EWG Midwest Director and agricultural economist Anne Schechinger.
“Without better policies requiring climate-smart farming decisions to mitigate the climate emergency and build resilience, the cost of the already astronomically expensive crop insurance program will keep growing at a runaway pace,” Schechinger added. “And farmers will continue to struggle with the effects of extreme weather.”
EWG also identified more than 1,500 textile mills that may be releasing the toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS, which are responsible for contaminating drinking water across the U.S. This comes on the heels of two new analyses – one by Toxic-Free Future and the other by Environmental Health News and wellness blog Mamavation – that found PFAS in bedding, yoga pants and other textiles.
“PFAS exposure can cause serious health impacts at very low levels. It is a public health crisis that these chemicals can and may be dumped into the air and water downstream of textile mills and other industrial sites,” said David Andrews, Ph.D., a senior scientist at EWG.
Finally, EWG broke down the new, nonsensical label from the Department of Agriculture designating certain products as “low carbon” beef.
Here’s some news you can use going into the weekend.
Crop insurance report
Reuters: U.S. crop insurance payouts rise sharply as climate change worsens droughts, floods
According to the nonprofit environmental group, which examined publicly available data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, insurance payments to farmers due to drought increased more than 400 percent between 1995 and 2020 to $1.65 billion, while costs due to excess moisture – such as floods – increased nearly 300 percent to $2.61 billion. The number of insured acres increased by only 84.5 percent during the period studied by EWG.
“What we’re seeing is that climate change is likely increasing costs to this program, and we also know that crop insurance discourages farmers from adapting to climate change,” said Anne Schechinger, a director with the Environmental Working Group, an advocacy organization that conducted the new analysis and has long tracked government subsidies to farmers. “We think the program needs to be reformed to encourage farmers to become more resilient to extreme weather from climate change.”
Grist: Extreme weather is destroying more crops. Taxpayers are footing the bill.
Over the last 25 years, insurance payments to farmers for crop losses due to drought and flooding have increased threefold, according to a report from the Environmental Working Group, or EWG, an environmental research advocacy group based in Washington, D.C. Taxpayers cover 60 percent of crop insurance premiums through subsidies, and additionally cover damages that exceed premiums.
The Hill: Climate change batters U.S. cereals — but boosts American avocados
Rising global temperatures have driven farmers' crop insurance payouts up dramatically since 1995, according to a study by the Environmental Working Group (EWG). That has meant a fourfold increase due to drought and a threefold increase due to flooding, the EWG reported.
E&E News: Report: Crop insurance costs mount as climate change deepens (subscription)
Nearly two-thirds of the $143 billion in crop insurance payments to farmers from 1995 to 2020 were for losses due to drought or excess moisture, said the Environmental Working Group, which compiled the information as part of a new database on the national program.
Yale Environment360: U.S. Drought- and Flood-Related Crop Insurance Payouts Have Tripled Since 1995
Insurance payouts for U.S. crops losses due to drought and flooding more than tripled from 1995 to 2020, according to a new analysis from the Environmental Working Group (EWG)… “The numbers don’t lie: The climate crisis is already pummeling American farmers, at taxpayers’ expense,” said Anne Schechinger, EWG’s midwest director. “It’s imperative that U.S. agriculture become as climate-resilient as possible, as quickly as possible.”
“What we’re seeing is that climate change is likely increasing costs to this program, and we also know that crop insurance discourages farmers from adapting to climate change,” said Anne Schechinger, a director with the Environmental Working Group, an advocacy organization that conducted the new analysis and has long tracked government subsidies to farmers. “We think the program needs to be reformed to encourage farmers to become more resilient to extreme weather from climate change.”
PFAS in water- and stain-resistant products
CNN: Water- and stain-resistant products contain toxic plastics, study says. Here's what to do
"I was alarmed that the older, longer PFAS chains, touted by industry as having been phased out, were found in these imported products," said Melanie Benesh, a legislative and regulatory lawyer for the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit advocacy group dedicated to reforming chemical safety and agricultural laws. Neither Benesh nor EWG were involved with the report.
Insider: Some yoga pants contain toxic chemicals linked to cancer, report says
Any amount in clothing should be avoided wherever possible, according to David Andrews, senior scientist for the Environmental Working Group, an advocacy and research organization specializing in toxins and corporate accountability.
Eat This, Not That!: Toxins May Be Lurking in Your Favorite Activewear, Alarming New Study Says
The results of the studies are beyond concerning, as we may be exposing ourselves to toxic PFAS on a regular basis without even knowing it. Exposure to these chemicals could potentially lead to a compromised immune system, reproductive damage, cancer, and other quite serious health issues (via Environmental Working Group).
WXYZ (Detroit): Report: Toxic plastic found in many water-resistant products
Experts say people can opt to use these products instead to ensure they’re not exposed to the toxic chemical. The Environmental Working Group has also put together a list of companies that have pledged to not add PFAS to their products.
FDA petition to ban BPA
The Hill: FDA faces calls to limit BPA in plastics that contact food
Scott Faber, senior vice president of government affairs for the Environmental Working Group, stressed that the FDA “must heed EFSA’s warnings and take immediate and decisive action,” noting that it is “unacceptable that the FDA is allowing Americans to be exposed to BPA at levels over 5,000 times above what’s safe.”
Environmental Health News: Get BPA out of food packaging, US health professionals tell feds
The petition was filed by Environmental Defense Fund, Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, Clean Water Action/Clean Water Fund, Consumer Reports, Endocrine Society, Environmental Working Group, Healthy Babies Bright Futures, Dr. Maricel Maffini, and Dr. Linda Birnbaum, former director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and National Toxicology Program.
E&E News: FDA faces renewed pressure to curb BPA in food packaging (subscription)
Petitioners include multiple groups: the Environmental Defense Fund, Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, Clean Water Action/Clean Water Fund, Consumer Reports, the Endocrine Society, the Environmental Working Group, and Healthy Babies Bright Futures.
ATSDR report on PFHxS
E&E News: CDC: W.Va. community has high 'forever chemical' blood levels subscription)
In a statement, Scott Faber of the Environmental Working Group argued that West Virginia offers "a snapshot" of what the country at large is facing. "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," said Faber, who leads government affairs work for the organization.
The Hill: 'Forever chemical' blood levels near W.Va. National Guard base higher than US average
After the CDC and ATSDR released their Martinsburg findings, the Environmental Working Group stressed that PFHxS is one of the most common types of PFAS at military installations due to its presence in firefighting foams.
California solar net metering
The Hill: Equilibrium/Sustainability — Solar-powered cars on the EV horizon
Laura Deehan, state director for Environment California, compared the proposed changes to a 2016 situation in Nevada, which imposed both a monthly tax and a sizable drop in how much credit consumers earned for selling solar electricity back to the grid. “As a result, the number of people adopting rooftop solar plummeted,” Deehan said, at a Thursday virtual press conference hosted by the Environmental Working Group.
“We urge the governor to use his bully pulpit to push regulators to start from scratch and take no action to curb rooftop solar until they fully examine the real reason why working-class families and communities are paying so much for power, and how they can be put at the forefront of the rooftop solar and storage revolution,” said Ken Cook, president of the Environmental Working Group, in a statement.
Skin Deep® cosmetics database
The Eco Hub: Non Toxic Shampoo To Keep Your Hair Healthy
Some ingredients you might want to look out for:… Parabens are a family of related chemicals that are commonly used as preservatives in cosmetic products. According to the Environmental Working Group, the most commonly used six types are methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, isopropyl-, butyl- and isobutylparaben.
Love to Know: What Does Mascara Do to Your Eyelashes
Aluminum Powder. Used to add color to mascara, this ingredient has been found to interfere with processes in the nervous system and has even been linked to Alzheimer's disease. It has also been listed as a high concern by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and their Skin Deep Cosmetics Database.
Energy
Common Dreams: PG&E Should Be Broken Up Over Probation 'Crime Spree': Judge
"PG&E and its reckless disregard for its own power line infrastructure puts thousands of families at risk of losing everything, even their lives," said Environmental Working Group president Ken Cook.
EWG VERIFIED®: Cosmetics
Editorialist: 12 Clean Perfumes Guaranteed to Elevate Your Scent Story
Henry Rose Torn…When Michelle Pfeiffer launched Henry Rose in 2019, it was the first EWG-verified luxury perfume brand, and the actress has since been paving the way for non-toxic scents.
Farm subsidies
The Frederick News-Post (Frederick County, Md.): 20-50-100 Years Ago — Jan. 28
Frederick County farmers received more than $20 million in government crop subsidies from 1996 to 2000 under a program that may expire this year. Authorized under the 1996 Freedom to Farm Bill, the subsidies are paid to farmers who grow any of eight selected crops, said Susanne Fleek of the Environmental Working Group.
Food chemicals
Eat This, Not That!: The Worst Foods That Have Been Linked to Cancer
In 2015, the Environmental Working Group found potassium bromate in eighty-six store-bought baked goods, including some brands of store-bought breakfast sandwiches. Steer clear of these ultra-processed products.
Lobbying
E&E News: Chemical crackdown fuels record-breaking lobbying (subscription)
“There’s a new sheriff in town, and she’s taking prisoners,” said Scott Faber, EWG’s senior vice president for government affairs. “It’s obvious that the new leadership at EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety is giving the chemical industry something to worry about. After getting a get-out-of-jail-free card from Scott Pruitt and Andy Wheeler, they should be worried,” he continued, referring to former President Trump's EPA administrators. “It’s too bad we lost four years while the warden was letting prisoners run the show.”
Meat Eater’s Guide to Climate Change + Health
Impact Magazine: How Food Can Help Save Our Planet
A 2011 analysis by the Environmental Working Group looked at the carbon footprint of various foods. In other words, how much do different foods contribute to the greenhouse gas effect? Their report shows how many kilograms of carbon dioxide is emitted per kilogram of each food consumed…The worst offenders included beef, of course, and also lamb, cheese, pork, farmed salmon, turkey, chicken, canned tuna, and eggs.
PFAS in cookware
Men’s Health: The 8 Best Nonstick Cookware Sets for Healthy Cooking
But your old nonstick cookware isn’t necessarily the best choice for your health. Many contain PFAs, or chemicals used to make water and oil repellent coatings for consumer goods. According to the Environmental Working Group, “These chemicals are notoriously persistent in the environment and the human body, and some have been linked to serious health hazards,” such as liver damage, certain types of cancers, thyroid disease, infertility and high cholesterol.
PFAS in water
Hundreds of everyday products are made of PFAS that end up in the environment or human bodies that never break down. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) said that even very small doses of PFAS are linked to cancer, problems in the reproductive and immune system, and other diseases.
“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.”
Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce™
Agri-Pulse: Data show pesticides on produce almost always came in below tolerance levels
A spokesman for the Environmental Working Group, which annually releases a report of the 12 fruits and vegetables it says run the greatest risk of pesticide exposure for consumers, said the report "clearly shows conventional agriculture continues its heavy reliance on toxic pesticides."
Health Digest: The Biggest Mistake You're Making When Washing Produce
It might be time to rethink how we've been washing our produce. Especially when considering those foods that make the Environmental Working Group's 'dirty dozen' of items that carry the most pesticide residue, what's the best way to wash them? And are those expensive veggie washes and produce sprays really worth the extra money?
Tap Water Database
Authorities and watchdog groups say exceedances of HAA5 are not rare. According to the Environmental Working Group’s tap water database, from 2017 to 2021, exceedances occurred in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. In Massachusetts alone, 168 water utilities exceed the guidelines for HAA5 levels.