This week, EWG analyzed new data released by the Environmental Protection Agency that shows almost 900 spills or uses of firefighting foam made with the toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS across the U.S. and the amount that entered local waterways.
EWG earlier this week also plotted out the decades-long inaction by the Food and Drug Administration when it comes to protecting Americans from PFAS.
Amazon recently announced the launch of its new line of Amazon Aware consumer products, including several beauty products that have earned EWG's highly sought EWG VERIFIED® mark.
“The EWG VERIFIED mark is recognized as the gold standard for health and transparency,” said Carla Burns, EWG’s senior director of cosmetic science. “EWG has long verified cosmetics and other personal care products, and recently expanded into household cleaners, baby diapers and ingredients.”
On Wednesday, the Biden administration officially rescinded the Trump-era rollback of California’s fuel efficiency standards.
“Reversing former President Trump’s reckless effort to block California and other states from setting strict automobile emissions standards is paramount in the fight to tackle the climate emergency,” said EWG President Ken Cook.
And finally, on the personal care product front, a new report by the Zero Mercury Working Group found a number of tested skin lightening creams contained dangerously high levels of mercury but continue to be sold by online retailers. EWG also broke down how the cancer-causing chemical benzene finds its way into personal care products.
Here’s some news you can use going into the weekend.
Children’s health
The Tot: Pre-Washing & Caring For Baby Clothes: The Tot Clean Laundry Guide
A fantastic resource for deciphering ingredients lists and making informed decisions about the household cleaning products you buy is EWG.org. They have a straightforward rating system for each ingredient as well as specific brands.
Cellular and wireless radiation
The Environmental Working Group (EWG), is an American activist group and non-profit organization that specializes in research and advocacy to help the public make informed choices and live a healthy life. They work with subject experts to bring breakthrough research into areas like toxic chemicals, drinking water, family health, and more.
Cleaning products
The Washington Post: Is my tub clean enough for a bath?
A good resource is the Environmental Working Group’s website, ewg.org, which has information on which commercial bathroom cleaners contain fewer potentially harmful ingredients.
Stuff: Do 'green' cleaning products really work?
Key ingredients to avoid when looking for more environmentally friendly cleaning products include chlorine bleach, fragrance and ammonia, says Mélanie Berliet, senior vice president and general manager of home and gardening website the Spruce…The non-profit Environmental Working Group has a label decoder (ewg.org) that explains technical terms and cleaning ingredients.
Skin Deep® cosmetics database
A search for lilial on the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep website, a database of cosmetic ingredients and relevant health warnings, returned more than 1,200 product results. It was most commonly found in shampoos, conditioners, and other hair care products, followed by perfumes, lotions, and body washes.
"Transparency" is another beauty buzzword that was top of mind during Uni's development process. On the brand's website, you can hover over any ingredient to learn why it was included in the formula and see its EWG rating.
Dr. Axe: Europe Bans Toxic Fragrance Ingredient (It’s Still Legal in the U.S.)
Public health advocates are taking steps to help fill in the gaps in protection. For instance, at the end of 2020, researchers at Environmental Working Group added lilial to the EWG VERIFIED® program’s list of unacceptable product ingredients. Even the International Fragrance Association limits the use of lilial in cosmetics.
WORT FM (Madison, Wis.): Emily, The Environment, And Emily
On tonight’s episode of Perpetual Notion Machine host Emily Morris talks with Emily Spilman from the Environmental Working Group. We talk about the ingredients in personal care and cleaning products and get you ready to judge a cosmetic by its cover.
Cosmetics for Black women
USC Annenberg Media: How can we heal? Medical racism in the Black community
In an analysis of beauty and personal care products marketed to Black women, about one in 12 was ranked “highly hazardous” on the scoring system of EWG’s Skin Deep® Cosmetics Database, with the worst-scoring products being hair relaxers, colors, and bleaching products.
EWG VERIFIED®: Cosmetics
Toronto Sun: In the healthy home, less may be more
A new line of Leaves beauty bars for body/hair, deodorants, and lip balms are verified by the Environmental Working Group not to contain any designated “ingredients of concern,” and are hypoallergenic, waterless, vegan, and not tested on animals. Packaging is made from recyclable FSC-certified cardboard.
EWG VERIFIED®: Cleaners
Better Home & Gardens: Here's Every Winner from Our 2022 Clean House Awards
These pods certified by Environmental Working Group work just as well as, if not better than, traditional dishwasher pods. They're easy to use, nontoxic, free of synthetic fragrances, and come in a plastic-free, compostable container…AspenClean Zero-Waste Dishwasher Pods.
Green Matters: Keep Your Clothes Clean With These Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergents
AspenClean's Natural Laundry Detergent Unscented ($21.99 for 64 loads) is the first detergent to be EWG-certified. It's safe, toxin-free, fragrance-free, baby-safe, and hypoallergenic. It's super effective in cleaning dirt, grime, and grease, and it's suitable for all water temperatures in standard washing machines.
Food Scores database
Oxygen: 9 Reasons Canned Fish Is an Underrated Fit Food
If you’re still concerned about BPA exposure, you can search the Environmental Working Group’s Food Scores site to find out if a brand of canned fish you like is suspected to use BPA or has any other red flags, including ingredient concerns.
Healthy Living App
They gave me 10 minutes to read, so I opened my go-to apps: Think Dirty and EWG’s Healthy Living. Petrolatum, paraffin, parabens … and many other words I couldn’t even pronounce. I ended up opting for one laser treatment plus two of the most “natural” products on the list.
Persistent organic pollutants
According to the website of the nonprofit Environmental Working Group, an advocacy group of scientists, policy experts, lawyers, and communications and data experts, the United States as a whole is far behind Japan and countries of the European Union in banning harmful chemicals from personal products.
PFAS in cosmetics
Finally, browser plugins such as Clearya can scan ingredient lists to look for these substances. Alternatively, the EWG Skin Deep cosmetics database can help to identify them too.
PFAS in food
E&E News: Inside FDA’s ‘forever chemicals’ catastrophe
But David Andrews, a senior scientist with the nonprofit Environmental Working Group, said the popcorn testing illustrates the problem: the limited scope of testing. The high levels of total organic fluorine found in microwave popcorn bags indicate they are still being treated with other forms of PFAS that FDA is not looking for. Those compounds could be getting into food.
PFAS at military sites
Mother Earth News: Northeast Grain Race and News
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) reported in October 2021 that United States military bases have been contaminating farms across the country with PFAS – a group of compounds dubbed “forever chemicals,” because nothing in the natural environment (including the human body) can break them down.
Rooftop solar
WUNC (N. C.): Solar installers say Duke Energy plan would hurt rooftop business
The Washington-based Environmental Working Group said earlier this month the changes would "put solar power financially out of reach for many working- and middle-class residents."
EWG President Ken Cook said cheaper renewable energy like rooftop solar are a threat to big power companies. “That’s why monopoly utilities like Duke are fighting to crush rooftop solar in North Carolina, echoing fights in California and other states,” Cook said.
Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce™
Health Digest: The Best Foods For Gut Health You Should Be Eating
In theory, foods that are contaminated with glyphosate residue don't contain enough of the chemical to be harmful to humans. But not everyone agrees on what, exactly, a safe level is. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set a daily tolerable limit of 30 parts per million (ppm). The Environmental Working Group (EWG), however, has set a limit that's more than 60 times lower than the EPA's.
Tap Water Database
GoBanking: 39 Supermarket Buys That Are a Waste of Money
Bottled water is roughly 3,000% more expensive per gallon than tap water. Unless you live in an area where tap water is not safe (you can look these details up on EWG’s Tap Water Database), buying bottled water is nothing but a waste of money and plastic.
Wisconsin manure report
Wisconsin Examiner: Nitrogen pilot program bill passes Senate
Nitrate pollution is one of Wisconsin’s most common groundwater contaminants. In February, a report by the Environmental Working Group and Midwest Environmental Advocates found that in several counties, applied manure exceeded amounts recommended by researchers to minimize pollution.