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Research

Organic: The Original Clean Food

Americans are increasingly seeking “clean” foods that are free from artificial colors, flavors and preservatives. But although consumers who want to avoid toxic pesticides and antibiotics know to look for foods that are certified organic, many don't know that federal rules also dramatically limit the use of synthetic substances in packaged organic foods like cereals, snacks and dressings.
Viewpoint from a shopping cart down a grocery store aisle
Research

Explosion of Unregulated Factory Farms

The Maumee River, overloaded with fertilizer and manure, is the single largest source of the phosphorus that triggers blooms of toxic algae in Lake Erie. Over half of the manure in the Maumee River watershed comes from an exploding number of unregulated factory farms, a new EWG and Environmental Law & Policy Center investigation reveals.

Research

For 50 Years, Polluters Knew PFAS Chemicals Were Dangerous But Hid Risks From Public

As far back as 1950, studies conducted by 3M showed that the family of toxic fluorinated chemicals now known as PFAS could build up in our blood. By the 1960s, animal studies conducted by 3M and DuPont revealed that PFAS chemicals could pose health risks. But the companies kept the studies secret from their employees and the public for decades. Here is a timeline of internal memos, studies and

Research

PFAS Contamination of Drinking Water Far More Prevalent Than Previously Reported

New laboratory tests commissioned by EWG have for the first time found the toxic fluorinated chemicals known as PFAS in the drinking water of dozens of U.S. cities, including major metropolitan areas. The results confirm that the number of Americans exposed to PFAS from contaminated tap water has been dramatically underestimated by previous studies, both from the Envirionmental Protection Agency
Research

Taxpayers, Crop Insurance, and the Drought of 2012

There were two reasons that Environmental Working Group commissioned agricultural economist Bruce Babcock of Iowa State University to analyze how the heavily subsidized federal crop insurance program performed during the Corn Belt drought of 2012. The 2012 drought drastically cut crop yields across several states and Congress is about to take up the farm bill again under serious pressure to cut
Toxic Chemicals
Pesticides
Farming & Agriculture

Parkinson's and Pesticides

Environmental Working Group President Ken Cook often points out that many pesticides that were once liberally sprayed on food crops and considered perfectly safe turn out to be anything but - after...

Household & Consumer Products
Cosmetics
Children’s Health

Study Links Hair Products to Early Puberty in Girls

As a child, one of my least favorite activities was getting my hair styled. It required a lot of time and patience -- two things I had in short supply.

Household & Consumer Products
Cell Phones

Cell Phone Radiation May Alter Brain, DNA

New research by Russian scientist Igor Belyaev, Ph.D., and Turkish researcher Nesrin Seyhan, Ph.D., shows that radiation emitted from portable devices may damage DNA and disrupt the process of DNA...

Energy
California

EWG Seeks Answers About Loophole in Proposed New York Fracking Plan

EWG is requesting records from New York officials to shed light on a potentially glaring loophole in the state's draft plan for regulating high-volume hydraulic fracturing in the event that Gov...

Chemical Policy
Pesticides
Food

Nation's Pediatricians Warn Against Pesticides in Food

The American Academy of Pediatrics has taken the unprecedented step of issuing a policy statement that calls on the government, schools, parents and medical professionals to take concerted action to...
Toxic Chemicals
Chemical Policy
Household & Consumer Products
Cosmetics

FDA Warns Leading Cosmetics Maker on Anti-Aging Claims

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently (Sept. 7) warned Lancôme to stop making grand claims for several of its anti-aging products -- claims that would require the agency to approve them...
Food & Water
Food

Ham and Cheese Again? Revamp your Lunch, Rethink that Sandwich

Let me guess. You, like most Americans, usually have a sandwich for lunch. Or maybe it's a panini or a wrap, if you want to get technical. Regardless, it's what you eat the majority of the time. When...
Pesticides

Safe - vs. Safer

The agribusiness trade group Alliance For Food and Farming (AFF) recently asked us this question: "EWG - do you agree that both conventional and organic fruits and vegetables are safe to eat - yes or...
Chemical Policy
Household & Consumer Products
Sunscreen

Another Delay from FDA

Late Thursday EWG found out the Food and Drug Administration was going to delay their sunscreen regulations by six months, at the request of the cosmetics industry. EWG replied with a statement that...
Household & Consumer Products
Cleaning Supplies

Ryan Gosling and Dirty Cleaners

The "Hall of Shame" of the dirtiest cleaners from our upcoming EWG Cleaners Database was released Monday evening to our email list and selective media outlets. EWG supporter feedback was impressive -...

News Wrapup: Earthquakes, Nail Polish and Diabetes

A summary of a U.S. Geological Survey finding associating earthquakes with the oil and gas drilling process was mentioned by The Atlantic, and re-printed in Yahoo! Finance and SFist. Bill Allayaud was...
Chemical Policy
Mercury
Household & Consumer Products
Cosmetics

FDA Warns Of Mercury in Skin Creams

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned this week that more than 35 imported skin creams, antiseptic soaps and anti-aging lotions have recently been tied to mercury poisoning that in some...
Food & Water
Water
Chemical Policy
Regional Issues
North Carolina

No Coincidence: Camp Lejeune's Contaminated Drinking Water

Nearly 40 Marine veterans diagnosed with male breast cancer today urged President Obama to support legislation in Congress that would provide health care for those made ill by carcinogenic chemicals...
Toxic Chemicals
Chemical Policy
Energy
Midwest
Farm Subsidies
Conservation
Food & Water
Food
Food
Food & Water

Dear Super Committee: What to Cut, What NOT to Cut

Lobbyists for polluting industries and opponents of environmental regulation have been tripping over one another to come up with self-serving lists of targets for the Congressional Super Committee as...
Toxic Chemicals
Phthalates
Household & Consumer Products
Cleaning Supplies

Your best air freshener isn't an air freshener

A quick spritz of air freshener may seem like a simple way to kill funky odors. Unfortunately, that pleasing smell is just more indoor air pollution.
Chemical Policy
Household & Consumer Products
Sunscreen

EWG to FDA: Sunscreen Regs a Good Step, Not Enough

Nearly thirty-three years after the federal Food and Drug Administration announcing its intention to develop sunscreen regulations, it finally finalized some of its rules this summer. And while we at...
Pesticides
Conservation

Chemical ag's flyboys often miss the mark

"I came out of a sound sleep and honestly our entire house was shaking, and I said, 'What is that God-awful roar'," said Stephanie Feller, a resident of Sagewater Court in Fossil Lake Ranch (Colorado)...
Toxic Chemicals
Chemical Policy

Dry cleaning chemicals hang around - on your clothes

If you've ever dry cleaned your clothes (you have, right?), you've likely wondered how the "dry" part happens. And it may even have crossed your mind that it's a chemical process. Of course you'd be...
Toxic Chemicals
Flame Retardants
Household & Consumer Products

Flame Retardants: Banned, but not gone

Even though toxic flame retardant chemicals were banned in 2006, pregnant women in California carry high levels of the hazardous substances in their blood, according to a new study by scientists at UC...