The Latest from EnviroBlog

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 called out the agency's foot-dragging and highlighted the disservice to consumers. USA Today, Forbes, Mother Jones, Los Angles Times and E&E News all ran stories.

Key Issues: 

Chemical Policy

Consumer Products

Sunscreens

As we change gears from the Hall of Shame and begin to focus on the upcoming annual EWG Sunscreen Database, EWG research was mentioned in a number of consumer health stories. The Washington Post ran a story on preserving the quality of the Potomac River, reminding readers to chose personal care products wisely as they end up down the drain. Forbes, Treehugger and Mother Nature News all mentioned our Hall of Shame, with the line of the week coming from Treehugger: "Environmental Working Group (EWG) to the rescue."

Key Issues: 

Cosmetics

Renowned researcher and professor Tyrone Hayes has been studying the effects of the common herbicide atrazine for more than a decade. His findings contributed to the European Union's decision to ban this toxic endocrine disrupter.

Key Issues: 

Toxics

Pesticides

Water

Last month, the New York Times published a story about my efforts when I was pregnant to rid my home of toxic chemicals. The story featured a photo of my 18-month-old daughter and recounted how I threw out a large pile of cosmetics, cleaners and other products that my research, using EWG's online Skin Deep Cosmetics Database, found to contain dangerous substances. While at the time I thought I was doing the right thing for my family, when I read readers' comments, I felt as if I were on Nickelodeon, in one of those scenes when an unsuspecting person has an entire bucket of green slime dumped on her head.

Key Issues: 

Chemical Policy

Consumer Products

Cosmetics

Children’s Products

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 interviewed twice by different Fox News programs, and spoke with Alternet who did a long piece titled "Unregulated Fracking for Decades? Why California May Be a Disaster Waiting to Happen"

Our California fracking report continued to gain fantastic coverage this week with three large stories in Santa Cruz Weekly, Sacramento News and Review and Wines and Vines. Our president, Ken Cook, posted in Huffington Post on BPA in food packaging in anticipation of FDA's March 31 deadline to make a decision on the chemical. The agency made an announcement late today, Friday, stating it would continue the use of the chemical in food packaging. EWG's release criticizing the move was picked up by Forbes, Bloomberg and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Key Issues: 

Fracking

Our California fracking report continued to gain fantastic coverage this week with three large stories in Santa Cruz Weekly, Sacramento News and Review and Wines and Vines. Our president, Ken Cook, posted in Huffington Post on BPA in food packaging in anticipation of FDA's March 31 deadline to make a decision on the chemical. The agency made an announcement late today, Friday, stating it would continue the use of the chemical in food packaging. EWG's release criticizing the move was picked up by Forbes, Bloomberg and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Key Issues: 

Fracking

Last week, the New York Times ran a D-1 story titled "Is It Safe to Play Yet?" on parents working to detoxify their homes, featuring EWG. On the same day, the Los Angeles Times ran a story on fracking in California, mentioning our recent report. On the cosmetics front, Self Magazine ran an interview they did with EWG senior scientist Olga Naidenko, PhD on healthier hair treatments. Here's a review of EWG in the media last week:

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 instances sent users to the hospital.  

Key Issues: 

Chemical Policy

Mercury

Consumer Products

Cosmetics