The Issue
Chemical Policy
EWG is a leader in the effort to reform toxic chemical policy to ensure that all products are safe, especially for children. The government and consumers know little or nothing about of the safety of the the over 80,000 chemicals that can be used in consumer products.
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The Latest on Chemical Policy
Oakland, Ca – In a victory for the chemical industry and a great loss for the health of California’s children, the California State Legislature on Tuesday narrowly failed to pass a bill that would have eliminated the plastics chemical, bisphenol A (BPA), a synthetic estrogen, from baby bottles, sippy cups and infant formula cans sold in California.
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Washington, D.C. –Environmental Working Group (EWG) President Ken Cook testified today that reform legislation now before Congress “is essential to fixing our broken toxic chemicals policy.”
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EWG President Ken Cook testifies to the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection about the major shortcomings in the Toxic Substances Control Act.
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EWG found BPA on two-fifths of the 36 thermal paper receipts tested. Samples were gathered from major retail outlets including McDonald's, CVS, KFC, Whole Foods, Walmart, Safeway and the U.S. Postal Service.
Read MoreWASHINGTON, DC – Congressional leaders today introduced in the House the first comprehensive overhaul in more than 30 years of a federal law that has been widely condemned for failing to protect Americans against the risks of toxic chemicals.
Read MoreEver wonder if you can really, truly make a difference in an effort for national policy reform? I mean, it's a big country, right? Do policy makers really care that you fervently believe that chemicals should be kid-safe, not hazardous to their health? YES. YES. YES.
Read MoreEWG research found that the amount of dioxin a nursing infant ingests daily is up to 77 times higher than the level EPA has proposed to protect the endocrine and immune systems. The fact that both breast milk and formula are contaminated with dioxin highlights the urgent need for EPA to finish its assessment.
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Oakland, Calif. – The chemical industry’s agreement with the federal Food and Drug Administration to phase out toxic perfluorinated compounds used to grease-proof pizza boxes, microwave popcorn bags, fast food wrapping and other food packaging does not go far enough to protect public health.
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CNN's chief medical correspondent for its Health, Medical & Wellness unit, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, has put together an impressive 2-part investigative report on toxic chemicals in America. It airs this week, on June 2 & 3 @ 8 PM (EDT). He frames the series with a critical, timely question: Is enough being done to protect us from chemicals that could harm us?
Read MoreNorth Carolinians could be exposed to much higher concentrations of a notorious Teflon chemical than the rest of the country under a proposed state regulation that would allow unsafe levels of the contaminant in drinking water, scientists at EWG warn.
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Last month the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that they have added more than 6,300 chemicals and 3,800 chemical facilities to their searchable database Envirofacts.
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EWG comments that FDA’s assessment of triclosan in over-the-counter antimicrobial products should weigh evidence suggesting that antibacterial hand soaps and dish detergents are no more effective than plain soap yet present significant safety concerns for people and the environment.
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Well-known author and psychologist Daniel Goleman suggests that if we consumers have more easily-accessible information about the products we buy, we'll be better prepared to make choices that consider ecological, social and health impacts. Perfect examples: EWG's Skin Deep database and our Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce.
Read MoreDo big corporations care about what large blocks of their shareholders have to say about company practices? I don't know. I've never worked for one.
Read MoreThe Environmental Working Group's campaign for Kid-Safe Chemicals shifted into high gear exactly a week before the 40th anniversary of Earth Day (poetic justice), when Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) introduced the Safe Chemicals Act (SCA) to reform our current ineffective toxic chemicals law, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).
Read MoreThe coalition led by EWG and dermatologist Steven Q. Wang has asked the FDA to finalize its sunscreen regulations this year and to expedite its review of new ingredients that could enhance the products’ sun protections. The letter is signed by 69 physicians and scientists.
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It's not news that getting anything substantive through Congress these days is like pushing very big rocks uphill, even when there is remarkable consensus on a topic.
Read MoreBy Alex Formuzis, EWG Director of Communications
A comprehensive plan to reform the nation's primary law responsible for regulating the use of industrial chemicals is about to be introduced in Congress.
Read MoreEWG has long known the Toxic Substances Control Act (aka "TSCA") needs to be overhauled. Most Enviroblog readers likely do, too - because we talk about it a lot.
Read MoreIn the past few weeks, EWG staff testified five times to support strong chemical policies at the state and federal levels: in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and the US Senate.
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