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News Releases

Duke Study Confirms Toxicity of Widely Used Pesticide Ingredient

Thursday, May 31, 2012
In an innovative study, researchers at the Duke University School of Medicine have developed a laboratory screening system for detecting neurotoxic chemicals and successfully tested it on more than 1,400 potential toxicants. The study confirmed the high toxic activity of the chemical piperonyl butoxide, a so-called chemical “synergist” used to increase the potency of more than 700 insecticides, including many for home use.
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Key Issues: 
Toxics
Pesticides

Government Records Show Crop Insurance Subsidies Are A Boon To Big Farm Interests

Thursday, May 31, 2012
A new analysis of over a million government records never before made public and obtained by the Environmental Working Group through the Freedom of Information Act has found that in 2011 more than 10,000 individual farming operations have received federal crop insurance premium subsidies ranging from $100,000 to more than $1 million apiece. Some 26 farming operations received subsidies of $1 million or more last year.
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Key Issues: 
Farming
Subsidies

Healthy Food, California Get Short Shrift in Farm Bill

Thursday, May 17, 2012
An Environmental Working Group analysis highlights the skewed priorities and gross inequities in federal spending under the nation’s most far-reaching food and farm legislation.
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Key Issues: 
Farming
Subsidies
Farm Policy
Food
Local & Sustainable

More Good Sunscreens to Choose From this Summer

Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Consumers can have confidence in about one quarter of the sunscreen products on store shelves this year, according to Environmental Working Group’s review and ranking of more than 1,800 products . Last year, only 20 percent got EWG’s best ratings, and only 8 percent scored well in 2010.
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Key Issues: 
Consumer Products
Sunscreens

FDA Bows to Industry Pressure, Delays Sunscreen Rules

Friday, May 11, 2012
Under pressure from two cosmetic industry groups, the Food and Drug Administration has decided to delay for six months implementation of pending regulations on how sunscreens are labeled and marketed.
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Key Issues: 
Chemical Policy
Sunscreens

EWG statement on Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2012

Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Statement of Craig Cox, Senior Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources of the Environmental Working Group, on the Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2012: “A farm bill that cuts programs for the hungry and the environment to help finance a new entitlement program and unlimited...
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Key Issues: 
Farming
Subsidies
Farm Policy
Environment
Healthy Eating

Survey: Strong Bipartisan Support Seen For Shift To Cleaner Energy

Wednesday, April 25, 2012
The common wisdom is wrong: There is no political "fault line" that divides Americans along party lines when it comes to clean energy issues and solutions.
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Key Issues: 
Energy

EWG Cleaners Hall of Shame Reveals Hidden Hazards

Monday, April 23, 2012
EWG's Cleaners Hall of Shame unearths compelling evidence that common household cleaners, including some hyped as “safe” or “natural,” can inflict serious harm on unwary users.
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Key Issues: 
Toxics
Consumer Products
Cleaning Products

2012 Senate Farm Bill Does More Harm Than Good

Friday, April 20, 2012
The 2012 farm bill should do more to support family farmers, protect the environment, promote healthy diets and support working families. Unfortunately, the bill produced today by the Senate Agriculture Committee will do more harm than good.
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Key Issues: 
Farming

Domestic Fuels Protection Act Will Shift Cost to Consumers, Taxpayers

Thursday, April 19, 2012
The Domestic Fuels Protection Act of 2012 (H.R. 4345) and its companion bill, the Domestic Fuels Act of 2012 (S.2264) would create a broad exemption from liability for a number of favored interests: fuel producers, engine manufacturers and retailers of virtually all transportation fuels and fuel additives such as gasoline blended with 15 percent ethanol, or E15.
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Key Issues: 
Energy
Biofuels

Free Farm Insurance Could Save Taxpayers up to $18.5 Billion

Wednesday, April 18, 2012
A new report released today shows that an Environmental Working Group proposal to reform the costly federal crop insurance program through the 2012 farm bill could save taxpayers up to $18.5 billion over 10 years and provide more farmers with a reliable safety net.
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Key Issues: 
Farming
Subsidies

Chemical in Food Packaging, Fabric Coatings Linked to Cancer

Monday, April 16, 2012
An independent scientific panel approved by the DuPont company as part of a class action lawsuit has linked an industrial chemical known as C-8 or PFOA to kidney and testicular cancer in humans.
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Key Issues: 
Chemical Policy
Nonstick Chemicals
Cookware
Food Containers

EWG Farm Bill Platform

Monday, April 16, 2012
This year’s effort to renew America’s food and farm policy through the farm bill creates an opportunity for Congress to do more to support family farmers, protect the environment, encourage healthy diets and ensure better access to healthy food – all while supporting working families.
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Key Issues: 
Farming
Subsidies
Farm Policy

Poor Farming Practices Foul Drinking Water at the Source

Thursday, April 12, 2012
A new Environmental Working Group report examines water pollution caused by farm runoff and details how treating the problem after the fact is increasingly expensive, difficult and, if current trends continue, ultimately unsustainable.
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Key Issues: 
Farming
Water
Tap Water

Calif. Regulators: “Non-Toxic” Nail Polishes Anything But

Tuesday, April 10, 2012
California state scientists have found that some nail polishes widely used in California salons are laced with high levels of three chemicals linked to birth defects, asthma and other health risks.
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Key Issues: 
Chemical Policy
Cosmetics

Common Pesticides Associated With Lower Birth Weight, Shortened Pregnancy

Friday, April 6, 2012
A new study is reinforcing obstetricians’ standard warning that pregnant women should avoid exposure to pesticides in foods and weed killers because the chemicals can harm the developing fetus.
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Key Issues: 
Pesticides

FDA Keeps Toxic Plastic Chemical in Food, Infant Formula

Friday, March 30, 2012
Once again, the federal agency charged with protecting the public from tainted food has ignored a mountain of scientific research and decided to allow a toxic chemical to remain in food packaging. The federal Food and Drug Administration announced today it would not take immediate steps to bar Bisphenol-A, or BPA, a synthetic estrogen and plastics component, in canned food and liquid infant formula containers.
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Key Issues: 
Chemical Policy
BPA
Consumer Products
Food Containers
Chemicals in Food

Autism Rate Surges Among US Children

Thursday, March 29, 2012
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported today that 1 in 88 American children have an autism spectrum disorder, a 23 percent increase since the agency’s 2009 review.
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Key Issues: 
Toxics
Chemical Policy
Mercury

Like Strawberries? You'll Love This

Wednesday, March 21, 2012
The battle over a cancer-causing pesticide often applied to California strawberry fields is over. The maker of the highly toxic methyl iodide has pulled the agriculture pesticide from the American marketplace in the face of mounting opposition from the public, leading scientific and public health experts and farmworkers.
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Key Issues: 
Pesticides
Chemicals in Food

Victory for Central Coast Water Drinkers

Friday, March 16, 2012
After more than three years of deliberation, California’s Central Coast Regional Water Quality Board has enacted new comprehensive rules requiring area farm operations to curb nitrate and pesticide pollution that contributes to some of the nation’s worst water quality conditions.
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Key Issues: 
Water

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