California’s fire management agency confirmed this week that Pacific Gas & Electric, or PG&E, was responsible for last summer’s disastrous Dixie Fire, which burned nearly 1 million acres and destroyed more than 1,300 structures, including more than 700 homes. The fire was caused by a downed tree on a PG&E-owned and -operated power line.
“PG&E and its reckless disregard for its own power line infrastructure puts thousands of families at risk of losing everything, even their lives,” said EWG President and longtime Bay Area resident Ken Cook.
The results of the investigation into the cause of the wildfire came days after PG&E released its latest plan to squeeze more money from ratepayers, with a nearly 10 percent hike in electricity fees beginning this month, which will raise its customers’ power bills to more than $200 per month.
In other news, EWG debunked the meat industry’s claims of embracing sustainability and using less land to produce more meat. In contrast, land use and greenhouse gas emissions are rising.
EWG also broke down the prevalence of potentially harmful ingredients found in many popular breakfast cereals.
And finally, EWG laid out actions federal lawmakers and regulators should take to combat prevalent toxic chemicals found in schools nationwide.
Here’s some news you can use going into the weekend.
Algae blooms
Anne Schechinger is the Midwest director for the Environmental Working Group — which tries to track algae blooms. “When we see increases in utility rates, it definitely affects people who are lower-income the most. And in other situations as well, it can definitely affect communities of color," she said.
Amazon Climate Friendly Pledge
As part of its Climate Pledge Friendly program, Amazon has identified about 200,000 products that are sustainable in some regard. The program includes 37 different external certifications, including the Rainforest Alliance, which certifies products from companies that protect forests with climate-smart practices that also promote human rights, and the Environmental Working Group, which indicates an item meets its standards for healthy ingredients, ingredient transparency and good manufacturing practices.
Asbestos
Top Class Actions: Asbestos Compensation: Can You Sue for Mesothelioma?
Other co-plaintiffs in the case are the APHA, Center for Environmental Health, Environmental Health Strategies Center, Environmental Working Group, and Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families.
Body burden
Natural Awakenings Milwuakee: Detoxification and Its Role in Fertility
Around 80,000 chemicals are present in the U.S. environment, and the average newborn has over 100 chemicals present in the umbilical cord at birth, according to the Environmental Working Group’s report Body Burden: The Pollution in Newborns. Therefore, when working to improve fertility, assisting the body in detoxification should be a priority.
EPA review of PFAS
On this episode, David Andrews a Senior Scientist with the Environmental Working Group joins the show to discuss the Environmental Protection Agency’s
CAFOs
Vox: Hog farming has a massive poop problem
The Environmental Working Group provided assistance with creating the map in the video that shows hog facilities.
Consumer guides
Brit +Co: 6 Ways To Be A More Conscious Consumer In The New Year
The Think Dirty app and The Environmental Working Group website are wonderful tools to help you better understand and decode all these hard to pronounce words and more.
Skin Deep® cosmetics database
Vox: How to purge risky chemicals from your beauty products
Some companies are better at avoiding chemicals of concern than others. When I’m in doubt, I look to the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database, which gives a complete profile of chemical ingredients of concern in skin and hair products.
Byrdie: Decyl-Glucoside for Hair: Benefits and How to Use It
Is decyl-glucoside considered safe? The Environmental Working Group ranked decyl-glucoside as a 2 or “low hazard” on a 1-10 scale. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel researched this ingredient and found it to be safe as well
Byrdie: Ingredient Checkers: Websites to Check Your Beauty Products
EWG's Skin Deep database currently contains information and online hazard assessments for over 74,000 products. Staff scientists compare the ingredients on product labels and websites to information in nearly 60 toxicity and regulatory databases.
The Chalk Board: What To Do About Rapid Aging – Dr. Gottfried On The Modern Phenomenon
Tarte specializes in high-performance cosmetics, which are glamorous and environmentally friendly. Zoya, Acquarella, and Keeki Pure and Simple for nail polish, which rank 2 or less on the EWG’s Skin Deep guide.
Earth 911: Hair Conditioner That’s Gentle on the Environment
Lanolin has a high environmental impact because it is a byproduct of animal agriculture. But from a product safety perspective, it’s a desirable ingredient; it achieves the Environmental Working Group’s highest rating.
Mamavation: Best Non-Toxic Hand Creams & Hand Lotions for Dry Hands & Cracked Skin 2022
Common parabens–methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben. The Environmental Working Group has tracked over 2,000 personal care products with propylparaben.
Treehugger: Environmental Impact of Harmful Chemicals in Beauty Products
According to EWG's scoring, the skin care categories with the lowest potential hazard were body oil, body wash, bar soap, and moisturizer. About 75% of facial moisturizers and treatments posed moderate or high potential hazards, as did more than 80% of facial powders, about 75% of eye shadows, and 100% of concealers.
Food chemicals
Food Ingredients Brasil: FDA Delists Seven Synthetic Flavourings
The FDA determined that the data presented in one of the petitions submitted to the FDA by Breast Cancer Fund, Center for Environmental Health, Center for Food Safety, Center for Science in the Public Interest, Consumers Union, Environmental Defense Fund, Environmental Working Group, Improving Kids’ Environment, Natural Resources Defense Council, WE ACT for Environmental Justice, and Mr. James Huff show that six of these synthetic substances caused cancer in laboratory animals under the conditions of the studies.
EWG’s Guide to Sunscreens
Scuba Diver: Taking Care of Your Skin and the Ocean
Oxybenzone is also potentially dangerous to humans. The chemical is readily absorbed by the skin and can cause hormone problems and cellular mutations, according to research by the Environmental Working Group.
EWG’s Healthy Living App
Food & Beverage Reporter: 7 Health and Allergy Apps That Will Help You Avoid Harmful Ingredients
With 120,000 products and counting, this free app from the nonprofit Environmental Working Group (EWG) helps you understand your food, personal care, and other household products better.
EWG VERIFIED®: Cleaners
Packing plant-based enzymes that break down fats and starch-based stains, Common Good’s gorgeously packed, lightly scented detergent is refillable at any of their refill stations worldwide. As one reviewer gushed: “This is very concentrated and it works! I have gotten out lots of stains and it meets strict requirements to get the Environmental Working Group seal.”
EWG VERIFIED®: Cosmetics
Who What Wear: I Wore a Different Perfume Every Day for a Month—These 12 Earned Me Compliments
It's gorgeous, and like all of Henry Rose's fragrances, it's verified by the Environmental Working Group and certified by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute.
Earth 911: How Clean Is Your Toothpaste?
Dentists recommend brands with fluoride, but many people prefer to avoid it, especially if their water is already fluoridated. Look for Environmental Working Group (EWG) Verified toothpaste for the safest options.
Farm subsidies
Nation of Change: The dairy industry is determined to pour itself down our throats
But these facts haven’t stopped the USDA in its quest to drive the demand for dairy. According to the Environmental Working Group and USDA data, Americans have spent $6.4 billion between 1995 and 2020 in subsidizing the dairy industry.
Glyphosate
Wellness 360: Breaking Down the Bowl: Choosing a Healthy Cereal
Testing performed by the independent Environmental Working Group found that many popular cereals contain traces of glyphosate, an herbicide that is the main ingredient in the weed killer Roundup.
PFAS in water
We Are Iowa: Trace amounts of 'forever chemicals' found in West Des Moines drinking water
The PFAS concentration in the water surveyed from WDMWW is well below the threshold for health concerns set by the EPA. That threshold is 70 parts per trillion (ppt), which compares to a 5.3 ppt concentration detected in West Des Moines. However, the nonprofit Environmental Working Group recently recommended a limit of 1 ppt for drinking water.
Common Dreams: 'Alarming' Levels of 'Forever Chemicals' Found in Water Near US Bases in Okinawa
A study published in October by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) found nearly 42,000 potential sources of PFAS that could contaminate drinking water throughout the United States.
Radioactive drinking water contamination
TruthOut: Radioactive Contamination Is Seeping Into Drinking Water Around the U.S.
The nonprofit Environmental Working Group (EWG, a partner in this reporting project) estimates that drinking water for more than 170 million Americans in all 50 states “contains radioactive elements at levels that may increase the risk of cancer.”
Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce™
Eating Well: Is Corn Healthy? 5 Myths About Sweet Corn Busted
(By the way, it may help to know that sweet corn made the Environmental Working Group's 2018 "Clean Fifteen" list of foods least likely to have pesticide residue.)
Go Banking Rates: 50 Terrible Ways To Try and Save Money
The EWG has identified the “dirty dozen” foods that have the most pesticides when nonorganic: strawberries, spinach, kale, nectarines, apples, grapes, peaches, cherries, pears, tomatoes, celery and potatoes. Opt for organic when buying these foods whenever possible.
Every year, the Environmental Working Group publishes a list of its “Dirty Dozen,” the twelve fruits and vegetables that are the most heavily sprayed with pesticides.
The Kitchn: 5 Surprising Ways to Save Money on Groceries in 2022, According to a Budgeting Expert
In fact, The Environmental Working Group has identified 15 vegetables and fruits that have tough inedible peels in which pesticides can’t penetrate and affect the food you actually eat, called the Clean Fifteen, which includes things like avocado, onions, and cantaloupe.
TPHP
Daily Tribune (Philippines): Well-polished for the holidays
A study conducted by EWG (Environmental Working Group) and Duke University found how nail polishes contain triphenyl phosphate (TPHP), a chemical that disrupts hormones.
Tap Water Database
Columbia Missourian: Water woes: Columbia’s water treatment plant is getting a makeover. Some argue it won't make the water safer to drink.
In November, the Environmental Working Group, a research-based nonprofit watchdog, updated its database of American drinking water contaminants.
The Hill: Congress must reform the Safe Drinking Water Act to guarantee the public right-to-know
And the threat of toxins is on the rise. A search of the Environmental Working Group’s Tap Water Database finds contaminants in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. The Natural Resources Defense Council warns that 20 million people risk lead exposure from old water lines.