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News Releases

Analysis: Talc-Based Cosmetics Test Positive for Asbestos

Wednesday, November 25, 2020
Laboratory tests of talc-based cosmetics products, commissioned by the Environmental Working Group, found asbestos – a deadly human carcinogen for which there is no safe level of exposure – in almost 15 percent of samples.
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Key Issues: 
Toxics
Asbestos
Consumer Products
Cosmetics

GM’s U-Turn: From Joining Trump’s Attack on Clean Air to Backing California’s Tough Auto Emissions Standards

Tuesday, November 24, 2020
General Motors, once a strong supporter of the Trump administration’s lawsuit to block California’s ambitious clean-car standards, reversed course Monday , announcing it will back the state’s efforts to improve fuel economy and cut tailpipe emissions to address the climate crisis.
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Key Issues: 
Energy
Clean Energy and You
California
Federal and State Policy

National Black Farmers Association and EWG Applaud the Justice for Black Farmers Act

Thursday, November 19, 2020
The following is the statement of John Boyd, founder and president of the National Black Farmers Association, and Scott Faber, EWG’s senior vice president for government affairs, on the introduction of the Justice for Black Farmers Act, by Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Kristen Gillibrand (D-N.Y.).
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Key Issues: 
Farming
Subsidies
Crop Insurance

Biden-Harris Victory Brings Historic Opportunity for Public Health, Racial Justice, Climate Change and Clean Energy

Saturday, November 7, 2020
The election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris is not only a repudiation of President Trump, it is also a historic opportunity for the nation to advance the health, safety and equity of all Americans.
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Key Issues: 
Children's Health
Toxics
Consumer Products
Farming
Food
Water

Defying a Federal Court Order, Trump’s EPA Approves Continued Use of Toxic Weedkiller Dicamba

Wednesday, October 28, 2020
In defiance of a federal court order, on Tuesday the Environmental Protection Agency extended the use of a weedkiller linked to cancer, pitting farmers who use it on genetically engineered crops against others whose adjacent fields can be devastated by drift of the chemical.
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Key Issues: 
Children's Health
Toxics
Pesticides

FDA Emails: Scientists Pushed To Ban Formaldehyde-Based Hair-Smoothing Treatments as Early as 2015

Wednesday, October 21, 2020
Emails obtained by the Environmental Working Group reveal that in 2015 and 2016, scientists at the Food and Drug Administration urged the agency to ban formaldehyde in popular hair-smoothing treatments, also known as “Brazilian blowouts.” Four years later, these hazardous treatments remain legal.
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Key Issues: 
Toxics
Consumer Products
Cosmetics

New EWG Healthy Living App Includes Healthy Cleaners

Monday, October 19, 2020
WASHINGTON – The Environmental Working Group has added information about healthy cleaners to its Healthy Living App , putting ratings at shoppers’ fingertips for more than 122,000 foods, personal care products and now healthy cleaners.
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Key Issues: 
Consumer Products
Cleaning Products
Cosmetics

Study: More Than 200 Million Americans Could Have Toxic PFAS in Their Drinking Water

Wednesday, October 14, 2020
A peer-reviewed study by scientists at the Environmental Working Group estimates that more than 200 million Americans could have the toxic fluorinated chemicals known as PFAS in their drinking water at a concentration of 1 part per trillion, or ppt, or higher. Independent scientific studies have recommended a safe level for PFAS in drinking water of 1 ppt, a standard that is endorsed by EWG.
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Key Issues: 
Toxics
PFAS Chemicals
Water
Tap Water

World Energy Outlook: Solar Power Will Be ‘the New King’ by 2030

Tuesday, October 13, 2020
Renewables, led by solar power, will become the dominant source of the world’s electricity by 2030, according to a just-released analysis by the International Energy Agency.
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Key Issues: 
Energy
Renewable Energy
Clean Energy and You
California
Federal and State Policy

Former CDC Director, Hero of Smallpox Fight, Joins EWG’s Call for Redfield To Resign Over Trump Administration’s Botched Covid-19 Response

Wednesday, October 7, 2020
The former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who led the successful effort to stamp out smallpox, has joined EWG in calling on the current CDC director to resign over the government’s disastrous response to the coronavirus pandemic.
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Key Issues: 
Toxics
COVID-19 & Your Health

EWG Investigation: In California’s Majority-Latino Communities, 5.25 Million Drink Tap Water With Nitrate Above Federal Limit

Wednesday, October 7, 2020
In California’s majority-Latino communities, 5.25 million people drink tap water contaminated with nitrate at levels at or above the federal limit, according to an Environmental Working Group analysis of state and federal data.
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Key Issues: 
Toxics
Farming
Farming & Tap Water
Water
Tap Water

Construction Industry Lobby Blocks Bill To Ban Asbestos

Friday, October 2, 2020
Legislation to ban the future use and importation of the notorious and deadly carcinogen asbestos was blocked from passing the House Thursday night after lobbyists representing a powerful sector of the building and construction industry objected.
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Key Issues: 
Toxics
Asbestos
Consumer Products

California First State To Ban 24 Toxic Chemicals in Personal Care Products and Cosmetics

Wednesday, September 30, 2020
In a major victory for the movement for safer cosmetics, California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed the Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act, Assembly Bill 2762, into law. This is the nation’s first state-level ban of 24 toxic ingredients, including mercury and formaldehyde, from the beauty and personal care products Californians use every day.
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Key Issues: 
Toxics
Mercury
Phthalates
PFAS Chemicals
Consumer Products
Cosmetics

Consumer Protection Bill California AB 2762 Signed into Law

Wednesday, September 30, 2020
The Environmental Working Group and the Personal Care Products Council applaud California Gov. Gavin Newsom for signing into law Assembly Bill 2762, which prohibits the sale and manufacture of cosmetics and personal care products with certain ingredients in California. This landmark bill moves the industry one step closer to global regulatory alignment.
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Key Issues: 
Toxics
Mercury
Phthalates
PFAS Chemicals
Consumer Products
Cosmetics

Toxic Beaches: Hundreds of Closures and Health Warnings in 2020

Wednesday, September 30, 2020
Toxic algae and bacteria forced the closure of at least 116 U.S. beaches and triggered health warnings at 162 more this spring and summer, according to an investigation by the Environmental Working Group.
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Key Issues: 
Farming
Water
Toxic Algae

California Law Bans Toxic PFAS From Firefighting Foam

Tuesday, September 29, 2020
California Gov. Gavin Newson signed into law a measure to ban the toxic fluorinated chemicals known as PFAS from firefighting foams. PFAS-based firefighting foams – known as aqueous film-fighting foam, or AFFF –are among the most significant sources of PFAS water contamination.
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Key Issues: 
Toxics
PFAS Chemicals
Water
Tap Water

California Requires Millions of Children To Be Tested for Lead Exposure

Tuesday, September 29, 2020
California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law a measure to protect millions of children from the developmental and health impacts of toxic lead exposure.
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Key Issues: 
Children's Health
Toxics
Lead

EWG Applauds HEROES 2.0 Act

Monday, September 28, 2020
Today the House unveiled the HEROES 2.0 Act. Here is a statement from EWG Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Scott Faber
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Key Issues: 
COVID-19 & Your Health
Farming
COVID-19 & Food

EWG Statement on House Bill To Increase Anti-Hunger Assistance

Wednesday, September 23, 2020
The following is a statement from Scott Faber, senior vice president of government affairs for the Environmental Working Group, on House passage of H.R. 8319.
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Key Issues: 
Children's Health
Food

UPDATE: Toxic 'Forever Chemicals' Likely Contaminate More Than 700 Military Sites

Wednesday, September 16, 2020
More than 700 Department of Defense sites are likely to be contaminated with the fluorinated chemicals known as PFAS, according to new data released this week by the Pentagon.
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Key Issues: 
Toxics
PFAS Chemicals
Water
Tap Water

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