News Releases

Coal Giant With Close Ties to Trump Files for Bankruptcy

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

The death spiral of the U.S. coal industry claimed its latest victim, as the nation’s largest private coal mining company, with close ties to President Trump, filed for bankruptcy today.

Key Issues:

Energy

Utilities

Coal, Natural Gas and Nuclear

Federal and State Policy

‘Meets All Government Standards’: EWG’S 2019 Tap Water Database Details Unsafe Contamination in Communities Nationwide

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Just because your community’s tap water gets a passing grade from the government does not mean it’s safe

Key Issues:

EWG: Latest Asbestos Recall of J&J Baby Powder Demands Congressional Action

Friday, October 18, 2019

In response to new asbestos detections of Johnson & Johnson’s popular baby powder, EWG today urged Congress to act quickly to require warning labels on products made with talc.

Key Issues:

Calif. Regulators Move To Reduce Lead in Drinking Water at Child Care Centers

Thursday, October 17, 2019

State regulators announced steps on Wednesday to reduce the risks of lead exposure faced by young children in day care facilities across California. In a public hearing, the State Water Resources Board agreed to adopt a goal of reducing lead in centers’ drinking water to no more than 1 part per billion, or ppb. The board’s decision represents the toughest action in the country to date on this issue.

Key Issues:

New California Law Protects Workers From Toxic Lead Poisoning

Friday, October 11, 2019

Last night Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law a powerful measure that will help California protect workers from toxic lead poisoning. With his signature, the governor has directed health officials to automatically refer cases of high blood lead levels in workers for review and possible action.

Key Issues:

Toxics

Lead

Trump EPA Balks at Protecting Kids From Lead Exposure

Thursday, October 10, 2019

The Environmental Protection Agency’s new proposal for regulating lead in drinking water will leave millions of American children exposed to dangerous levels of the highly potent neurotoxin, which can cause permanent brain damage, warned the Environmental Working Group.

Key Issues:

Deal Reached to Ban Brain-Damaging Pesticide in California

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

In a major move to protect California children, farm workers and their families, the administration of Gov. Gavin Newsom announced today it has reached an agreement with the pesticide industry to ban the use of a toxic pesticide shown to cause brain damage at even low levels of exposure.

Key Issues:

Toxics

Pesticides

Food

Coal Behemoth With Close Ties to Trump Nears Financial Default

Thursday, October 3, 2019

The mining company of President Trump’s favorite coal boss is in danger of financial default – another sign of the death spiral of the dirtiest fossil fuel, despite the president’s hollow promise to revive the industry.

Key Issues:

Energy

Utilities

Coal, Natural Gas and Nuclear

Federal and State Policy

Notorious PFAS Polluter 3M Fights N.H. Effort To Enforce Health-Protective Drinking Water Limit

Thursday, October 3, 2019

One of the largest U.S. chemical companies, which for decades knowingly poisoned its own workers and drinking water supplies near its factories with the toxic fluorinated chemicals called PFAS, is fighting one state’s efforts to protect the public from these dangerous compounds.

Key Issues:

New Study Confirms High PFAS Blood Levels Among Firefighters

Tuesday, October 1, 2019

A new scientific review finds “unequivocal evidence” that firefighters using foams made with the fluorinated chemicals known as PFAS have “unacceptably” high levels of two toxic PFAS chemicals in their blood.

Key Issues:

Toxics

PFAS Chemicals

Consumer Products

Federal Judge's Ruling Allows Class Action Suit Against PFAS Makers to Proceed

Monday, September 30, 2019

An order issued today by a federal judge allows a class action case against 3M, DowDuPont, Chemours and six other companies to proceed when he denied every motion to dismiss the case brought by these chemical corporations responsible for producing toxic fluorinated chemicals called PFAS.

Key Issues:

New California Law Creates Strictest Lead and Cadmium Limits in Jewelry in U.S.

Monday, September 30, 2019

Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed into law bipartisan legislation to protect Californians, especially children, from jewelry tainted with highly toxic heavy metals into law. SB 647 imposes the nation’s strictest limits on the amount of lead and cadmium allowed in jewelry sold in California.

Key Issues:

New State Data: Toxic ‘Forever Chemicals’ Widespread in California Drinking Water Sources

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Drinking water sources for 74 community water systems serving 7.5 million Californians are contaminated with the highly toxic fluorinated chemicals called PFAS, according to an Environmental Working Group review of the latest state data.

Key Issues:

EWG: Study Estimates More Than 100,000 Cancer Cases Could Stem From Contaminants in Tap Water

Thursday, September 19, 2019

A toxic cocktail of chemical pollutants in U.S. drinking water could result in more than 100,000 cancer cases, according to a peer-reviewed study from Environmental Working Group – the first study to conduct a cumulative assessment of cancer risks due to 22 carcinogenic contaminants found in drinking water nationwide.

Key Issues:

Toxics

Water

Tap Water

Governors Urge Congress To Keep PFAS Provisions in Defense Bill

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Governors from 15 states, including many facing mounting contamination of drinking water sources from toxic perfluorinated chemicals, or PFAS, are urging Congressional leaders to include provisions in a must-pass defense spending bill that would require the federal government to monitor and clean up the pollution.

Key Issues:

Duke Energy’s Renewables Pledge Falls Short

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

The proposal announced today by Duke Energy, claiming the nation’s largest investor-owned electric utility aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, is far from a serious commitment to embracing renewable sources of electricity and combating the climate crisis, said Environmental Working Group and Citizen Action Coalition of Indiana

Key Issues:

Coal, Natural Gas and Nuclear

Trump Completes Repeal of Clean Water Rule, Imperiling Drinking Water Sources for 117M People

Thursday, September 12, 2019

Today the Trump administration will finalize its plan to repeal critical safeguards that prohibit the dumping of industrial and agricultural pollution into sensitive waterways that provide tap water for more than 117 million Americans.

Key Issues:

Tests Find Toxic ‘Forever Chemicals’ at 10 Oregon Army Installations

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Drinking water supplies at 10 Army installations in Oregon are contaminated with the toxic fluorinated chemicals called PFAS, according to newly released Department of Defense data obtained by EWG under the Freedom of Information Act.

Key Issues:

New PFAS Detections Reported at 90 Additional Army Installations

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Drinking water supplies at an additional 90 current and former Army and Army National Guard installations nationwide are contaminated with the toxic fluorinated chemicals called PFAS, according to newly released Department of Defense data obtained by EWG under the Freedom of Information Act.

Key Issues:

Toxics

PFAS Chemicals

Water

FDA Finds Asbestos in Beauty Plus Products, Issues Voluntary Recall

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

The Food and Drug Administration has issued a safety alert urging consumers to stop using cosmetics from Beauty Plus, after the agency found the deadly carcinogen asbestos in at least four different talc-based products.

Key Issues: