Research

Meat and Dairy Alternatives

Report: 32 million pounds of toxic pesticides sprayed on Ventura County fields from 2015 to 2020

Today, from Oxnard to Ojai, people in Ventura County live, work and go to school next to farm fields sprayed with some of the most toxic pesticides used in agriculture.

February 3, 2022

All Research

Displaying 1 - 24 of 144

Federal PFAS Report Card

February 9, 2023

EWG has researched actions the federal government is committed to taking, or for which it faces congressionally mandated deadlines, to tackle the “forever chemicals” known as PFAS.

EWG investigation: Dangerous agricultural chemical chlormequat found in popular oat-based products

January 31, 2023

Climate & Agriculture

Food

The health benefits of a whole foods, plant-forward diet

December 1, 2022

A plant-forward diet – loosely defined as a diet that is rich in plant foods but that can also include eggs, dairy foods, and occasionally lean meat, poultry and seafood – is becoming more widely...

Fruit leather: A snack sometimes chock full of pesticides and sugar

September 15, 2022

When parents and caregivers herd kids out the door for an outing, they typically grab snack food on the way. And one of the most convenient is a product kids love – fruit leather.

EWG survey: At least 50 percent of people surveyed think tap water is unsafe

August 11, 2022

In a recent survey of visitors to the Environmental Working Group’s Tap Water Database, at least half the participants said they think their tap water is unsafe.

For decades, the FDA knew toxic 'forever chemicals' were dangerous but continued to allow their use

February 10, 2022

As far back as the 1960s, animal studies showed the chemicals caused harm even months after exposure ended and industry studies showed they could migrate from paper and paperboard food packaging into...

State of American drinking water

November 3, 2021

For too many Americans, turning on their faucets for a glass of water is like pouring a cocktail of chemicals. Lead, arsenic, the “forever chemicals” known as PFAS and many other substances are often...

Nitrate contaminates drinking water for almost 60 million people in cities across the country

November 3, 2021

Drinking water supplies for almost 60 million people living in major cities and other urban areas throughout the U.S. are contaminated with elevated levels of nitrate, according to a new EWG analysis...

Drinking water: New frameworks needed to account for multiple contaminants and protect public health

November 3, 2021

To make sure all communities have better and safer drinking water, EWG research strives to push federal agencies to increase public health protections and invest in drinking water infrastructure.

O...

Mapping the PFAS contamination crisis: New data show 2,858 sites in 50 states and two territories

October 4, 2021

The number of U.S. communities confirmed to be contaminated with the highly toxic fluorinated compounds known as PFAS continues to grow at an alarming rate. As of June 2022, 2,858 locations in 50...

Is Northern Virginia a D.C.-Area Hot Spot for ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Tap Water?

March 10, 2021

Tap water samples from throughout Northern Virginia were contaminated with the “forever chemicals” known as PFAS at levels significantly higher than those previously reported for other parts of the...

Toxic Algae

Toxic Beaches

September 30, 2020

Either toxic algae or potentially dangerous fecal bacteria forced the closure of at least 116 U.S. beaches this spring and summer and triggered health warnings at 162 more, according to a new analysis...

The PFAS and the Furious

September 17, 2020

Rob Bilott's Exposure is a real-life whodunit, a page-turning courtroom drama, a David-and-Goliath story of one man against an industrial colossus and a shocking exposé of America's utterly broken...

Food Additives State of the Science

September 16, 2020

A new EWG guide brings attention to food additives, commonly found in many processed foods, that can increase the risk of cancer, harm the nervous system, change the body's hormonal balance and affect...

Toxic ‘Forever Chemicals’ Likely Discharged Near Schools in 18 States

September 10, 2020

Suspected industrial dischargers of the toxic fluorinated chemicals known as PFAS are located less than a mile of 27 schools or childcare facilities that maintain their own water systems, an EWG...

Toxic Algae

The High Cost of Algae Blooms in U.S. Waters

August 26, 2020

Communities across the United States have spent more than $1 billion since 2010 dealing with outbreaks of potentially toxic algae in lakes, rivers, bays and drinking water supplies, according to an...

Meat and Dairy Alternatives

Regional Issues

North Carolina

UPDATE: Exposing Fields of Filth

July 30, 2020

In the past eight years, three predominantly Black, Native American and Latino counties in North Carolina – already home to most of the state's industrial hog operations – added 30 million chickens...

Midwest

Nitrate Pollution of Drinking Water for More Than 20 Million Americans Is Getting Worse

June 24, 2020

In much of America's farm country, nitrate contamination of drinking water, largely caused by polluted runoff from crop fields, poses a serious health risk – and the problem is getting worse...

Midwest

Factory Farms

Manure Overload

May 28, 2020

In almost all of Minnesota's farm counties, the combination of manure plus commercial fertilizer is likely to load too much nitrogen or phosphorus or both onto crop fields, threatening drinking water...

COVID-19

Coronavirus Economic Stimulus Bills Should Tackle Failing U.S. Tap Water System

April 13, 2020

By spending billions to upgrade the nation’s failing water infrastructure, Congress can create tens of thousands of jobs and significantly improve the safety of drinking water supplies.

In the face...

How Investing $75 Billion on Infrastructure Will Make Drinking Water Safer

April 13, 2020

For the next COVID-19 stimulus bill, House leaders have proposed spending $75.9 billion over five years on water infrastructure. This urgent and long-overdue investment would enable community water...

U.S. drinking water infrastructure needs large federal investment

April 13, 2020

Congress may soon spend billions to upgrade our aging drinking water infrastructure, which would significantly improve the safety of our drinking water and create tens of thousands of jobs. The...

Nitrate: Trouble in Farm Country

April 13, 2020

More than 2 million Americans in hundreds of small, mostly rural communities are drinking water with levels of nitrate that increase the risk of some cancers, according to a recent comprehensive...

Household & Consumer Products

In Minnesota’s Farm Country, Nitrate Pollution of Drinking Water is Getting Worse

March 4, 2020

Nitrate contamination of drinking water is getting worse in much of rural Minnesota, an Environmental Working Group analysis of state data found.

Expert Spotlight

Chemical companies provide quarterly reports on production and sales figures to shareholders. Why shouldn’t the public and EPA receive similar reports every year about commonly used chemicals, some of which could pose a serious health risk?”

David Andrews, Ph.D.

Senior Scientist

All Experts

News & Insights

Advocacy groups call on the FDA to address radiation exposures from electronic products

June 6, 2023

The Food and Drug Administration is failing its duty to protect the public from unnecessary exposure to harmful radiation from smartphones and other electronic products, says an advocacy group...

Personal Care Products

Cosmetics

Sunscreen

Family Health

Something for Father’s Day: 18 gift ideas from EWG VERIFIED®

June 6, 2023

There’s more to Father’s Day gifts than just power tools, ties and grilling utensils. Why not treat dad to a dedicated skincare routine that will keep him looking fresh and feeling clean?