Meet our experts

When federal agencies like the Food and Drug Administration fail to act in the public interest, EWG steps up.

Our experts are scientists, attorneys and healthy living experts who are passionate about protecting human health and the environment.

They bring a wide range of expertise and experience to the table – their collective research and advocacy is grounded in rigorous, science- and data-driven analysis.

Our team

David Andrews, Ph.D.

Senior Scientist

David Andrews, Ph.D., has studied the toxic chemicals in our environment for more than 14 years. In the past decade, he has focused on educating consumers and helping move markets. He specializes in understanding how exposure to chemicals like PFAS and phthalates in consumer and personal care products may harm health. David has collaborated on a peer-reviewed study on sunscreens efficacy, a book chapter on nanomaterials in sunscreen and has extensively researched bug repellants and cosmetics.

Melanie Benesh

Legislative Attorney

Melanie Benesh is an expert at analyzing the legislation and regulatory developments that affect what’s allowed in our personal care products. Melanie’s thorough research on regulatory gaps in personal care product regulation expose how our laws fail to protect consumers. So she knows better than most people how our lawmakers and regulators have failed to step up to the plate when it comes to protecting us and our environment from harm. Melanie teaches a course on public interest advocacy as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law Center.

Carla Burns

Senior director, Cosmetic Science

Carla Burns is a part of the Healthy Living Science team. She is a passionate advocate for reducing overall body burden by making small changes to limit our daily chemical exposure. Carla is highly sought as an expert on toxic chemicals in personal care products. She has a background in ecotoxicology and as a toxics researcher and has a special interest in cosmetics, sunscreens, pesticides and bug repellents. Carla has been a leader in EWG’s efforts to expand the accessibility of clean beauty.

Scott Faber

Senior VP, Government Affairs

Scott Faber leads EWG's advocacy efforts in Congress and federal agencies to reduce or eliminate the toxic chemicals permitted in the products we use. He has spearheaded multiple efforts leading to significant changes in the marketplace. Scott is particularly passionate about the need to update our cosmetics chemicals law, which hasn’t changed for more than 80 years. He’s also been a leader in the effort to expose toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS in our personal care products. Scott is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law Center.

The best way to tell if a product contains chemicals of concern is by checking the label or by using resources like EWG’s Skin Deep database or Healthy Living app.

— Carla Burns, Huffpost
“The 11 Best Natural Makeup Brands, According to a Beauty Editor”

Insights from our experts

What are endocrine disruptors?

EWG’s experts break down the science and bring you the details that matter. Their collective research and advocacy are grounded in rigorous, science- and data-driven analysis, with a laser focus on protecting human health and the environment.

EWG's Guide to Sunscreens:
Q&A with Carla Burns

This year, EWG researchers rated the safety and efficacy of more than 1,800 products that advertise sun protection – including recreational sunscreens, daily-use SPF products and lip balms with SPF – and found that only 25 percent of the products reviewed offer adequate protection and do not contain worrisome ingredients.

Are the ingredients in your fragrance safe?

Fragrance is in a lot of personal care and household products, but what is fragrance, exactly? Watch this video to learn what’s in the mystery ingredient called "fragrance."