environmentalworkinggroupewg--2020-07-30--EWG News Roundup (7/30): CAFOs Run Amok in North Carolina, Senate Republican COVID-19 Stimulus Lets

EWG News Roundup (7/30): CAFOs Run Amok in North Carolina, Senate Republican COVID-19 Stimulus Lets Down Farm Workers and More

This week , EWG and Waterkeeper Alliance released an investigation that shows how the explosive growth of poultry factory farms in North Carolina threatens predominantly Black , Native American and Latino residents of three of the state ’ s eastern counties .
The growing population of chickens and turkeys in Duplin , Sampson and Robeson counties could produce one million tons of waste each year .
“ North Carolina ’ s poultry industry is running amok , ” said Soren Rundquist , EWG ’ s director of spatial analysis and one of the report ’ s authors .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the same three counties that already housed more than half of the swine in the entire state , is alarming.
” On Monday , Senate Republicans released their latest COVID-19 relief package , which is severely lacking when it comes to protecting farm workers or helping hungry families .
“ Rather than allowing employers to endanger their workers , as Senate Republicans have recklessly proposed , Congress must ensure that food and farm workers have protective gear , access to COVID-19 testing , and sick and hazard pay , ” said EWG @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affairs Scott Faber .
As summer temperatures remain high and coronavirus lockdowns remain in place , folks across the nation will be seeking some socially distanced recreation on the water .
EWG broke down why people may want to leave their dogs at home , due to the growing problem of toxic algae outbreaks in lakes and rivers and the serious risks they pose to Fido .
And finally , European cosmetics regulators have placed a hormone-disrupting chemical common in cosmetics on the list of ingredients that are of very high concern .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of exposure ” to butylparaben , which is used as a preservative in personal care products and has been linked to cancer , sperm damage and environmental harm .
Here ’ s some news you can use going into the weekend .
According to the Environmental Working Group ( EWG ) , they have been linked to increased cholesterol , multiple cancers , and weight gain .
Moms : Is It Possible For A Child To Consume Too Many Vitamins ?
According to a 2014 report by the Environmental Working Group , an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a healthier environment , many of these foods are also fortified with too many vitamins and nutrients , which can be harmful to children 's healthy growth and development .
Real Simple : These Are the 10 Safest Sunscreens for Babies and Kids Of course , the main way to protect kids from sun exposure is by applying sunscreen , but according to Carla Burns , research analyst for the Environmental Working Group ( EWG ) , many sunscreen products don ’ t provide sufficient UV protection or contain potentially harmful ingredients that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ & Observer : Poultry farms in NC produce tons of waste environmentalists want better regulated A report released Thursday by the Environmental Working Group and the Waterkeeper Alliance estimates that numbers of chickens and turkeys in Robeson , Sampson , and Duplin counties grew 36 % , from 83 million to 113 million , with the fastest growth in Robeson .
WUNC ( Chapel Hill , N.C. ) : Explosive Growth In NC Poultry Farms Poses Grave Risks , New Report Says The study , conducted by Waterkeeper Alliance and the Environmental Working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and turkeys in Sampson , Duplin and Robeson counties went from an estimated 83 million to 113 million since 2012 , an expansion of 36 percent .
Feedstuffs : Farm Aid check is in the mail '' It 's really difficult once you 're giving farmers this much money to then take away those ( payments ) , '' Anne Schechinger , senior economics analyst at the Environmental Working Group , a nonprofit watchdog organization , warned Politico , `` It 's a big problem for agriculture because it 's not sustainable .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Cold Chain and COVID-19 According to the Environmental Working Group , at least 60 food processing facilities outside the meatpacking industry have seen outbreaks of the Coronavirus , with more than 1,200 workers diagnosed with COVID-19 .
The study is significant because it shows that a single algae bloom can produce different toxins that could be harmful in different ways , said Anne Weir Schechinger , a senior analyst with the Environmental Working Group , in Minneapolis .
Treehugger : The Right Way to Dispose of Paper Receipts The Environmental Working Group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to skin and can penetrate the skin to such a depth that it can not be washed off .
Mind Body Green : Citronella Candles Are n't The Best Option : 7 Other Ways To Keep Bugs Away That said , the Environmental Working Group recommends limiting DEET concentrations in products to 30 % , so check those labels .
Motherly : It ’ s still tick season—here ’ s how to prevent tick bites this summer Picaridin is another CDC-recommended repellent ingredient that 's bio-identical to a black pepper plant , recognized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) as an equally effective alternative to DEET and protects against both mosquitoes and ticks .
Don ’ t Waste Your Money : The Best Fabric Softener Experts Included : DWYM Cleaning & Organization Experts plus French Garment Cleaners , EWG .
Along with user reviews from Amazon and Walmart Get Green , Be Well : Homemade Dusting Spray Like this common dusting and cleaning spray which gets an F from the Environmental Working Group ( EWG ) .
Get Green , Be Well : Olive Oil + Lemon Juice Wood Cleaner ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( EWG ) does great research on ingredients in cleaning products , giving scores from A-F based on toxicity of the ingredients .
She often consults the Environmental Working Group 's website when choosing laundry or cleaning products .
LC Concerned Citizens : The 13 Best Organic and Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products of 2020 Groups like the Environmental Working Group ( EWG ) and the Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) publish annual reports on organic and natural cleaning products with rankings from best to worst .
Log onto the Environmental Working Group website @ @ @ @ @ @ @ EWG 's Skin Deep Guide to Cosmetics.
” BLK+GRN , for example , heavily emphasizes natural ingredients and ingredient safety , to make sure they do not have ingredients on its “ toxic twenty ” list .
This list is based on ingredients that are banned in other countries , as well as information from the Environmental Working Group .
EveryDay Health : Common Chemicals May Be Toxic to Midlife Sleep “ EWG ’ s research indicates that Black women use more personal care products than other demographics , and there are fewer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are free from chemicals , ” Leiba says .
“ The Environmental Working Group has a database called Skin Deep , where you can search for detergents and see how ‘ clean ’ they really are , ” Dr. Henry says .
“ Choose one with a rating of 1 or 2.
” Most of the products I use are “ clean ” meaning they don ’ t have toxic ingredients like sulfates and or parabens .
I ’ m going to walk you through each of the specific products I use and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
Beauty Independent : What Indie Beauty Brand Founders Think Of Ulta ’ s New Conscious Beauty Initiative We are also a member of EWG Verified program that focuses on increased awareness on health and environmental sustainability .
The Counter : A few farmers get huge USDA relief payments while many struggle for pennies So the more that you produce , the larger the farm you are and the more money you ’ re going to be getting in subsidies , ” says Anne Schechinger , senior economic analyst at the Environmental Working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ School of Public Health Breakfast Cereal Sugar Content List and Environmental Working Group , these are the top offenders , based on sheer percentages of sugar .
FDA also found detectable glyphosate residues on 60 % of corn and soybeans analyzed .
In 28 kid 's cereal products that were sampled by the Environmental Working Group , detectable levels of glyphosate are in all of them .
The Detroit News : Opinion—Paul W. Smith : Deadly chemicals in products and a virus in the air Now scientists have found glyphosate , the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ classified as a probable human carcinogen by cancer researchers ) , in over 80 % of non-organic samples of hummus and chickpeas , according to a study commissioned by the Environmental Working Group ( an organization funded by organic food companies ) .
Easy Health Options : Watch out for these glyphosate-containing hummus brands I ’ m sorry to report that the Environmental Working Group has discovered that this toxic chemical is present in yet another otherwise healthy food .
Essence : Are The Chemicals In Your Hair Dye Dangerous ?
There ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Living that allows you to evaluate the risk of a product you ’ re considering right from your smartphone .
Developed by a nonprofit watchdog organization called Environmental Working Group , which aims to “ empower people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment , ” the app accesses a database of information that categorizes products into “ clean ” levels based on their ingredient standards .
Excessive runoff from more than 23,000 animal feedlots across Minnesota has caused significant damage to the state ’ s water quality , according a new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Engineering News Record : House , Senate DOD Bills Have Only Modest Impact on PFAS Chemicals Scott Faber , senior vice president of government affairs at the Environmental Working Group , said in a statement he was pleased a bipartisan group of lawmakers is continuing to keep pressure on the Pentagon to address PFAS contamination .
The Shaheen-Rounds legislation is endorsed by the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs , the Endocrine Society , the Environmental Working Group and the Green Science Policy Institute .
PFAS , which are known to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmed at Bradley International Airport and a military facility in New London County , according to the nonprofit Environmental Working Group .
Times Union : New York Legislature approves bill to ban PFAS in food containers Those include more than $ 100 million in defense appropriations to clean up PFAS at active military installations and to expand studies of those affected by the chemical , according to the Environmental Working Group .
WEMU ( Ypsilanti , Mich. ) : Issues Of The Environment : Firefighting Under New Michigan Regulations On PFAS Until recently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of PFAS .
According to the Environmental Working Group , “ PFAS are known as “ forever chemicals , ” because once released into the environment , they never break down .
PFAS have been linked to several types of cancer and have contaminated at least 328 U.S. military installations according to the Environmental Working Group .
Detroit Metro Times : Toilet to table : Michigan farmers feed crops with ‘ toxic brew ’ of human and industrial waste '' Regulators completely miss emerging contaminants — like PFAS — as well as pharmaceuticals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used widely today that find their way into crops , '' says Colin O'Neil , legislative director at Environmental Working Group , which tracks PFAS contamination .
Hill Reporter : Trump Golf Resort Where He Holds Official Meetings Has Toxic Water : Report Environmental Working Group said that three separate testings during 2019 found a chemical contaminant known as perfluorooctanoic acid , or PFOA .
Phthalates are described as a common EDC used in a wide range of industrial products to improve their performance .
Nneka Leiba , MPH , Vice President of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Working Group in Washington , DC .
Choose organic fruit and vegetable juice if they are listed on the EWG.org ’ s “ Dirty Dozen ” and especially if you consume them often ( hint hint , apple tops the dirty dozen list ) Eat This , Not That !
: The Healthiest Foods You Should Be Eating Every Day , According to Experts '' The 2020 Environmental Working Group 'Dirty Dozen ' report found kale samples tested positive for 18 different pesticides , '' he says .
`` In fact , when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and spinach samples harbored 1.1 to 1.8 times as much pesticide residue by weight than any other crop tested .
The non-profit research organization Environmental Working Group in its 2020 “ Guide to Sunscreens ” rates chemical sunscreens as potentially hazardous , citing reports echoed by the FDA that oxybenzone – the most commonly found ingredient – and several other chemical ingredients are known to enter the blood stream in concentrations that can not be presumed safe .
Irish Examiner : Take the hassle out of shopping for sun protection this summer The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ identifies chemical sunscreen oxybenzone as a potential hormone disrupter , for example ( this product is currently allowed in concentrations of up to 6 % products sold in the EU ) .
Metro UK : Dermatologists and skin experts share everything to know about SPF 100 ‘ But the truth is that higher-SPF products are only marginally better at shielding you from UVB , according to both the Environmental Working Group ( EWG ) and the Skin Cancer Foundation .
Muscle And Fitness : The 7 Best Eco-Friendly Sunscreens To Protect Your Skin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a few of the best sunscreens out there for 2020 , mostly selected from the extensive list of safer sunscreens that the Environmental Working Group puts out each year .
Goop : Ask Gerda : Do Water Purifiers Make Tap Water Safer—or Taste Better ?
And according to the Environmental Working Group , the outdated government limits on contaminant levels are too high .
The federal Environmental Protection Agency ’ s legal limit of nitrate in drinking water is 10 ppm , however , EWG as a watchdog environmental group recommends no more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Uncovered : The Unpredictable Chemical Popping Up In Beauty Products “ Because manufacturers don ’ t have to disclose the presence of 1,4-dioxane on product labels , it ’ s hard for consumers to know if their personal care , or other household products , harbor the hidden carcinogen , ” notes Nneka Leiba , MPhil.
, MPH , vice president of Healthy Living Science at the Environmental Working Group .

This week, EWG and Waterkeeper Alliance released an investigation that shows how the explosive growth of poultry factory farms in North Carolina threatens predominantly Black, Native American and Latino residents of three of the state’s eastern counties. The growing population of chickens and turkeys in Duplin, Sampson and Robeson counties could produce one million tons of waste each year.
“North Carolina’s poultry industry is running amok,” said Soren Rundquist, EWG’s director of spatial analysis and one of the report’s authors. “The reckless growth of poultry operations, especially in the same three counties that already housed more than half of the swine in the entire state, is alarming.”
On Monday, Senate Republicans released their latest COVID-19 relief package, which is severely lacking when it comes to protecting farm workers or helping hungry families.
“Rather than allowing employers to endanger their workers, as Senate Republicans have recklessly proposed, Congress must ensure that food and farm workers have protective gear, access to COVID-19 testing, and sick and hazard pay,” said EWG’s senior vice president of government affairs Scott Faber.
As summer temperatures remain high and coronavirus lockdowns remain in place, folks across the nation will be seeking some socially distanced recreation on the water. EWG broke down why people may want to leave their dogs at home, due to the growing problem of toxic algae outbreaks in lakes and rivers and the serious risks they pose to Fido.
And finally, European cosmetics regulators have placed a hormone-disrupting chemical common in cosmetics on the list of ingredients that are of very high concern. Regulators could find “no safe level of exposure” to butylparaben, which is used as a preservative in personal care products and has been linked to cancer, sperm damage and environmental harm.
Here’s some news you can use going into the weekend.
Children’s Health
Kiwi Magazine: The Ultimate Eco-Friendly Playroom
According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), they have been linked to increased cholesterol, multiple cancers, and weight gain.
Moms: Is It Possible For A Child To Consume Too Many Vitamins?
According to a 2014 report by the Environmental Working Group, an organization that advocates for healthier lives and a healthier environment, many of these foods are also fortified with too many vitamins and nutrients, which can be harmful to children's healthy growth and development.
Real Simple: These Are the 10 Safest Sunscreens for Babies and Kids
Of course, the main way to protect kids from sun exposure is by applying sunscreen, but according to Carla Burns, research analyst for the Environmental Working Group (EWG), many sunscreen products don’t provide sufficient UV protection or contain potentially harmful ingredients that are best to avoid.
Fields of Filth: North Carolina CAFO Report
Raleigh News & Observer: Poultry farms in NC produce tons of waste environmentalists want better regulated
A report released Thursday by the Environmental Working Group and the Waterkeeper Alliance estimates that numbers of chickens and turkeys in Robeson, Sampson, and Duplin counties grew 36%, from 83 million to 113 million, with the fastest growth in Robeson.
WUNC (Chapel Hill, N.C.): Explosive Growth In NC Poultry Farms Poses Grave Risks, New Report Says
The study, conducted by Waterkeeper Alliance and the Environmental Working Group, found the number of chickens and turkeys in Sampson, Duplin and Robeson counties went from an estimated 83 million to 113 million since 2012, an expansion of 36 percent.
COVID-19 and Farm Bailouts
Feedstuffs: Farm Aid check is in the mail
"It's really difficult once you're giving farmers this much money to then take away those (payments)," Anne Schechinger, senior economics analyst at the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit watchdog organization, warned Politico, "It's a big problem for agriculture because it's not sustainable."
COVID-19 and Processing Facilities
Food Logistics: 3PL Best Practices for Cold Chain and COVID-19
According to the Environmental Working Group, at least 60 food processing facilities outside the meatpacking industry have seen outbreaks of the Coronavirus, with more than 1,200 workers diagnosed with COVID-19.
Algae Blooms
Health Day: Summer's Toxic Algae Blooms: A Growing Threat to Health?
The study is significant because it shows that a single algae bloom can produce different toxins that could be harmful in different ways, said Anne Weir Schechinger, a senior analyst with the Environmental Working Group, in Minneapolis.
BPA in Receipts
Treehugger: The Right Way to Dispose of Paper Receipts
The Environmental Working Group reported that bisphenol-A "transfers from receipts to skin and can penetrate the skin to such a depth that it cannot be washed off.
Bug Spray
Mind Body Green: Citronella Candles Aren't The Best Option: 7 Other Ways To Keep Bugs Away
That said, the Environmental Working Group recommends limiting DEET concentrations in products to 30%, so check those labels.
Motherly: It’s still tick season—here’s how to prevent tick bites this summer
Picaridin is another CDC-recommended repellent ingredient that's bio-identical to a black pepper plant, recognized by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) as an equally effective alternative to DEET and protects against both mosquitoes and ticks.
Cleaning Products
Don’t Waste Your Money: The Best Fabric Softener
Experts Included: DWYM Cleaning & Organization Experts plus French Garment Cleaners, EWG. Along with user reviews from Amazon and Walmart
Get Green, Be Well: Homemade Dusting Spray
Like this common dusting and cleaning spray which gets an F from the Environmental Working Group (EWG).
Get Green, Be Well: Olive Oil + Lemon Juice Wood Cleaner (and Polish)
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) does great research on ingredients in cleaning products, giving scores from A-F based on toxicity of the ingredients.
House & Garden: Home, Green Home
She often consults the Environmental Working Group's website when choosing laundry or cleaning products.
LC Concerned Citizens: The 13 Best Organic and Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products of 2020
Groups like the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publish annual reports on organic and natural cleaning products with rankings from best to worst.
Skin Deep® Cosmetics Database
AARP: Makeup Care Tips for Beautiful, Healthy Eyes
Log onto the Environmental Working Group website (ewg.org) and check out “EWG's Skin Deep Guide to Cosmetics.”
Glossy: Black-owned beauty e-tailers launch with a focus on ethical brands
BLK+GRN, for example, heavily emphasizes natural ingredients and ingredient safety, to make sure they do not have ingredients on its “toxic twenty” list. This list is based on ingredients that are banned in other countries, as well as information from the Environmental Working Group.
EveryDay Health: Common Chemicals May Be Toxic to Midlife Sleep
“EWG’s research indicates that Black women use more personal care products than other demographics, and there are fewer products marketed specifically to Black women that are free from chemicals,” Leiba says.
Health Central: How Top Docs & Real Patients Prevent Psoriasis Flare-Ups
“The Environmental Working Group has a database called Skin Deep, where you can search for detergents and see how ‘clean’ they really are,” Dr. Henry says. “Choose one with a rating of 1 or 2.”
Her Campus NYU: My Clean Skincare Routine
Most of the products I use are “clean” meaning they don’t have toxic ingredients like sulfates and or parabens. I’m going to walk you through each of the specific products I use and my reviews (EWG ratings included)!
EWG VERIFIED®
Beauty Independent: What Indie Beauty Brand Founders Think Of Ulta’s New Conscious Beauty Initiative
We are also a member of EWG Verified program that focuses on increased awareness on health and environmental sustainability.
Farm Subsidies
The Counter: A few farmers get huge USDA relief payments while many struggle for pennies
So the more that you produce, the larger the farm you are and the more money you’re going to be getting in subsidies,” says Anne Schechinger, senior economic analyst at the Environmental Working Group.
Food Scores
Kokomo Tribune (Ind.): STUFF WE LIKE: Thursday, July 30, 2020
According to info from Harvard School of Public Health Breakfast Cereal Sugar Content List and Environmental Working Group, these are the top offenders, based on sheer percentages of sugar.
Glyphosate in Cereal
Nature World News: Glyphosate Weed Killer: Studies in Mice, Food and Environment
FDA also found detectable glyphosate residues on 60% of corn and soybeans analyzed. In 28 kid's cereal products that were sampled by the Environmental Working Group, detectable levels of glyphosate are in all of them.
Glyphosate in Hummus Report
The Detroit News: Opinion—Paul W. Smith: Deadly chemicals in products and a virus in the air
Now scientists have found glyphosate, the most widely used herbicide in the world (classified as a probable human carcinogen by cancer researchers), in over 80% of non-organic samples of hummus and chickpeas, according to a study commissioned by the Environmental Working Group (an organization funded by organic food companies).
Easy Health Options: Watch out for these glyphosate-containing hummus brands
I’m sorry to report that the Environmental Working Group has discovered that this toxic chemical is present in yet another otherwise healthy food.
Healthy Living App
Essence: Are The Chemicals In Your Hair Dye Dangerous?
There’s also an app called EWG Healthy Living that allows you to evaluate the risk of a product you’re considering right from your smartphone. Developed by a nonprofit watchdog organization called Environmental Working Group, which aims to “empower people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment,” the app accesses a database of information that categorizes products into “clean” levels based on their ingredient standards.
Manure Overload Report
Lonsdale Area News-Review (Minn.): Environmental group report highlights ag runoff issues
Excessive runoff from more than 23,000 animal feedlots across Minnesota has caused significant damage to the state’s water quality, according a new report from the nonprofit Environmental Working Group.
PFAS Reform Provisions
Engineering News Record: House, Senate DOD Bills Have Only Modest Impact on PFAS Chemicals
Scott Faber, senior vice president of government affairs at the Environmental Working Group, said in a statement he was pleased a bipartisan group of lawmakers is continuing to keep pressure on the Pentagon to address PFAS contamination.
Seacoast Online (Dover, N.H.): Sens. Shaheen, Rounds lead effort to raise awareness of PFAS risks
The Shaheen-Rounds legislation is endorsed by the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs, the Endocrine Society, the Environmental Working Group and the Green Science Policy Institute.
Stamford Advocate: House approves defense bill that boosts CT spending
PFAS, which are known to cause negative health effects, have been confirmed at Bradley International Airport and a military facility in New London County, according to the nonprofit Environmental Working Group.
Times Union: New York Legislature approves bill to ban PFAS in food containers
Those include more than $100 million in defense appropriations to clean up PFAS at active military installations and to expand studies of those affected by the chemical, according to the Environmental Working Group.
WEMU (Ypsilanti, Mich.): Issues Of The Environment: Firefighting Under New Michigan Regulations On PFAS
Until recently nearly all fire-suppression foams contained high concentrations of PFAS. According to the Environmental Working Group, “PFAS are known as “forever chemicals,” because once released into the environment, they never break down.
PFAS Military Map
LexBlog: Amendment to the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act Targets Forever Chemicals
PFAS have been linked to several types of cancer and have contaminated at least 328 U.S. military installations according to the Environmental Working Group.
PFAS on Crops
Detroit Metro Times: Toilet to table: Michigan farmers feed crops with ‘toxic brew’ of human and industrial waste
"Regulators completely miss emerging contaminants — like PFAS — as well as pharmaceuticals and a whole host of other chemicals used widely today that find their way into crops," says Colin O'Neil, legislative director at Environmental Working Group, which tracks PFAS contamination.
PFAS Tap Water Contamination
Hill Reporter: Trump Golf Resort Where He Holds Official Meetings Has Toxic Water: Report
Environmental Working Group said that three separate testings during 2019 found a chemical contaminant known as perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA.
Phthalates
ExBulletin: Can Toxic Chemicals Cause Sleep Disorders? | Daily health
Phthalates are described as a common EDC used in a wide range of industrial products to improve their performance. Nneka Leiba, MPH, Vice President of Health and Life Sciences, Non-Profit Environmental Working Group in Washington, DC.
Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce™
Dr. Greene: Dietary Advice to Address Arsenic Concern
Choose organic fruit and vegetable juice if they are listed on the EWG.org’s “Dirty Dozen” and especially if you consume them often (hint hint, apple tops the dirty dozen list)
Eat This, Not That!: The Healthiest Foods You Should Be Eating Every Day, According to Experts
"The 2020 Environmental Working Group 'Dirty Dozen' report found kale samples tested positive for 18 different pesticides," he says. "In fact, when the analysts crunched the numbers, kale and spinach samples harbored 1.1 to 1.8 times as much pesticide residue by weight than any other crop tested.
EWG Guide to Sunscreens
Florida Phoenix: Questions about sunscreen safety remain unanswered as FL summer traditions resume
The non-profit research organization Environmental Working Group in its 2020 “Guide to Sunscreens” rates chemical sunscreens as potentially hazardous, citing reports echoed by the FDA that oxybenzone – the most commonly found ingredient – and several other chemical ingredients are known to enter the blood stream in concentrations that cannot be presumed safe.
Irish Examiner: Take the hassle out of shopping for sun protection this summer
The Environmental Working Group’s 2020 guide identifies chemical sunscreen oxybenzone as a potential hormone disrupter, for example (this product is currently allowed in concentrations of up to 6% products sold in the EU).
Metro UK: Dermatologists and skin experts share everything to know about SPF 100
‘But the truth is that higher-SPF products are only marginally better at shielding you from UVB, according to both the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and the Skin Cancer Foundation.
Muscle And Fitness: The 7 Best Eco-Friendly Sunscreens To Protect Your Skin
In the meantime, look below for a few of the best sunscreens out there for 2020, mostly selected from the extensive list of safer sunscreens that the Environmental Working Group puts out each year.
Tap Water Database
Goop: Ask Gerda: Do Water Purifiers Make Tap Water Safer—or Taste Better?
And according to the Environmental Working Group, the outdated government limits on contaminant levels are too high.
The Stoughton Courier Hub: Stoughton’s nitrate levels in water decrease
The federal Environmental Protection Agency’s legal limit of nitrate in drinking water is 10 ppm, however, EWG as a watchdog environmental group recommends no more than .14 ppm.
1,4-Dioxane in Cosmetics
Rose Inc: Uncovered: The Unpredictable Chemical Popping Up In Beauty Products
“Because manufacturers don’t have to disclose the presence of 1,4-dioxane on product labels, it’s hard for consumers to know if their personal care, or other household products, harbor the hidden carcinogen,”notes Nneka Leiba, MPhil., MPH, vice president of Healthy Living Science at the Environmental Working Group.


environmentalworkinggroupewg--2020-07-30--EWG and Waterkeeper Alliance: Poultry Factory Farms Disproportionately Threaten Black, Native Americ

EWG and Waterkeeper Alliance: Poultry Factory Farms Disproportionately Threaten Black, Native American and Latino People in North Carolina

WASHINGTON – The predominantly Black , Native American and Latino residents of three eastern North Carolina counties now live with 30 million more chickens and turkeys than they did eight years ago , according to a new investigation by the Environmental Working Group and Waterkeeper Alliance .
The groups ’ report and map show that , from 2012 to 2019 , the estimated number of chickens and turkeys in Duplin , Sampson and Robeson counties swelled from 83 million to 113 million , a 36 percent increase .
This is more than twice the rate of growth in the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ growing population of chickens and turkeys in the three counties could produce one million tons of waste each year – almost a fifth of all estimated poultry waste statewide .
That is 4,500 times the weight of the Statue of Liberty .
“ North Carolina ’ s poultry industry is running amok , ” said Soren Rundquist , EWG ’ s director of spatial analysis and one of the report ’ s authors .
“ The reckless growth of poultry operations , especially in the same three counties that already housed more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state , is alarming.
” In the 2010 census , 57 percent of residents of the three counties identified as Black , American Indian or Alaska Native , or one of several other non-white categories – almost twice the state average .
Thirty-eight percent of Robeson County residents identified as American Indian , the highest proportion in the state .
Duplin County was nearly 21 percent Hispanic or Latino , the highest share in the state , and Sampson County was third , with about 17 percent .
“ The unchecked growth of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a steep cost for the state ’ s Black , Native American and Latino people , ” said Will Hendrick , Waterkeeper Alliance senior attorney .
“ Yet state policy makers continue to abdicate their responsibility to manage the meat industry and its impacts on residents ’ water , air and quality of life.
” The report ’ s interactive map , updated since its original publication in 2016 , shows the location of every industrial swine and poultry operation in the state , with details about the number of animals and estimated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each year .
Statewide , the number of chickens and turkeys increased by 90 million birds since 2012 , meaning one in three of all birds added were in Duplin , Sampson or Robeson county .
North Carolina ’ s more than 4,800 concentrated animal feeding operations , or CAFOs , now hold more than 538 million chickens and turkeys that could produce over 5 million tons of manure each year .
That ’ s on top of 8.7 million hogs potentially generating 9.2 billion gallons of liquified waste and sludge a year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hog or poultry waste is treated .
Poultry waste is stored in piles , and swine waste is often pumped into enormous open-air pits .
The state has known for years that the risks of living near swine CAFOs are disproportionately borne by Black , Native American and Latino residents .
In 2017 , an Environmental Protection Agency review of a civil rights suit that alleged discriminatory impacts of state permitting of hog operations led the agency to express “ deep concern ” about discrimination against North Carolina ’ s African Americans , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was settled in 2018 , and the number of hog CAFOs has held roughly stable .
Meanwhile , the state has allowed the poultry industry to add one operation after another , with almost no regulatory oversight , in the same counties already most affected by hog operations .
“ The massive growth of poultry operations in the Lumber River Watershed over the last two years has been devastating , ” said Jefferson Currie II , the Lumber Riverkeeper and a member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina , most of whom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this is made worse by the fact that many of these CAFOs are in floodplains , putting vulnerable Native communities at even greater risk.
” Thousands of CAFOs are located in the state ’ s coastal plain , which is vulnerable to hurricanes and other severe storms .
Numerous facilities were overcome by flood waters during and after hurricanes Matthew and Florence .
The Environmental Working Group is a nonprofit , non-partisan organization that empowers people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment .
Through research , advocacy and unique education tools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ action .
Visit www.ewg.org for more information .
Waterkeeper Alliance is a global movement uniting more than 300 Waterkeeper Organizations and Affiliates around the world , focusing citizen action on issues that affect our waterways , from pollution to climate change .
The Waterkeeper movement patrols and protects over 2.5 million square miles of rivers , lakes and coastlines in the Americas , Europe , Australia , Asia , and Africa .
For more information please visit : waterkeeper.org .

WASHINGTON – The predominantly Black, Native American and Latino residents of three eastern North Carolina counties now live with 30 million more chickens and turkeys than they did eight years ago, according to a new investigation by the Environmental Working Group and Waterkeeper Alliance.
The groups’ report and map show that, from 2012 to 2019, the estimated number of chickens and turkeys in Duplin, Sampson and Robeson counties swelled from 83 million to 113 million, a 36 percent increase. This is more than twice the rate of growth in the state’s other 97 counties.
The growing population of chickens and turkeys in the three counties could produce one million tons of waste each year – almost a fifth of all estimated poultry waste statewide. That is 4,500 times the weight of the Statue of Liberty.
“North Carolina’s poultry industry is running amok,” said Soren Rundquist, EWG’s director of spatial analysis and one of the report’s authors. “The reckless growth of poultry operations, especially in the same three counties that already housed more than half of the swine in the entire state, is alarming.”
In the 2010 census, 57 percent of residents of the three counties identified as Black, American Indian or Alaska Native, or one of several other non-white categories – almost twice the state average. Thirty-eight percent of Robeson County residents identified as American Indian, the highest proportion in the state. Duplin County was nearly 21 percent Hispanic or Latino, the highest share in the state, and Sampson County was third, with about 17 percent.
“The unchecked growth of poultry operations in North Carolina comes with a steep cost for the state’s Black, Native American and Latino people,” said Will Hendrick, Waterkeeper Alliance senior attorney. “Yet state policy makers continue to abdicate their responsibility to manage the meat industry and its impacts on residents’ water, air and quality of life.”
The report’s interactive map, updated since its original publication in 2016, shows the location of every industrial swine and poultry operation in the state, with details about the number of animals and estimated amount of waste they could potentially produce each year.
Statewide, the number of chickens and turkeys increased by 90 million birds since 2012, meaning one in three of all birds added were in Duplin, Sampson or Robeson county. North Carolina’s more than 4,800 concentrated animal feeding operations, or CAFOs, now hold more than 538 million chickens and turkeys that could produce over 5 million tons of manure each year. That’s on top of 8.7 million hogs potentially generating 9.2 billion gallons of liquified waste and sludge a year.
None of North Carolina’s hog or poultry waste is treated. Poultry waste is stored in piles, and swine waste is often pumped into enormous open-air pits.
The state has known for years that the risks of living near swine CAFOs are disproportionately borne by Black, Native American and Latino residents. In 2017, an Environmental Protection Agency review of a civil rights suit that alleged discriminatory impacts of state permitting of hog operations led the agency to express “deep concern” about discrimination against North Carolina’s African Americans, Native Americans and Latinos.
The suit was settled in 2018, and the number of hog CAFOs has held roughly stable. Meanwhile, the state has allowed the poultry industry to add one operation after another, with almost no regulatory oversight, in the same counties already most affected by hog operations.
“The massive growth of poultry operations in the Lumber River Watershed over the last two years has been devastating,” said Jefferson Currie II, the Lumber Riverkeeper and a member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, most of whom live in Robeson County. “All this is made worse by the fact that many of these CAFOs are in floodplains, putting vulnerable Native communities at even greater risk.”
Thousands of CAFOs are located in the state’s coastal plain, which is vulnerable to hurricanes and other severe storms. Numerous facilities were overcome by flood waters during and after hurricanes Matthew and Florence.
###
The Environmental Working Group is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that empowers people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment. Through research, advocacy and unique education tools, EWG drives consumer choice and civic action. Visit www.ewg.org for more information.
Waterkeeper Alliance is a global movement uniting more than 300 Waterkeeper Organizations and Affiliates around the world, focusing citizen action on issues that affect our waterways, from pollution to climate change. The Waterkeeper movement patrols and protects over 2.5 million square miles of rivers, lakes and coastlines in the Americas, Europe, Australia, Asia, and Africa. For more information please visit: waterkeeper.org.


environmentalworkinggroupewg--2020-07-30--UPDATE: Exposing Fields of Filth

UPDATE: Exposing Fields of Filth

This interactive map , updated since originally published in December 2016 , shows the approximate location of every industrial swine , cattle and poultry feeding operation in North Carolina .
Clicking on a location brings up details , including the number of animals and the estimated amount of waste each facility could generate in a year .
Under current statute , any new or expanding swine farm must eliminate discharge into nearby waterways , and substantially reduce soil and groundwater pollution , ammonia emissions , odor and pathogens .
But no such restrictions have been placed on poultry operations .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ million hogs generating 9.2 billion gallons of liquified waste and sludge a year .
A 1997 state moratorium on new and expanded swine farms was made permanent in 2007 for farms that use so-called anaerobic waste lagoons – often-unlined pits of liquid manure and urine – as primary waste treatment .
The Environmental Working Group and Waterkeeper Alliance estimate that in that same period , the number of poultry increased by 17 percent in the rest of the state , excluding those three counties .
In total , the number of poultry in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , increased by more than 90 million birds , to a total of more than 538 million .
Housed in over 4,800 operations , these chickens and turkeys have the potential to produce five million tons of waste a year .
From 2012 to 2019 , the estimated number of chickens and turkeys in Duplin , Sampson and Robeson counties swelled from 83 million to 113 million , a 36 percent increase .
The three-county increase was driven by the astounding expansion in Robeson County , where the number of chickens and turkeys @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million .
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 and turkeys , according to a new geospatial analysis by the Environmental Working Group and Waterkeeper Alliance .
Source : EWG , from North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality and geospatial analysis of satellite images .
This graphic compares the percentage growth of poultry since 2012 in Duplin , Sampson and Robeson counties to that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In the 2010 U.S. census , 57 percent of residents of the three counties identified as Black , American Indian or Alaska Native , or one of several other non-white categories2 – almost twice the state average .
In the 2010 census , 38 percent of Robeson County residents identified as American Indian , the highest proportion of all counties in the state .
Duplin County was nearly 21 percent Hispanic or Latino , the highest proportion in the state , and Sampson County had the third-greatest share of people who identify as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
( People who identify as Hispanic or Latino can be of any race . )
The growing population of chickens and turkeys in the three counties could produce one million tons of waste each year – almost one-fifth of all estimated poultry waste statewide .
That is 4,500 times the weight of the Statue of Liberty .
People in the three counties have long had to live with enormous quantities of animal waste and its stench , the threat to their water and the impacts on their health .
The counties are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than half the state ’ s total .
Raised in confinement – in facilities often referred to as concentrated animal feeding operations , or CAFOs – hogs in the three counties generate 4.4 billion gallons of liquified waste each year , enough combined urine and manure to fill 6,715 Olympic-sized swimming pools .
The risks of living near North Carolina ’ s swine operations are disproportionately borne by Black , Native American and Latino people , something state officials have known for years .
In 2017 , a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency review @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impacts of state permitting of hog operations found a “ linear relationship between race/ethnicity [ of residents within 3 miles of industrial hog operations ] and ... density of hogs.
” The EPA expressed “ deep concern about the possibility that African Americans , Latinos and Native Americans have been subjected to discrimination ” as a result of how the state permitted hog operations .
The suit was settled in 2018 , with the state agreeing to stipulations that included a program of air and water monitoring near hog operations .
State law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relatively stable .
Meanwhile , the state allowed the poultry industry to add one operation after another , with almost no regulatory oversight , in the same predominantly Black , Native American and Latino counties that were already most affected by hog operations .
None of North Carolina ’ s hog or poultry waste is treated .
Waste from chickens and turkeys can legally be stored in uncovered piles for up to 15 days at a time .
When it rains , waste from these piles can wash into nearby waterways .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where it is spread .
The state does not require poultry operations to submit waste management plans , and environmental regulators are often unaware of where , when or how much waste is applied on fields .
Compared to poultry CAFOs , hog operations are better regulated .
Swine CAFOs must have a state-issued permit to operate , but hog waste is stored in open , often unlined pits dug into the porous soil of Duplin , Sampson and Robeson counties , as well as neighboring counties in the state ’ s coastal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ An analysis by researchers from the University of Arizona and The Nature Conservancy of flooding from hurricanes Matthew and Florence found that 91 swine CAFOs and 36 poultry CAFOs were overcome by flood waters .
Living near North Carolina ’ s industrial meat operations means living with air , water and soil pollution .
Research shows that living near its hog CAFOs also means having respiratory problems and a greater risk of death from serious diseases .
A 2018 Duke University study found that North Carolinians who live in areas dense with industrial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mortality from anemia ; kidney disease ; bacterial infection , or sepsis ; and tuberculosis , as well as a higher rate of death and infant mortality , compared to other residents in the state .
An earlier study reported that children in North Carolina who go to school near livestock operations have more wheezing and asthma .
A 2017 EWG geospatial analysis estimated that 160,000 North Carolina residents – including more than 24,000 residents of Duplin , Sampson and Robeson counties – lived within half a mile of a swine or poultry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requires little more than a building permit to open poultry operations housing up to 50,000 chickens or turkeys .
Oversight of operations is almost non-existent , as EWG exposed in 2018 .
Most of the state ’ s poultry are raised in barns housing at least 35,000 tightly packed chickens .
Some new operations have as many as 48 barns , housing up to 1.4 million birds in total at a time .
The disproportionate racial impact of the state ’ s regulatory abdication becomes even starker when counties are broken down into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the census uses to sort demographic information .
For instance , since 2012 , one 2.4-square-mile census block in Sampson County has seen three new industrial poultry operations built , which together can house more than 260,000 chickens in 12 barns .
Of the 33 residents living within the census block , 85 percent are Black , and 97 percent are Black , Native American or other people of color .
EWG and Waterkeeper Alliance analysis found that , since 2012 : • In Duplin County , the estimated number of chickens and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 31 percent increase .
• In Sampson County , the estimated number of chickens and turkeys grew by 7 million birds , or 24 percent .
• In Robeson County , the estimated number of chickens and turkeys grew by 24 million , or 80 percent .
• Altogether , this growth increased the estimated waste produced each year in the three counties by more than 260,000 tons .
To protect the health of all of its residents , but especially those who already bear disproportionate burdens from industrial animal agriculture , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of poultry CAFOs .
The state ’ s regulatory and legislative bodies must act to address the significant , increasing and unjust harm they have inflicted on North Carolina ’ s communities of color – particularly in Duplin , Sampson and Robeson counties .
State regulators must also rectify the longstanding lack of oversight of these operations , starting with studying where they are and how they ’ re managing their waste .
The state should also forbid new operations from opening in flood-prone areas and do more to improve how poultry waste @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used in this study and detailed results , click here .
1 Employees of eight N.C. organizations conducted on-the-ground work verifying CAFO locations , essential to this report : Cape Fear River Watch , Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation , Coastal Carolina Riverwatch , Haw River Assembly , MountainTrue , Sound Rivers , Winyah Rivers Alliance , and Yadkin Riverkeeper .
2 Asian , Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander ; Some Other Race ; or Two or More Races .

This interactive map, updated since originally published in December 2016, shows the approximate location of every industrial swine, cattle and poultry feeding operation in North Carolina. Clicking on a location brings up details, including the number of animals and the estimated amount of waste each facility could generate in a year.
Under current statute, any new or expanding swine farm must eliminate discharge into nearby waterways, and substantially reduce soil and groundwater pollution, ammonia emissions, odor and pathogens. But no such restrictions have been placed on poultry operations.
That’s in addition to 8.7 million hogs generating 9.2 billion gallons of liquified waste and sludge a year. A 1997 state moratorium on new and expanded swine farms was made permanent in 2007 for farms that use so-called anaerobic waste lagoons – often-unlined pits of liquid manure and urine – as primary waste treatment.
The Environmental Working Group and Waterkeeper Alliance estimate that in that same period, the number of poultry increased by 17 percent in the rest of the state, excluding those three counties. In total, the number of poultry in North Carolina, including those three counties, increased by more than 90 million birds, to a total of more than 538 million. Housed in over 4,800 operations, these chickens and turkeys have the potential to produce five million tons of waste a year.
From 2012 to 2019, the estimated number of chickens and turkeys in Duplin, Sampson and Robeson counties swelled from 83 million to 113 million, a 36 percent increase. The three-county increase was driven by the astounding expansion in Robeson County, where the number of chickens and turkeys increased by 80 percent, to 24 million.
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 and turkeys, according to a new geospatial analysis by the Environmental Working Group and Waterkeeper Alliance.
Source: EWG, from North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality and geospatial analysis of satellite images.
This graphic compares the percentage growth of poultry since 2012 in Duplin, Sampson and Robeson counties to that in the rest of the state.
In the 2010 U.S. census, 57 percent of residents of the three counties identified as Black, American Indian or Alaska Native, or one of several other non-white categories2 – almost twice the state average.
In the 2010 census, 38 percent of Robeson County residents identified as American Indian, the highest proportion of all counties in the state. Duplin County was nearly 21 percent Hispanic or Latino, the highest proportion in the state, and Sampson County had the third-greatest share of people who identify as Hispanic or Latino, about 17 percent. (People who identify as Hispanic or Latino can be of any race.)
The growing population of chickens and turkeys in the three counties could produce one million tons of waste each year – almost one-fifth of all estimated poultry waste statewide. That is 4,500 times the weight of the Statue of Liberty.
People in the three counties have long had to live with enormous quantities of animal waste and its stench, the threat to their water and the impacts on their health.
The counties are home to 4.5 million hogs – more than half the state’s total. Raised in confinement – in facilities often referred to as concentrated animal feeding operations, or CAFOs – hogs in the three counties generate 4.4 billion gallons of liquified waste each year, enough combined urine and manure to fill 6,715 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
The risks of living near North Carolina’s swine operations are disproportionately borne by Black, Native American and Latino people, something state officials have known for years.
In 2017, a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency review of a civil rights suit alleging discriminatory impacts of state permitting of hog operations found a “linear relationship between race/ethnicity [of residents within 3 miles of industrial hog operations] and...density of hogs.” The EPA expressed “deep concern about the possibility that African Americans, Latinos and Native Americans have been subjected to discrimination” as a result of how the state permitted hog operations. The suit was settled in 2018, with the state agreeing to stipulations that included a program of air and water monitoring near hog operations.
State law has held the number of hog operations relatively stable. Meanwhile, the state allowed the poultry industry to add one operation after another, with almost no regulatory oversight, in the same predominantly Black, Native American and Latino counties that were already most affected by hog operations.
None of North Carolina’s hog or poultry waste is treated. Waste from chickens and turkeys can legally be stored in uncovered piles for up to 15 days at a time. When it rains, waste from these piles can wash into nearby waterways. The waste is then trucked to cropland, where it is spread. The state does not require poultry operations to submit waste management plans, and environmental regulators are often unaware of where, when or how much waste is applied on fields.
Compared to poultry CAFOs, hog operations are better regulated. Swine CAFOs must have a state-issued permit to operate, but hog waste is stored in open, often unlined pits dug into the porous soil of Duplin, Sampson and Robeson counties, as well as neighboring counties in the state’s coastal plain that are vulnerable to hurricanes. An analysis by researchers from the University of Arizona and The Nature Conservancy of flooding from hurricanes Matthew and Florence found that 91 swine CAFOs and 36 poultry CAFOs were overcome by flood waters.
Living near North Carolina’s industrial meat operations means living with air, water and soil pollution. Research shows that living near its hog CAFOs also means having respiratory problems and a greater risk of death from serious diseases.
A 2018 Duke University study found that North Carolinians who live in areas dense with industrial swine operations have a higher rate of mortality from anemia; kidney disease; bacterial infection, or sepsis; and tuberculosis, as well as a higher rate of death and infant mortality, compared to other residents in the state. An earlier study reported that children in North Carolina who go to school near livestock operations have more wheezing and asthma.
A 2017 EWG geospatial analysis estimated that 160,000 North Carolina residents – including more than 24,000 residents of Duplin, Sampson and Robeson counties – lived within half a mile of a swine or poultry CAFO.
In practice, North Carolina requires little more than a building permit to open poultry operations housing up to 50,000 chickens or turkeys. Oversight of operations is almost non-existent, as EWG exposed in 2018. Most of the state’s poultry are raised in barns housing at least 35,000 tightly packed chickens. Some new operations have as many as 48 barns, housing up to 1.4 million birds in total at a time.
The disproportionate racial impact of the state’s regulatory abdication becomes even starker when counties are broken down into smaller census blocks, the smallest unit the census uses to sort demographic information.
For instance, since 2012, one 2.4-square-mile census block in Sampson County has seen three new industrial poultry operations built, which together can house more than 260,000 chickens in 12 barns. Of the 33 residents living within the census block, 85 percent are Black, and 97 percent are Black, Native American or other people of color.
EWG and Waterkeeper Alliance analysis found that, since 2012:
In Duplin County, the estimated number of chickens and turkeys grew by about 11 million, a 31 percent increase.
In Sampson County, the estimated number of chickens and turkeys grew by 7 million birds, or 24 percent.
In Robeson County, the estimated number of chickens and turkeys grew by 24 million, or 80 percent.
Altogether, this growth increased the estimated waste produced each year in the three counties by more than 260,000 tons.
Poultry Expansion Near Swine Facilities in Duplin County
Source: the NC OneMap Geospatial Portal and Planet
Poultry Expansion Near Swine Facilities in Sampson County
Source: the NC OneMap Geospatial Portal and Planet
Poultry Expansion Near Swine Facilities in Robeson County
Source: the NC OneMap Geospatial Portal and Planet
To protect the health of all of its residents, but especially those who already bear disproportionate burdens from industrial animal agriculture, North Carolina must address the rampant proliferation of poultry CAFOs. The state’s regulatory and legislative bodies must act to address the significant, increasing and unjust harm they have inflicted on North Carolina’s communities of color – particularly in Duplin, Sampson and Robeson counties.
State regulators must also rectify the longstanding lack of oversight of these operations, starting with studying where they are and how they’re managing their waste. The state should also forbid new operations from opening in flood-prone areas and do more to improve how poultry waste is managed.
To see the methods used in this study and detailed results, click here.
Footnotes
1 Employees of eight N.C. organizations conducted on-the-ground work verifying CAFO locations, essential to this report: Cape Fear River Watch, Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation, Coastal Carolina Riverwatch, Haw River Assembly, MountainTrue, Sound Rivers, Winyah Rivers Alliance, and Yadkin Riverkeeper.
2 Asian, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander; Some Other Race; or Two or More Races.


environmentalworkinggroupewg--2020-08-03--Dear Food Manufacturers: Stop Polluting Children With Glyphosate

In its latest report on glyphosate residues on common children ’ s foods , EWG found that , like oats and wheat , chickpeas and other beans and lentils come with a dose of Roundup , a weedkiller formerly manufactured by Monsanto , now Bayer .
The report ’ s authors , Alexis M. Temkin , Ph.D. , and Olga Naidenko , Ph.D. , recommend that everyone continue eating hummus and chickpeas .
And as always , organic products are a much better choice .
At the same time , EWG is calling on food manufacturers and grocery stores to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grains that are not treated with glyphosate as a pre-harvest drying agent , because using this probable carcinogen is unnecessary and harmful .
There are other ways to harvest these crops that do not risk our health and well-being .
Buying organic alternatives is currently our best option for reducing children ’ s exposure to pesticides .
But it ’ s not a perfect solution , as sometimes even organic crops become contaminated with the pesticide , possibly through use on neighboring farms .
Nationwide , the prices for organic food have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show that organic food remains 7.5 percent more expensive on average , compared to conventional foods , a price difference that puts organics out of reach for many .
EWG believes it is essential for all families and communities to have resources to buy healthy foods of their choice .
Other connections between glyphosate and children ’ s health : • Children are more susceptible than adults to harm from environmental toxins like pesticides because their neurological , hormonal and immune systems are still developing .
Exposure at key points in their development @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why the Environmental Protection Agency is required to use a tenfold margin of safety when setting limits for pesticide residues on food – to protect infants and children .
• Glyphosate is the most widely used pesticide in the U.S. , yet it has not been included in the biomonitoring programs conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
In 2019 , EWG petitioned the CDC to start monitoring for glyphosate in Americans ’ bodies .
• Glyphosate is classified as a probable human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ following the IARC ’ s 2015 review of “ all relevant evidence available in the public domain for independent scientific review , ” as opposed to government regulatory agencies that often rely on private industry data .
• A study conducted by the Center for Environmental Health reported that children carry much higher levels of glyphosate in their bodies than their parents .
• One-third of American newborns had glyphosate in their bodies , according to a large study published this year .
• In 2019 , researchers from the University of California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ study examining the link between pesticide exposure and autism .
They found a 60 percent increase in rates of autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability in children who in their first year of life lived within about a mile and a quarter of areas highly sprayed with glyphosate .
The best and most socially equitable way to prevent children from becoming polluted with glyphosate is to stop its use at the farm level .
The first step is to demand that companies stop the pre-harvest spraying of glyphosate on foods .
Who can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stores , lawmakers – and you , the customer and constituent .
EWG will continue to test both conventional and organic beans and bean products for glyphosate and advocate for all food growers and producers to phase out glyphosate use as a pre-harvest desiccant .

In its latest report on glyphosate residues on common children’s foods, EWG found that, like oats and wheat, chickpeas and other beans and lentils come with a dose of Roundup, a weedkiller formerly manufactured by Monsanto, now Bayer. The report’s authors, Alexis M. Temkin, Ph.D., and Olga Naidenko, Ph.D., recommend that everyone continue eating hummus and chickpeas. And as always, organic products are a much better choice.
At the same time, EWG is calling on food manufacturers and grocery stores to source beans, peas, lentils and grains that are not treated with glyphosate as a pre-harvest drying agent, because using this probable carcinogen is unnecessary and harmful. There are other ways to harvest these crops that do not risk our health and well-being.
Buying organic alternatives is currently our best option for reducing children’s exposure to pesticides. But it’s not a perfect solution, as sometimes even organic crops become contaminated with the pesticide, possibly through use on neighboring farms. Nationwide, the prices for organic food have been decreasing. Still, recent market surveys show that organic food remains 7.5 percent more expensive on average, compared to conventional foods, a price difference that puts organics out of reach for many. EWG believes it is essential for all families and communities to have resources to buy healthy foods of their choice.
Other connections between glyphosate and children’s health:
Children are more susceptible than adults to harm from environmental toxins like pesticides because their neurological, hormonal and immune systems are still developing. Exposure at key points in their development can cause permanent damage. This is why the Environmental Protection Agency is required to use a tenfold margin of safety when setting limits for pesticide residues on food – to protect infants and children.
Glyphosate is the most widely used pesticide in the U.S., yet it has not been included in the biomonitoring programs conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2019, EWG petitioned the CDC to start monitoring for glyphosate in Americans’ bodies.
Glyphosate is classified as a probable human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. This classification was announced following the IARC’s 2015 review of “all relevant evidence available in the public domain for independent scientific review,” as opposed to government regulatory agencies that often rely on private industry data.
A study conducted by the Center for Environmental Health reported that children carry much higher levels of glyphosate in their bodies than their parents.
One-third of American newborns had glyphosate in their bodies, according to a large study published this year.
In 2019, researchers from the University of California at Los Angeles published a population-based case-control study examining the link between pesticide exposure and autism. They found a 60 percent increase in rates of autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability in children who in their first year of life lived within about a mile and a quarter of areas highly sprayed with glyphosate.
The best and most socially equitable way to prevent children from becoming polluted with glyphosate is to stop its use at the farm level. The first step is to demand that companies stop the pre-harvest spraying of glyphosate on foods. Who can accomplish this? Food manufacturers, grocery stores, lawmakers – and you, the customer and constituent.
Take Action
EWG will continue to test both conventional and organic beans and bean products for glyphosate and advocate for all food growers and producers to phase out glyphosate use as a pre-harvest desiccant.


environmentalworkinggroupewg--2020-08-04--Study: Big Soda’s Ads Target Young People of Color

In June , Coca-Cola and PepsiCo pledged to support Black Lives Matter .
But according to a new study of advertising of sugary drinks to children , their money tells a different story : Despite an epidemic of obesity , TV ads for sugary drinks targeting Black and Hispanic preschoolers , children and teens rose dramatically from 2013 to 2018 .
The study , from the University of Connecticut ’ s Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity , reveals the two corporations spent more than $ 1 billion selling sugary and diet drinks to kids in 2018 , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black and Hispanic children .
These marketing tactics by the world ’ s two leading beverage companies are as deplorable as those used by the Child Catcher in the classic movie “ Chitty Chitty Bang Bang , ” ( below ) who lures kids with promises of lollipops , ice cream and cream puffs – “ all free today !
” There is no confirmed cause-and-effect link between advertising and sugary drink consumption .
But the analysis found increases in ad spending and increases in the consumption of sugary drinks during the period @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and non-Hispanic Black and Mexican American young people , raising concerns about added health impacts to communities that already suffer disproportionately .
Overconsumption of added sugar is a risk factor for heart disease , diabetes and obesity – chronic diseases that disproportionally affect Black and Hispanic lives .
Sugar Science , from the University of California at San Francisco , reports that drinking one 12-ounce soda a day can increase the risk of death from heart disease by almost one-third .
Studies have also shown consuming one to two sugary drinks a day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diabetes by more than one-fourth .
Sugary drinks – including soda , fruit drinks , energy and sport drinks , flavored water and iced tea – account for about half of the added sugar in children ’ s diets , the analysis found .
Black children average 16 teaspoons a day and Mexican American children 14 teaspoons , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
The World Health Organization and American Heart Association recommend that children not exceed six teaspoons of added sugar a day , and that children under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 12-ounce soda can contain as much as 11 teaspoons of added sugar , almost double the recommended amount of added sugar for children .
Despite public commitments to reduce ads seen by kids under 12 , PepsiCo ’ s ad spending rose by 28 percent , and Coca-Cola ’ s spending rose by 81 percent over the period under study .
Black and Hispanic children were more affected than white children by this increase in spending , as they disproportionately saw more of these ads .
Black children were targeted with 87 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and these disparities widened for Black teens over the course of the five years studied .
Since 2010 , spending on sugary drink advertising on Spanish-language TV increased by 80 percent , largely driven by an increase in spending over the five-year period of 121 percent by PepsiCo and 66 percent by Coca-Cola .
This increased advertising comes amid rising rates of childhood obesity : Nearly one in five American kids age six to 19 has obesity , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – three times more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 76 studies , conducted for the federal government ’ s 2020 Dietary Guidelines , found moderate evidence that the more sugary drinks children consumed , the more excess fat they carried .
Childhood obesity is a risk factor for adult obesity , which has recently been linked to a greater risk of more severe COVID-19 symptoms – already taking a disproportionate number of Black lives .
EWG scientists have long called on manufacturers to reduce added sugars , especially in foods marketed to children .
But consumers who want the truth about added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for manufacturers to update their labels .
EWG ’ s Food Scores database highlights products , including sugary drinks , that contain high amounts of sugar with little or no nutritional value .
In addition to drinks , added sugars can hide in cereal , yogurt , breakfast bars , salad dressings and other foods advertised as “ healthy.
” Until July 1 , 2021 , when all food manufacturers must comply with the requirement to list the amount of added sugars on the Nutrition Facts label , EWG recommends consumers use Food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more about added sugars in specific products .

In June, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo pledged to support Black Lives Matter. But according to a new study of advertising of sugary drinks to children, their money tells a different story: Despite an epidemic of obesity, TV ads for sugary drinks targeting Black and Hispanic preschoolers, children and teens rose dramatically from 2013 to 2018.
The study, from the University of Connecticut’s Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, reveals the two corporations spent more than $1 billion selling sugary and diet drinks to kids in 2018, and that these ads continued to disproportionally target Black and Hispanic children.
These marketing tactics by the world’s two leading beverage companies are as deplorable as those used by the Child Catcher in the classic movie “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,” (below) who lures kids with promises of lollipops, ice cream and cream puffs – “all free today!”
There is no confirmed cause-and-effect link between advertising and sugary drink consumption. But the analysis found increases in ad spending and increases in the consumption of sugary drinks during the period under study. Consumption increased among low-income and non-Hispanic Black and Mexican American young people, raising concerns about added health impacts to communities that already suffer disproportionately.
Overconsumption of added sugar is a risk factor for heart disease, diabetes and obesity – chronic diseases that disproportionally affect Black and Hispanic lives. Sugar Science, from the University of California at San Francisco, reports that drinking one 12-ounce soda a day can increase the risk of death from heart disease by almost one-third. Studies have also shown consuming one to two sugary drinks a day increases the risk for developing Type 2 diabetes by more than one-fourth.
Sugary drinks – including soda, fruit drinks, energy and sport drinks, flavored water and iced tea – account for about half of the added sugar in children’s diets, the analysis found. Black children average 16 teaspoons a day and Mexican American children 14 teaspoons, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The World Health Organization and American Heart Association recommend that children not exceed six teaspoons of added sugar a day, and that children under two avoid added sugar altogether. Yet a 12-ounce soda can contain as much as 11 teaspoons of added sugar, almost double the recommended amount of added sugar for children.
Despite public commitments to reduce ads seen by kids under 12, PepsiCo’s ad spending rose by 28 percent, and Coca-Cola’s spending rose by 81 percent over the period under study. Black and Hispanic children were more affected than white children by this increase in spending, as they disproportionately saw more of these ads.
Black children were targeted with 87 more ads a year than white children, and these disparities widened for Black teens over the course of the five years studied. Since 2010, spending on sugary drink advertising on Spanish-language TV increased by 80 percent, largely driven by an increase in spending over the five-year period of 121 percent by PepsiCo and 66 percent by Coca-Cola.
This increased advertising comes amid rising rates of childhood obesity: Nearly one in five American kids age six to 19 has obesity, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – three times more than in the 1970s. Scientific review of 76 studies, conducted for the federal government’s 2020 Dietary Guidelines, found moderate evidence that the more sugary drinks children consumed, the more excess fat they carried. Childhood obesity is a risk factor for adult obesity, which has recently been linked to a greater risk of more severe COVID-19 symptoms – already taking a disproportionate number of Black lives.
EWG scientists have long called on manufacturers to reduce added sugars, especially in foods marketed to children. But consumers who want the truth about added sugar don’t have to wait for manufacturers to update their labels. EWG’s Food Scores database highlights products, including sugary drinks, that contain high amounts of sugar with little or no nutritional value.
In addition to drinks, added sugars can hide in cereal, yogurt, breakfast bars, salad dressings and other foods advertised as “healthy.” Until July 1, 2021, when all food manufacturers must comply with the requirement to list the amount of added sugars on the Nutrition Facts label, EWG recommends consumers use Food Scores’ nutrition concern details to learn more about added sugars in specific products.


environmentalworkinggroupewg--2020-08-03--Sweeping Proposal Would Protect Kids, Farmworkers – and Everyone – From Toxic Pesticides

WASHINGTON – Legislation introduced today would ban or restrict scores of the most toxic pesticides , introduce health-protective restrictions on pesticide use and registration , and create new safety protections for farmworkers – the most sweeping overhaul of the nation ’ s pesticide law in nearly 25 years .
The bill by Sen. Tom Udall ( D-N.M. ) and Rep. Joe Neguse ( D-Colo. ) would significantly strengthen the Environmental Protection Agency ’ s authority under the Federal Insecticide , Fungicide and Rodenticide Act , or FIFRA , to regulate the distribution , sale and use of pesticides .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Act of 2020 would ban some of the most toxic pesticides used in the U.S. , including all organophosphates , neonicotinoids and paraquat .
Among the pesticides that would be banned are chlorpyrifos , which can damage children ’ s brains and was slated for phaseout by the Obama administration , a proposal reversed under President Trump ’ s EPA .
The bill would also ban malathion , which has been linked to increased risk of prostate cancer , and imidacloprid , which , like other neonicotinoids , poisons bees and other pollinator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health risks from pesticide exposure .
The American Academy of Pediatrics , which urges stricter pesticide regulations , says evidence links early-life pesticide exposure to pediatric cancers , decreased cognitive function and behavioral problems .
“ Numerous studies show that existing EPA regulations for pesticides fail to protect children ’ s health , ” said Olga Naidenko , Ph.D. , EWG vice president for science investigations .
“ The federal pesticide policy is in urgent need of reform.
” Under the proposed legislation , the EPA would be required to immediately suspend and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is banned in the European Union or Canada .
The list of such pesticides includes the notorious herbicide atrazine , which disrupts hormones , harms the developing fetus and contaminates the drinking water of millions of Americans .
“ We applaud Sen. Udall and Rep. Neguse for this bold and much-needed proposal to overhaul the nation ’ s pesticide law that puts the health and safety of children , farmworkers and all Americans first , ” said EWG senior vice president for government affairs Scott Faber .
“ The pesticide industry and chemical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to abuse legal loopholes allowing for the use of toxic pesticides that have not been adequately tested to make sure they are safe for people and the environment , ” Faber said .
“ As a result , millions of Americans are exposed to dangerous pesticides in their air , water and food .
The Udall-Neguse plan will rein in this largely unchecked explosion of pesticide use by agriculture and give the EPA much stronger authority to protect the public.
” The legislation would also set new restrictions on the “ conditional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that allows pesticide manufacturers to get new chemicals approved and into the marketplace before the EPA has reviewed all the available science to determine if it is safe .
The legislation also calls for measures to protect farmworkers .
It would require pesticide labels to be printed in English and Spanish , require employers to report injuries to farmworkers from pesticide exposure , and require the suspension of a pesticide when it causes a death of a farmworker .
The Environmental Working Group is a nonprofit , non-partisan organization that empowers people to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Through research , advocacy and unique education tools , EWG drives consumer choice and civic action .
Visit www.ewg.org for more information .

WASHINGTON – Legislation introduced today would ban or restrict scores of the most toxic pesticides, introduce health-protective restrictions on pesticide use and registration, and create new safety protections for farmworkers – the most sweeping overhaul of the nation’s pesticide law in nearly 25 years.
The bill by Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Rep. Joe Neguse (D-Colo.) would significantly strengthen the Environmental Protection Agency’s authority under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, or FIFRA, to regulate the distribution, sale and use of pesticides. The Protect America's Children from Toxic Pesticide Act of 2020 would ban some of the most toxic pesticides used in the U.S., including all organophosphates, neonicotinoids and paraquat.
Among the pesticides that would be banned are chlorpyrifos, which can damage children’s brains and was slated for phaseout by the Obama administration, a proposal reversed under President Trump’s EPA. The bill would also ban malathion, which has been linked to increased risk of prostate cancer, and imidacloprid, which, like other neonicotinoids, poisons bees and other pollinator insects.
Children are especially susceptible to health risks from pesticide exposure. The American Academy of Pediatrics, which urges stricter pesticide regulations, says evidence links early-life pesticide exposure to pediatric cancers, decreased cognitive function and behavioral problems.
“Numerous studies show that existing EPA regulations for pesticides fail to protect children’s health,” said Olga Naidenko, Ph.D., EWG vice president for science investigations. “The federal pesticide policy is in urgent need of reform.”
Under the proposed legislation, the EPA would be required to immediately suspend and review the use of any pesticide that is banned in the European Union or Canada. The list of such pesticides includes the notorious herbicide atrazine, which disrupts hormones, harms the developing fetus and contaminates the drinking water of millions of Americans.
“We applaud Sen. Udall and Rep. Neguse for this bold and much-needed proposal to overhaul the nation’s pesticide law that puts the health and safety of children, farmworkers and all Americans first,” said EWG senior vice president for government affairs Scott Faber.
“The pesticide industry and chemical agriculture have for far too long been able to abuse legal loopholes allowing for the use of toxic pesticides that have not been adequately tested to make sure they are safe for people and the environment,” Faber said. “As a result, millions of Americans are exposed to dangerous pesticides in their air, water and food. The Udall-Neguse plan will rein in this largely unchecked explosion of pesticide use by agriculture and give the EPA much stronger authority to protect the public.”
The legislation would also set new restrictions on the “conditional registration” loophole within the FIFRA law that allows pesticide manufacturers to get new chemicals approved and into the marketplace before the EPA has reviewed all the available science to determine if it is safe.
The legislation also calls for measures to protect farmworkers. It would require pesticide labels to be printed in English and Spanish, require employers to report injuries to farmworkers from pesticide exposure, and require the suspension of a pesticide when it causes a death of a farmworker.
###
The Environmental Working Group is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that empowers people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment. Through research, advocacy and unique education tools, EWG drives consumer choice and civic action. Visit www.ewg.org for more information.


environmentalworkinggroupewg--2020-08-05--After the Pipeline’s Death, Will Duke Energy Shift From Gas to Renewables?

After the Pipeline ’ s Death , Will Duke Energy Shift From Gas to Renewables ?
WASHINGTON – Last month , the soaring costs and dim future of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline forced Duke Energy and Dominion Energy to cancel the $ 8 billion project .
Dominion reacted wisely , dumping most of its natural gas business in favor of a renewable energy future .
But what will Duke do ?
Next week , reporters , investors and industry analysts can ask the nation ’ s largest investor-owned electric utility for answers .
On Monday , Aug. 10 , Duke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a conference call with investors and analysts .
Journalists are barred but can direct questions to Duke ’ s PR staff in Charlotte , N.C. Grant Smith , senior energy policy advisor at EWG , said Duke must answer “ the $ 8 billion questions '' : • Will you follow Dominion and other forward-looking utilities in turning away from additional financially foolish and environmentally harmful gas capacity and invest in clean , safe , efficient renewables and storage batteries ?
• Do you see Duke ’ s plans to spend billions on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an acceptable risk for your investors , and if so , how will you deal with the huge stranded costs of gas infrastructure that could be obsolete before they ’ re completed ?
The Duke Energy Accountability Coalition is closely monitoring Duke ’ s schemes to suppress renewable energy options in its six-state service area , Duke ’ s deplorable environmental record as one of the nation ’ s leading emitters of greenhouse gases and producers of toxic coal ash , and its history of ignoring affordability for low-income customers .
Duke has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to boost the expansion of solar and wind power for ratepayers , slowing the nation ’ s urgently needed transition to clean energy .
Nearly all of Duke ’ s electricity in its monopoly service territories comes from coal , nuclear and natural gas .
Duke was thwarted in its outrageous bid to make Indiana customers pay for its losses from lower demand during the pandemic .
But as bill moratoriums expire , many of its 7.7 million customers still face the prospect of repaying billions of dollars in past-due bills or risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other questions that reporters , investors and analysts should press Duke CEO Lynn Good and CFO Steve Young on during Monday ’ s earnings call : • In the wake of the pandemic , does Duke plan to expand low-income assistance , weatherization or solar programs to reduce disconnections and the resulting loss of revenue and increased administrative costs ?
• Cleaning up pollution from Duke ’ s coal ash pits in North Carolina could top $ 9 billion .
How does the company plan to manage that risk to protect the financial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ growing opposition to natural gas pipelines from ratepayers , advocates and the courts threaten the finances of the company or change its plans ?
• Do you foresee tighter regulations on carbon emissions , particularly if there is a shift in political power in November , affecting your coal and natural gas generation , or plans to invest heavily in additional natural gas infrastructure ?
• Do you plan to invest more heavily in wind power as a hedge against tougher carbon regulations and the vulnerability of fossil fuel and nuclear generation to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • As you move to extend the licenses of your nuclear reactors past their intended lives , what additional safety , operational and maintenance costs do you anticipate ?
Do you anticipate greater financial risks to the company from potential accidents as they age , particularly with respect to embrittlement issues ?
• North Carolina officials are aggressively pursuing more offshore wind power .
What role does Duke plan to play ?
Would a buildout of offshore wind alter your plans to seek nuclear license extensions , given the potential for wind to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increased buildout of offshore wind alter your plans to add natural gas generation , to reduce the risk of stranding those assets ?
The Environmental Working Group is a nonprofit , non-partisan organization that empowers people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment .
Through research , advocacy and unique education tools , EWG drives consumer choice and civic action .

WASHINGTON – Last month, the soaring costs and dim future of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline forced Duke Energy and Dominion Energy to cancel the $8 billion project. Dominion reacted wisely, dumping most of its natural gas business in favor of a renewable energy future. But what will Duke do?
Next week, reporters, investors and industry analysts can ask the nation’s largest investor-owned electric utility for answers.
On Monday, Aug. 10, Duke will release its second-quarter financial results in a conference call with investors and analysts. Journalists are barred but can direct questions to Duke’s PR staff in Charlotte, N.C.
Grant Smith, senior energy policy advisor at EWG, said Duke must answer “the $8 billion questions":
Will you follow Dominion and other forward-looking utilities in turning away from additional financially foolish and environmentally harmful gas capacity and invest in clean, safe, efficient renewables and storage batteries?
Do you see Duke’s plans to spend billions on new gas pipelines and power plants as an acceptable risk for your investors, and if so, how will you deal with the huge stranded costs of gas infrastructure that could be obsolete before they’re completed?
The Duke Energy Accountability Coalition is closely monitoring Duke’s schemes to suppress renewable energy options in its six-state service area, Duke’s deplorable environmental record as one of the nation’s leading emitters of greenhouse gases and producers of toxic coal ash, and its history of ignoring affordability for low-income customers.
Duke has consistently fought against federal and state proposals to boost the expansion of solar and wind power for ratepayers, slowing the nation’s urgently needed transition to clean energy. Nearly all of Duke’s electricity in its monopoly service territories comes from coal, nuclear and natural gas.
Duke was thwarted in its outrageous bid to make Indiana customers pay for its losses from lower demand during the pandemic. But as bill moratoriums expire, many of its 7.7 million customers still face the prospect of repaying billions of dollars in past-due bills or risk having their service disconnected.
Here are other questions that reporters, investors and analysts should press Duke CEO Lynn Good and CFO Steve Young on during Monday’s earnings call:
In the wake of the pandemic, does Duke plan to expand low-income assistance, weatherization or solar programs to reduce disconnections and the resulting loss of revenue and increased administrative costs?
Cleaning up pollution from Duke’s coal ash pits in North Carolina could top $9 billion. How does the company plan to manage that risk to protect the financial interests of its stockholders?
Will growing opposition to natural gas pipelines from ratepayers, advocates and the courts threaten the finances of the company or change its plans?
Do you foresee tighter regulations on carbon emissions, particularly if there is a shift in political power in November, affecting your coal and natural gas generation, or plans to invest heavily in additional natural gas infrastructure?
Do you plan to invest more heavily in wind power as a hedge against tougher carbon regulations and the vulnerability of fossil fuel and nuclear generation to severe weather driven by climate change?
As you move to extend the licenses of your nuclear reactors past their intended lives, what additional safety, operational and maintenance costs do you anticipate? Do you anticipate greater financial risks to the company from potential accidents as they age, particularly with respect to embrittlement issues?
North Carolina officials are aggressively pursuing more offshore wind power. What role does Duke plan to play? Would a buildout of offshore wind alter your plans to seek nuclear license extensions, given the potential for wind to displace and strand those assets? Would increased buildout of offshore wind alter your plans to add natural gas generation, to reduce the risk of stranding those assets?
###
The Environmental Working Group is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that empowers people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment. Through research, advocacy and unique education tools, EWG drives consumer choice and civic action.