environmentalworkinggroupewg--2020-08-12--How Safe Is the Water in Your Kids’ School?

Whether your children ’ s school plans to reopen in the next few weeks or in coming months , parents , teachers and staff already have their hands full preparing for the continuity of education and safeguarding the health of students and adults in the buildings .
Protecting children ’ s health from contaminants in drinking water quality is one item in the list that parents and schools must not overlook .
As Education Week reported , seven states , as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico , have announced either state-wide closure or delayed reopening .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the summer , but this year , most shut sometime in the spring .
By the time they reopen , they ’ ll have been shuttered – and their water sitting stagnant – for four or five months .
The longer the water sits in pipes , the more its quality deteriorates , and the greater the health consequences for those who use it .
Lead in the water – already an issue for many Americans , particularly those living in poverty – is one of the potential problems of stagnant water @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for lead contamination might not reveal the full scope of risk , because it can take three months of regular water use to effectively control lead in the water .
Lead contamination can result in diminished IQ loss and behavioral problems .
A 2018 report showed that more than 40 percent of U.S. schools failed to test for lead in 2016 .
As of 2018 , only 15 states and the District of Columbia had laws in place that require lead testing in schools .
Other drinking water contaminants include disinfection byproducts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cause lasting health harms .
To maintain normal water quality , water needs to keep flowing – faucets turned on and off , toilets flushed , water fountains used .
When that doesn ’ t happen , the water in the school sits , and so does the water in the pipes and service lines leading into the building .
In some cases , individual schools may have had some activity during the pandemic – if they served meals , for instance , or convened meetings – but it ’ s possible that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Solving the problem of drinking water quality isn ’ t as simple as running water from all the taps and flushing the toilets a few times .
Water quality can not be restored overnight .
It takes time and planning .
It ’ s likely your school will need to organize a “ flushing event , ” during which aged water and particulates are flushed from the system in a particular , coordinated fashion , with a specific velocity in the building ’ s service line .
Every city has its own distinct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supplies are also distinct , so planning how to ensure water quality for reopening buildings will differ from school to school .
This is a complicated undertaking that requires the participation of multiple stakeholders , and continued water testing once facilities have reopened .
Tap water quality have long been a concern for communities of color , who face higher risks from the contaminants in the water .
Under-funded schools – those with fewer resources to remediate their water quality – tend to be those where a majority are people of color or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black Institute , the needs of these properties should be at the forefront of any state ’ s reopening plans : “ Every school building must have adequate cleaning personnel and supplies to ensure that during this pandemic everyone in the building is safe from unsanitary elements .
Every school needs to have hygienic protocols in order to keep students and staff safe .
These should be made public to parents , students and the school community at large.
” If your children ’ s school is not yet reopening , there ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s water quality before kids return .
Here are issues for parents to consider – and to ask schools and school districts about – from a recent webinar offered by the Collaborative on Health and the Environment .
If the campus is reopening in the next few weeks : • Send your child to school with filtered clean water in a water bottle – let them know to use the school ’ s water only for the toilet and handwashing until the school says it ’ s okay .
• Ask school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if any , to restore and/or maintain water quality , and advocate for transparency and public sharing of all water test results .
• Provide information to the school and other parents about shutdown-related water quality issues .
If the building will reopen later in the year : • Start the process now to restore and maintain the school building ’ s water quality .
• Seek information about water management protocols that your kids ’ school might use .
• Develop a communications plan to inform families about all water test results @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information about drinking water quality , visit EWG ’ s Tap Water database .
For information about water quality in schools and childcare facilities during coronavirus , consult this infographic from Because Health .

Whether your children’s school plans to reopen in the next few weeks or in coming months, parents, teachers and staff already have their hands full preparing for the continuity of education and safeguarding the health of students and adults in the buildings. Protecting children’s health from contaminants in drinking water quality is one item in the list that parents and schools must not overlook.
As Education Week reported, seven states, as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, have announced either state-wide closure or delayed reopening.
Facilities typically close for a few months over the summer, but this year, most shut sometime in the spring. By the time they reopen, they’ll have been shuttered – and their water sitting stagnant – for four or five months. The longer the water sits in pipes, the more its quality deteriorates, and the greater the health consequences for those who use it.
Lead in the water – already an issue for many Americans, particularly those living in poverty – is one of the potential problems of stagnant water in schools. Results from one-time tests for lead contamination might not reveal the full scope of risk, because it can take three months of regular water use to effectively control lead in the water.
Lead contamination can result in diminished IQ loss and behavioral problems. A 2018 report showed that more than 40 percent of U.S. schools failed to test for lead in 2016. As of 2018, only 15 states and the District of Columbia had laws in place that require lead testing in schools. Other drinking water contaminants include disinfection byproducts, Legionella and other microbes, which can cause lasting health harms.
To maintain normal water quality, water needs to keep flowing – faucets turned on and off, toilets flushed, water fountains used. When that doesn’t happen, the water in the school sits, and so does the water in the pipes and service lines leading into the building. In some cases, individual schools may have had some activity during the pandemic – if they served meals, for instance, or convened meetings – but it’s possible that no water has flowed at all.
Solving the problem of drinking water quality isn’t as simple as running water from all the taps and flushing the toilets a few times. Water quality cannot be restored overnight. It takes time and planning. It’s likely your school will need to organize a “flushing event,” during which aged water and particulates are flushed from the system in a particular, coordinated fashion, with a specific velocity in the building’s service line.
Every city has its own distinct water service map, and school water supplies are also distinct, so planning how to ensure water quality for reopening buildings will differ from school to school. This is a complicated undertaking that requires the participation of multiple stakeholders, and continued water testing once facilities have reopened.
Tap water quality have long been a concern for communities of color, who face higher risks from the contaminants in the water. Under-funded schools – those with fewer resources to remediate their water quality – tend to be those where a majority are people of color or low-income students.
And according to the Black Institute, the needs of these properties should be at the forefront of any state’s reopening plans: “Every school building must have adequate cleaning personnel and supplies to ensure that during this pandemic everyone in the building is safe from unsanitary elements. Every school needs to have hygienic protocols in order to keep students and staff safe. These should be made public to parents, students and the school community at large.”
If your children’s school is not yet reopening, there’s more time to upgrade the building’s water quality before kids return.
Here are issues for parents to consider – and to ask schools and school districts about – from a recent webinar offered by the Collaborative on Health and the Environment.
If the campus is reopening in the next few weeks:
Send your child to school with filtered clean water in a water bottle – let them know to use the school’s water only for the toilet and handwashing until the school says it’s okay.
Ask school administrators what plans are in place, if any, to restore and/or maintain water quality, and advocate for transparency and public sharing of all water test results.
Provide information to the school and other parents about shutdown-related water quality issues.
If the building will reopen later in the year:
Start the process now to restore and maintain the school building’s water quality.
Seek information about water management protocols that your kids’ school might use.
Develop a communications plan to inform families about all water test results for the school building.
For more information about drinking water quality, visit EWG’s Tap Water database. For information about water quality in schools and childcare facilities during coronavirus, consult this infographic from Because Health.


environmentalworkinggroupewg--2020-08-13--EWG News Roundup (8/13): Schools’ Tap Water in the Time of COVID-19, Nitrate Pollution in Minnesota,

EWG News Roundup (8/13): Schools’ Tap Water in the Time of COVID-19, Nitrate Pollution in Minnesota, a Twitter Battle with BP and More

On Monday , EWG released an article on government officials ’ inadequate guidance about reopening schools safely as the coronavirus pandemic seems to worsen .
Senior scientist David Andrews , Ph.D. , brought his own experience to the table as the father of school-aged children while sharing his thoughts about the return to classes in person : “ I am a scientist at EWG , but I don ’ t have the perfect solution ... .
Every educational approach to this fall – school reopening , all kids online , a hybrid model – entails tradeoffs and risks.
” Here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sending kids back to school : On Wednesday , we examined questions about water quality in school buildings .
Because of the pandemic , most facilities closed in the spring , months before the annual summer break .
By the time they reopen , their water may have been stagnant for much longer than usual , leading to contamination from numerous pollutants – including lead – that can harm students ’ and teachers ’ health .
Also this week , we looked at the impact of serious nitrate pollution in the water in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of fertilizer used on potato farms .
Mike Tauber , a resident , has watched neighbors lose well water to chemical contamination and called the company responsible for the spraying , RD Offutt , to tell them : “ You ’ re going to have casualties.
” This week , EWG ’ s VP and Editor in Chief Bill Walker engaged in a Twitter conversation with British Petroleum about its recent “ net-zero carbon ” pledge .
Walker voiced his concerns over the toothless pledge BP made in 2000 promising big investments in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respond , stating that the “ world is a different place now , ” which Walker inferred to mean that “ doing the right thing was n't profitable enough 20 years ago.
” Needless to say , EWG is skeptical of BP ’ s motives .
Here ’ s some news you can use going into the weekend .
Parade : This Sneaky Chemical Might Be Why Gluten Makes You Feel So Sick Last year , an analysis by the nonprofit Environmental Working Group ( EWG ) detected glyphosate in 21 General Mills @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but four products contained levels higher than what EWG considers safe for children .
Except for All Good 's kids ' spray sunscreens , the brand receives a top rating from the Environmental Working Group ( EWG ) based on their ingredient list .
Inside Climate News : Lake Erie ’ s Toxic Green Slime is Getting Worse With Climate Change '' When you go to the beach and you 're sitting or recreating in a lake that has these algae toxins , you can come home with those kinds of symptoms that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' said Anne Weir Schechinger , senior analyst in economics at the Environmental Working Group .
Harper ’ s Bazaar : Clean Makeup Brand Exa Just Launched With 43 Shades of Foundation Clean beauty purists would further argue that this lack of access to clean cosmetics is a political issue , as Environmental Working Group ( EWG ) research indicates that women of color are exposed to a higher toxic load via their personal care products .
GQ : Queer Eye 's Jonathan Van Ness On His Favourite Grooming Products , And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GQ : Any resources you can suggest to become better informed ?
JVN : The Environmental Working Group ’ s Skindeep data base at ewg.org/skindeep and Bustle : The Best Hydrating Toners For Dry Skin This toning lotion from Korean brand Olivarrier is certified clean and organic by COSMOS , Cert Clean , and EWG , which , frankly , is just showing off .
An environmental group says Duke Energy needs to answer questions during an earnings call next week about its post-Atlantic Coast Pipeline renewable energy plans .
( Environmental Working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an advocacy organization , released a report challenging the company ’ s stated priority to have affordable energy bills , saying the utility giant does more to hurt low-income residents than help them ( Energywire , June 5 ) .
Goop : How Easy Beauty Rituals Can Change Your Life ( and Your Skin ) ( Prima is a Certified B Corp and the first ever CBD brand to be verified by the Environmental Working Group , and it abides by strict clean standards Lancaster Farming ( Ephrata , Pa. ) : Roots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Among African-American Farm Families Black farmers sued the USDA , and though a settlement was reached , an investigation by the National Black Farmers Association and the Environmental Working Group showed that the USDA made matters worse by withholding funds.
” The Organic & Non-GMO Report : Days are numbered for pre-harvest use of glyphosate The Environmental Working Group has conducted several studies finding high levels of glyphosate in oat food products like granola , oatmeal , and snack bars .
A recent study by the Environmental Working Group showed that between 2003 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ 217 municipal water supplies saw an average 43 percent increase in nitrates , which have been shown to cause birth defects , thyroid disease , bladder cancer , and some forms of leukemia .
Eat This , Not That !
: 10 Toxic Ingredients You Did n't Know Were In Your Fast Food '' It 's concerning that people could be exposed to these toxic chemicals through the food they eat , '' said lead study author Dr. Laurel Schaider , an environmental chemist at Silent Spring Institute , as reported by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PFAS Phase-Out in Food Containers May Take Years In 2002 , 3M agreed to stop making PFOS and in 2005 , DuPont began the phase-out of PFOA .
However , with a little chemical tweak , DuPont and other companies are marketing a new generation with similar structures .
The Environmental Working Group ( EWG ) reports that studies on these new chemicals also show they have the potential for serious health risks .
Laboratory tests commissioned by the Environmental Working Group ( EWG ) back in January of this year found that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 31 states , only one sample did n't seem to have any PFAS , and two other samples had PFAS that were below the levels where studies have shown they may be a threat to human health .
A new database compiled by the Environmental Working Group ( EWG ) and Northeastern University found more than 610 drinking water sources in 43 states with potentially unsafe levels of the chemicals .
The Good Men Project : 10 Foods You Should Buy Organic The Environmental Working Group ( EWG ) provides a handy list @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and vegetables to prioritize buying organic over conventional , based on the residual pesticides they typically contain .
Woman ’ s World : How to Clean Strawberries to Avoid Harmful Pesticides Each year , the Environmental Working Group releases their list of the “ dirty dozen ” and “ clean 15 ” fruits and vegetables according to how many pesticides are used in their production .

On Monday, EWG released an article on government officials’ inadequate guidance about reopening schools safely as the coronavirus pandemic seems to worsen. Senior scientist David Andrews, Ph.D., brought his own experience to the table as the father of school-aged children while sharing his thoughts about the return to classes in person: “I am a scientist at EWG, but I don’t have the perfect solution.... Every educational approach to this fall – school reopening, all kids online, a hybrid model – entails tradeoffs and risks.”
Here's another COVID-19–related health issue connected to sending kids back to school: On Wednesday, we examined questions about water quality in school buildings. Because of the pandemic, most facilities closed in the spring, months before the annual summer break. By the time they reopen, their water may have been stagnant for much longer than usual, leading to contamination from numerous pollutants – including lead – that can harm students’ and teachers’ health.
Also this week, we looked at the impact of serious nitrate pollution in the water in Minnesota’s Cass County from runoff of fertilizer used on potato farms. Mike Tauber, a resident, has watched neighbors lose well water to chemical contamination and called the company responsible for the spraying, RD Offutt, to tell them: “You’re going to have casualties.”
This week, EWG’s VP and Editor in Chief Bill Walker engaged in a Twitter conversation with British Petroleum about its recent “net-zero carbon” pledge. Walker voiced his concerns over the toothless pledge BP made in 2000 promising big investments in solar energy. BP was quick to respond, stating that the “world is a different place now,” which Walker inferred to mean that “doing the right thing wasn't profitable enough 20 years ago.” Needless to say, EWG is skeptical of BP’s motives.
Here’s some news you can use going into the weekend.
Children’s Health
Parade: This Sneaky Chemical Might Be Why Gluten Makes You Feel So Sick
Last year, an analysis by the nonprofit Environmental Working Group (EWG) detected glyphosate in 21 General Mills cereal and snack products, and all but four products contained levels higher than what EWG considers safe for children.
Business Insider: The best sunscreen
Except for All Good's kids' spray sunscreens, the brand receives a top rating from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) based on their ingredient list.
Algae Blooms
Inside Climate News: Lake Erie’s Toxic Green Slime is Getting Worse With Climate Change
"When you go to the beach and you're sitting or recreating in a lake that has these algae toxins, you can come home with those kinds of symptoms that just last for a day or two," said Anne Weir Schechinger, senior analyst in economics at the Environmental Working Group.
Clean Cosmetics and Environmental Justice
Harper’s Bazaar: Clean Makeup Brand Exa Just Launched With 43 Shades of Foundation
Clean beauty purists would further argue that this lack of access to clean cosmetics is a political issue, as Environmental Working Group (EWG) research indicates that women of color are exposed to a higher toxic load via their personal care products.
Cosmetics – Skin Deep
GQ: Queer Eye's Jonathan Van Ness On His Favourite Grooming Products, And Why The Future Of Beauty Is Clean
GQ: Any resources you can suggest to become better informed?
JVN: The Environmental Working Group’s Skindeep data base at ewg.org/skindeep and
The Clean Academy at biossance.com
Bustle: The Best Hydrating Toners For Dry Skin
This toning lotion from Korean brand Olivarrier is certified clean and organic by COSMOS, Cert Clean, and EWG, which, frankly, is just showing off.
Duke Energy
Energy News Network: Two $80 million solar projects planned for Mississippi
An environmental group says Duke Energy needs to answer questions during an earnings call next week about its post-Atlantic Coast Pipeline renewable energy plans. (Environmental Working Group)
Governors’ Wind & Solar Energy Coalition: How electricity deepens the South’s racial divide
The Environmental Working Group, an advocacy organization, released a report challenging the company’s stated priority to have affordable energy bills, saying the utility giant does more to hurt low-income residents than help them (Energywire, June 5).
EWG VERIFIED™
Goop: How Easy Beauty Rituals Can Change Your Life (and Your Skin)
(Prima is a Certified B Corp and the first ever CBD brand to be verified by the Environmental Working Group, and it abides by strict clean standards
Farm Subsidies
Lancaster Farming (Ephrata, Pa.): Roots of the Soil: Land Succession Issues Among African-American Farm Families
Black farmers sued the USDA, and though a settlement was reached, an investigation by the National Black Farmers Association and the Environmental Working Group showed that the USDA made matters worse by withholding funds.”
Glyphosate in Cereal
The Organic & Non-GMO Report: Days are numbered for pre-harvest use of glyphosate
The Environmental Working Group has conducted several studies finding high levels of glyphosate in oat food products like granola, oatmeal, and snack bars.
Nitrates in Tap Water
Herald & Review (Decatur, Ill.): LETTER: Farmers must use soil health practices
A recent study by the Environmental Working Group showed that between 2003 and 2017, over half of Illinois’ 217 municipal water supplies saw an average 43 percent increase in nitrates, which have been shown to cause birth defects, thyroid disease, bladder cancer, and some forms of leukemia.
PFAS Food Contamination
Eat This, Not That!: 10 Toxic Ingredients You Didn't Know Were In Your Fast Food
"It's concerning that people could be exposed to these toxic chemicals through the food they eat," said lead study author Dr. Laurel Schaider, an environmental chemist at Silent Spring Institute, as reported by the Environmental Working Group.
Mercola: PFAS Phase-Out in Food Containers May Take Years
In 2002, 3M agreed to stop making PFOS and in 2005, DuPont began the phase-out of PFOA. However, with a little chemical tweak, DuPont and other companies are marketing a new generation with similar structures. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) reports that studies on these new chemicals also show they have the potential for serious health risks.
PFAS Tap Water Contamination
Mashed: The dangerous chemical reportedly found in McDonald's food wrappers
Laboratory tests commissioned by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) back in January of this year found that of the 44 tap water samples from 31 states, only one sample didn't seem to have any PFAS, and two other samples had PFAS that were below the levels where studies have shown they may be a threat to human health.
International Fire Fighting: Firefighting foam action in Wisconsin
A new database compiled by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and Northeastern University found more than 610 drinking water sources in 43 states with potentially unsafe levels of the chemicals.
Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce
The Good Men Project: 10 Foods You Should Buy Organic
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) provides a handy list of a “Dirty Dozen” fruits and vegetables to prioritize buying organic over conventional, based on the residual pesticides they typically contain.
Woman’s World: How to Clean Strawberries to Avoid Harmful Pesticides
Each year, the Environmental Working Group releases their list of the “dirty dozen” and “clean 15” fruits and vegetables according to how many pesticides are used in their production.


environmentalworkinggroupewg--2020-08-18--Study: Racial Disparities Affect How Sick Kids Get With COVID-19

Racial disparities , such as lifelong lack of access to health care and nutritious foods , or working at jobs where it ’ s hard to practice social distancing , profoundly affect how likely people are to get sick – and to what extent – from the coronavirus .
Two new studies highlight how children are particularly affected by these disparities when they fall ill from COVID-19 .
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Hispanic children hospitalized with COVID-19 were eight times more likely than white children to require intensive care , and Black children were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suffering from the virus were also more likely to be hospitalized than children from other groups for whom race and ethnicity were reported .
The CDC analyzed reported cases of COVID-19 from 14 states from March 1 through July 25 .
Of the 576 hospitalized kids , almost half were Hispanic , about 30 percent were Black , and just 14 percent were white .
Communities of color are disproportionately represented among frontline and essential workers , whose jobs make it harder to maintain adequate social distancing .
If those workers get the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t show symptoms , the children in their homes are also at greater risk of exposure .
Underlying health conditions make things worse .
Among the children for whom other medical information was collected , almost all had one or more underlying health conditions that can worsen the course of COVID-19 infection , including premature birth , chronic lung disease and obesity .
With schools reopening across the country , and the potential for another surge in COVID-19 cases this fall , this disparity could have serious implications for children already facing pandemic-related @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other concerns .
The second study , published in the peer-reviewed journal Pediatrics , summarized results from a coronavirus test site in Washington , D.C .
It showed that children from low-income communities and communities of color are more much more likely to test positive for the virus .
Among 1,000 children tested , about one in five were positive .
Almost half were Hispanic , 30 percent were non-Hispanic Black children and seven were white .
These disparities were also associated with income , as reported in census block data from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2018 .
Children in households in the highest one-fourth of income – families earning more than $ 158,000 a year – tested positive at a rate of 9 percent , whereas 38 percent of children from families in the lowest quartile were infected .
This means that the children with the fewest economic resources are getting sick the most , and because of historical injustices and segregation , the wealth gap is widest between white Americans and communities of color .
From this test data , it follows that children from communities of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rates of known exposure to the coronavirus .
The authors suggest this could be because besides workplace exposure , people of color may face other factors that increase their likelihood of infection , such as greater reliance on public transportation .
Communities of color have also long been exposed to higher levels of industrial pollution and worse air quality , factors that increase COVID-19 mortality rates .
What ’ s more , because children couldn ’ t get tested without a doctor ’ s referral , the incidence of illness in low-income communities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ underreported .
As school districts weigh decisions about when to reopen , they must recognize how racial and income disparities may mean higher vulnerability to the virus .
Schools must take steps to foster flexibility as well as educational and social support and services for the students and families who need it the most .

Racial disparities, such as lifelong lack of access to health care and nutritious foods, or working at jobs where it’s hard to practice social distancing, profoundly affect how likely people are to get sick – and to what extent – from the coronavirus. Two new studies highlight how children are particularly affected by these disparities when they fall ill from COVID-19.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hispanic children hospitalized with COVID-19 were eight times more likely than white children to require intensive care, and Black children were five times more likely. Hispanic children suffering from the virus were also more likely to be hospitalized than children from other groups for whom race and ethnicity were reported.
The CDC analyzed reported cases of COVID-19 from 14 states from March 1 through July 25. Of the 576 hospitalized kids, almost half were Hispanic, about 30 percent were Black, and just 14 percent were white.
One reason, the authors say, may be that communities of color are disproportionately represented among frontline and essential workers, whose jobs make it harder to maintain adequate social distancing. If those workers get the virus, even if they don’t show symptoms, the children in their homes are also at greater risk of exposure.
Underlying health conditions make things worse. Among the children for whom other medical information was collected, almost all had one or more underlying health conditions that can worsen the course of COVID-19 infection, including premature birth, chronic lung disease and obesity.
With schools reopening across the country, and the potential for another surge in COVID-19 cases this fall, this disparity could have serious implications for children already facing pandemic-related stress, food shortages, educational inequities and other concerns.
The second study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Pediatrics, summarized results from a coronavirus test site in Washington, D.C. It showed that children from low-income communities and communities of color are much more likely to test positive for the virus. Among 1,000 children tested, about one in five were positive. Almost half were Hispanic, 30 percent were non-Hispanic Black children and seven percent were white.
These disparities were also associated with income, as reported in census block data from the American Community Surveys for 2014 to 2018.
Children in households in the highest one-fourth of income – families earning more than $158,000 a year – tested positive at a rate of 9 percent, whereas 38 percent of children from families in the lowest quartile were infected. This means that the children with the fewest economic resources are getting sick the most, and because of historical injustices and segregation, the wealth gap is widest between white Americans and communities of color.
From this test data, it follows that children from communities of color and low-income communities also have higher rates of known exposure to the coronavirus.
The authors suggest this could be because besides workplace exposure, people of color may face other factors that increase their likelihood of infection, such as greater reliance on public transportation. Communities of color have also long been exposed to higher levels of industrial pollution and worse air quality, factors that increase COVID-19 mortality rates. What’s more, because children couldn’t get tested without a doctor’s referral, the incidence of illness in low-income communities and communities of color may have been underreported.
As school districts weigh decisions about when to reopen, they must recognize how racial and income disparities may mean higher vulnerability to the virus. Schools must take steps to foster flexibility as well as educational and social support and services for the students and families who need it the most.


environmentalworkinggroupewg--2020-08-18--Feeding the Waste Cycle: How PFAS ‘Disposal’ Perpetuates Contamination

Current methods of managing waste from toxic “ forever chemicals ” don ’ t work – and in fact , perpetuate the cycle of contamination , according to peer-reviewed research by scientists from the Environmental Working Group .
In a study recently published in the journal Chemosphere , EWG scientists concluded that burning , discarding and flushing materials containing the toxic fluorinated chemicals known as PFAS do not effectively contain or destroy them but rather end up just returning either the same chemicals or their byproducts back into the environment .
In other words , PFAS “ disposal ” is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cycle .
PFAS are used in hundreds of products , such as food packaging , clothing , carpets and cookware , for their waterproofing or grease-proofing properties .
They are called “ forever chemicals ” because they never break down in the environment , which means they could move through the waste cycle indefinitely .
PFAS chemicals suppress the immune system and are associated with cancer , reproductive and developmental harms , and reduced effectiveness of vaccines .
Thousands of U.S. communities with PFAS contamination are urgently looking for treatment options , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waste .
These disposal practices move PFAS among waste management sites and contaminate air , soil and water along the way .
With current disposal options , the concentrated PFAS waste likely returns to the environment , to require costly removal once more .
This toxic circle makes it clear that reducing or eliminating the production and discharge of PFAS is the most effective way of tackling the difficult issue of disposal of chemicals that do not break down .
The EWG study examines the state of the science of three standard practices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ landfilling and wastewater treatment – and makes recommendations for improved treatment practices and additional research .
Hundreds of different PFAS are used today .
This table details the health effects associated with 12 of the most-studied members of the chemical family .
* PFAS chemicals detected by EWG in U.S. public drinking water supplies ( https : //www.ewg.org/research/national-pfas-testing/ ) ■ Strong evidence of health effect documented in people or in laboratory animal studies ● Moderate evidence of health effect documented in people or in laboratory animal studies ▲ Not studied or no reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry ; the National Toxicology Program ; Environmental Protection Toxicity Assessments for PFBS and GenX ; and other sources from the peer-reviewed scientific literature .
The carbon-fluorine bonds in PFAS are among the strongest chemical structures on the planet.1,2 This makes PFAS incredibly difficult to destroy .
Laboratory-scale studies have shown that , when incinerated , PFAS can break down to toxic , volatile chemicals such as carbon tetrafluoride and hexafluoroethane , as well as trifluoroacetic acid and hydrogen fluoride .
However , there are no peer-reviewed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facilities that burn different types of waste.3 Currently published research is not sufficient to address the extent to which PFAS can be completely destroyed and the contaminants that are created in the process .
An EPA technical brief on PFAS incineration , published in February 2020 , noted that “ the effectiveness of incineration to destroy PFAS ... is not well understood.
” 4 Incomplete destruction of PFAS is dangerous because it can result in the formation of smaller PFAS chemicals and breakdown products.5,6 The incinerators can then emit those undetected PFAS and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soil and water in nearby communities.7 Some compounds that could be emitted during PFAS incineration are also potent greenhouse gases .
Research shows that airborne PFAS can travel several miles from facilities emitting PFAS , like incinerators and industrial sites.8 Eventually , airborne PFAS are deposited in soil and water in nearby communities , increasing exposure for people in the area .
A group of researchers from Bennington University , in Vermont , found elevated levels of PFAS in soil and water samples taken from neighborhoods near the Norlite incinerator in Cohoes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ either directly , for PFAS-based materials such as firefighting foam , or indirectly , through incineration of waste containing PFAS , such as textiles or biosolids and sewage sludge incineration .
The incineration of old stocks of PFAS-based firefighting foam – aqueous film-forming foam , or AFFF – is a large source of highly concentrated PFAS waste and has great potential to harm human health and the environment.10 For more than 50 years , the U.S. military has used firefighting foam made with PFAS .
In recent years , the military has moved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to newer formulations , made with PFAS of six carbon molecules or fewer , despite evidence that these PFAS pose many of the same health risks.11,12 Military and firefighting departments nationwide store large stockpiles of legacy AFFF , for which there is no obvious , environmentally acceptable solution , either for disposal or destruction .
The military has contracts with incinerators to burn this legacy AFFF , even though the Pentagon acknowledges that the risks of incinerating AFFF are not well understood .
For example , in April 2017 , the Air Force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disposal because “ no satisfactory disposal method ” had been identified.13 Several community groups near the incineration facilities authorized to burn AFFF are suing the Department of Defense for its failure to protect them from toxic PFAS emissions.14 The groups , represented by Earthjustice , say the Department of Defense has failed to comply with both the National Environmental Policy Act and the new disposal requirements in the FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act , or NDAA .
In May 2020 , the Department of Defense moved to dismiss the case brought by these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obligation to stop incinerating AFFF , because the contracts for incineration were made before the passage of the NDAA .
The fate of PFAS under commercial incinerators ’ current operating conditions is largely unknown .
This data gap must be addressed , and studies should be conducted on PFAS combustion in various types of incinerator facilities , from those handling municipal solid waste or biosolids to those processing hazardous waste .
Research is essential on the optimal temperatures and incinerator residence times for complete PFAS destruction in commercially run incinerators .
The use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large quantity of PFAS-laden waste , and the disposal of this waste can cause further contamination .
Municipal solid waste includes a mixture of PFAS-containing consumer items , such as food packaging materials , food wares , stain- and water-resistant upholstery , textiles , clothes and carpets either treated or manufactured with PFAS .
PFAS are also present in construction and demolition wastes .
The long-term safety of landfill disposal for PFAS is questionable , as PFAS from discarded products and materials end up in landfill leachate and/or groundwater near the landfill .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ PFAS from materials and wastes discarded decades ago .
There are also concerns about landfill stability , due to the potential for greater precipitation and heavier storms associated with global climate change .
PFAS can also volatilize into the air .
Although studies of PFAS in air above landfills have been conducted in other countries , this research still needs to be done in the U.S.16 Source : Adapted , with modifications , from Stoiber , T. , Evans , S. , Naidenko , O.V .
2020 .
Disposal of products and materials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) : A cyclical problem .
Chemosphere 260 : 127659 .
In the U.S. , landfill leachate is commonly collected and transferred to wastewater treatment plants , whereby PFAS and other contaminants in the leachate end up in wastewater effluent and in treated sewage sludge , also called biosolids .
In turn , sewage sludge from wastewater treatment , if not applied on agricultural fields , is either transferred to landfills or incinerated .
PFAS contaminants thus cycle between landfills and wastewater treatment , causing food and water pollution in the process .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ wastewater treatment facilities does not solve the contamination problem .
Capturing , treating and retaining PFAS at the landfill site stops the problem from moving further afield .
The same approach should be used for all other liquid sources of PFAS pollution .
• Degraded PFAS-based consumer and industrial products that leach into wastewater Conventional wastewater treatment processes can not destroy or remove PFAS.23,24 Following wastewater treatment , PFAS end up either in wastewater effluent or in sewage sludge , and therefore wastewater treatment plants are one of the focal points in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Adapted , with modifications , from Stoiber , T. , Evans , S. , Naidenko , O.V .
2020 .
Disposal of products and materials containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances ( PFAS ) : A cyclical problem .
Chemosphere 260 : 127659 .
PFAS discharged with wastewater effluent into surface water contaminate drinking water for water systems and communities downstream .
PFAS contamination also negatively affects other uses of wastewater effluent , such as irrigation and groundwater aquifer recharge.33 The practice of transferring landfill leachate to wastewater plants contributes to the overall PFAS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are more likely to concentrate in the sludge , whereas short-chain PFAS are more likely to remain in the effluent.32 A study in Germany reported that about one-tenth of the load of PFOA and about half of PFOS arriving with the influent to the wastewater treatment plant ends up in sludge.34 From wastewater treatment plants , treated sewage sludge is applied to agricultural fields , sent to the landfill or incinerated .
Some states now require the testing of biosolids for PFAS prior to land application to avoid contamination of crops or animals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sewage sludge to inactivate pathogenic organisms , increases measurable PFAS concentrations in biosolids.35 ** Range of detections for individual compounds detected in biosolids .
*** Sum of averages for individual PFAS detected primary , thickened , or activated sludge samples .
Source : EWG analysis of data from the peer-reviewed scientific literature .
Measuring PFAS concentrations in biosolids prior to field application is crucial , because PFAS are taken up by crops and can end up in food .
In addition to PFAS from biosolids , agricultural crops and produce can become polluted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uptake and accumulation in edible plants depends on the concentration of PFAS in soil , the amount of organic carbon in soil , the length of PFAS and the type of plants grown.44,45 A 2013 study conducted by scientists from the Colorado School of Mines reported that two PFAS chemicals , 4-carbon perfluorobutanoic acid , or PFBA , and 5-carbon perfluoropentanoic acid , or PFPeA , accumulated in lettuce and tomatoes grown in soil where biosolids were applied.46 Shorter-chain PFAS , which have four to six fluorinated carbons , tend to transfer into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well as into fruits,47 whereas longer-chain PFAS accumulate in the roots.48 PFAS contamination of produce and other food items poses a public health risk that must be addressed .
There are no federal standards , guidelines , or health benchmarks for PFAS in biosolids .
In the absence of national requirements , states are starting to develop their own guidelines to address this source of PFAS contamination .
The state of Maine now requires that biosolids be tested prior to field application and has set screening levels of 2.5 nanogram per gram , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ng/g for PFOS ; and 1900 ng/g for PFBA.49 New Hampshire is in the process of developing screening standards for PFAS in biosolids,50 and Massachusetts requires testing biosolids for PFAS.51 • Monitoring PFAS at all wastewater treatment facilities and making those data publicly available .
• Monitoring PFAS in treated sewage sludge prior to any agricultural application and making those data publicly available .
• Developing human health-based benchmarks for PFAS in biosolids used for application on agricultural fields .
• Additional research on advanced PFAS destruction and remediation technologies , specifically for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
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Current methods of managing waste from toxic “forever chemicals” don’t work – and in fact, perpetuate the cycle of contamination, according to peer-reviewed research by scientists from the Environmental Working Group.
In a study recently published in the journal Chemosphere, EWG scientists concluded that burning, discarding and flushing materials containing the toxic fluorinated chemicals known as PFAS do not effectively contain or destroy them but rather end up just returning either the same chemicals or their byproducts back into the environment. In other words, PFAS “disposal” is really just another step in the contamination cycle.
PFAS are used in hundreds of products, such as food packaging, clothing, carpets and cookware, for their waterproofing or grease-proofing properties. They are called “forever chemicals” because they never break down in the environment, which means they could move through the waste cycle indefinitely. PFAS chemicals suppress the immune system and are associated with cancer, reproductive and developmental harms, and reduced effectiveness of vaccines.
Thousands of U.S. communities with PFAS contamination are urgently looking for treatment options, but every technology currently in use produces PFAS-laden waste. These disposal practices move PFAS among waste management sites and contaminate air, soil and water along the way.
With current disposal options, the concentrated PFAS waste likely returns to the environment, to require costly removal once more. This toxic circle makes it clear that reducing or eliminating the production and discharge of PFAS is the most effective way of tackling the difficult issue of disposal of chemicals that do not break down.
The EWG study examines the state of the science of three standard practices for PFAS waste management – incineration, landfilling and wastewater treatment – and makes recommendations for improved treatment practices and additional research.
Health Effects of PFAS
Hundreds of different PFAS are used today. This table details the health effects associated with 12 of the most-studied members of the chemical family.
Table 1. Harm to Human Health From 12 PFAS Chemicals
Chemical Harm to the Immune System Harm to Development and Reproduction Harm to the Endocrine System Metabolic Changes Changes in the Liver Increased Risk of Cancer Weaker immune response; lower antibody production in response to vaccination; increased allergic response; increased risk of asthma; changes in spleen and thymus Reduced birth weight; pregnancy-induced hypertension; preeclampsia; reduced fertility; reduced duration of breastfeeding; altered mammary gland development; harm to the male reproductive system Changes in hormone levels, including thyroid and reproductive hormones; thyroid disease; hormone receptor activation Increased cholesterol and lipids; weight gain; diabetes Increased liver weight; changes in liver enzymes Increased risk of testicular, kidney or breast cancer; increased tumors in laboratory animals; evidence for one or more of the key characteristics of carcinogens PFOA*# ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ PFOS*# ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ PFNA*# ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ● PFHxS*# ■ ■ ■ ● ■ ● PFDA*# ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ● PFDoA# ● ● ● ▲ ■ ● PFHxA*# ■ ■ ■ ▲ ■ ● GenX* ■ ■ ■ ▲ ■ ■ PFBS*# ● ■ ■ ● ■ ● PFBA*# ● ■ ● ▲ ■ ● PFHpA*# ▲ ▲ ● ▲ ■ ● PFUA# ● ■ ● ▲ ■ ●
* PFAS chemicals detected by EWG in U.S. public drinking water supplies (https://www.ewg.org/research/national-pfas-testing/)
# PFAS included in ATSDR toxicological profile
■ Strong evidence of health effect documented in people or in laboratory animal studies
● Moderate evidence of health effect documented in people or in laboratory animal studies
▲ Not studied or no reported association in available studies
Sources: The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry; the National Toxicology Program; Environmental Protection Toxicity Assessments for PFBS and GenX; and other sources from the peer-reviewed scientific literature.
Incineration
The carbon-fluorine bonds in PFAS are among the strongest chemical structures on the planet.1,2 This makes PFAS incredibly difficult to destroy.
Laboratory-scale studies have shown that, when incinerated, PFAS can break down to toxic, volatile chemicals such as carbon tetrafluoride and hexafluoroethane, as well as trifluoroacetic acid and hydrogen fluoride. However, there are no peer-reviewed studies on PFAS emissions in commercial incineration facilities that burn different types of waste.3
Currently published research is not sufficient to address the extent to which PFAS can be completely destroyed and the contaminants that are created in the process. An EPA technical brief on PFAS incineration, published in February 2020, noted that “the effectiveness of incineration to destroy PFAS ... is not well understood.”4
Incomplete destruction of PFAS is dangerous because it can result in the formation of smaller PFAS chemicals and breakdown products.5,6 The incinerators can then emit those undetected PFAS and other toxic chemicals, contaminating air, soil and water in nearby communities.7 Some compounds that could be emitted during PFAS incineration are also potent greenhouse gases.
Research shows that airborne PFAS can travel several miles from facilities emitting PFAS, like incinerators and industrial sites.8 Eventually, airborne PFAS are deposited in soil and water in nearby communities, increasing exposure for people in the area. A group of researchers from Bennington University, in Vermont, found elevated levels of PFAS in soil and water samples taken from neighborhoods near the Norlite incinerator in Cohoes, N.Y.9
PFAS incineration has been happening, either directly, for PFAS-based materials such as firefighting foam, or indirectly, through incineration of waste containing PFAS, such as textiles or biosolids and sewage sludge incineration. The incineration of old stocks of PFAS-based firefighting foam – aqueous film-forming foam, or AFFF – is a large source of highly concentrated PFAS waste and has great potential to harm human health and the environment.10
For more than 50 years, the U.S. military has used firefighting foam made with PFAS. In recent years, the military has moved away from AFFF with eight carbon atoms to newer formulations, made with PFAS of six carbon molecules or fewer, despite evidence that these PFAS pose many of the same health risks.11,12 Military and firefighting departments nationwide store large stockpiles of legacy AFFF, for which there is no obvious, environmentally acceptable solution, either for disposal or destruction.
The military has contracts with incinerators to burn this legacy AFFF, even though the Pentagon acknowledges that the risks of incinerating AFFF are not well understood. For example, in April 2017, the Air Force requested proposals for the study of AFFF disposal because “no satisfactory disposal method” had been identified.13
Several community groups near the incineration facilities authorized to burn AFFF are suing the Department of Defense for its failure to protect them from toxic PFAS emissions.14 The groups, represented by Earthjustice, say the Department of Defense has failed to comply with both the National Environmental Policy Act and the new disposal requirements in the FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA.
In May 2020, the Department of Defense moved to dismiss the case brought by these community groups,15 arguing that it has no obligation to stop incinerating AFFF, because the contracts for incineration were made before the passage of the NDAA.
Recommendations
The fate of PFAS under commercial incinerators’ current operating conditions is largely unknown. This data gap must be addressed, and studies should be conducted on PFAS combustion in various types of incinerator facilities, from those handling municipal solid waste or biosolids to those processing hazardous waste. Research is essential on the optimal temperatures and incinerator residence times for complete PFAS destruction in commercially run incinerators.
Landfills
The use of PFAS-based products and materials produces a large quantity of PFAS-laden waste, and the disposal of this waste can cause further contamination. Municipal solid waste includes a mixture of PFAS-containing consumer items, such as food packaging materials, food wares, stain- and water-resistant upholstery, textiles, clothes and carpets either treated or manufactured with PFAS. PFAS are also present in construction and demolition wastes.
The long-term safety of landfill disposal for PFAS is questionable, as PFAS from discarded products and materials end up in landfill leachate and/or groundwater near the landfill. Some older, inactive landfills may release PFAS from materials and wastes discarded decades ago. There are also concerns about landfill stability, due to the potential for greater precipitation and heavier storms associated with global climate change. PFAS can also volatilize into the air. Although studies of PFAS in air above landfills have been conducted in other countries, this research still needs to be done in the U.S.16
Table 2: Studies of PFAS in Landfill Leachate
Country Number of Landfills in the Study Number of PFAS Tested Total PFAS Concentration Reported for Untreated Landfill Leachate, Rounded United States (Solo-Gabriele et al., 2020)17 5 11 2.8–18 µg/L United States (Lang et al., 2017)18 18 70 0.3–66 µg/L Germany (Busch et al., 2010)19 22 43 0.03–13 µg/L China (Yan et al., 2015)20 5 14 7.3–292 µg/L China (Wang et al., 2020)21 3 29 22–39 µg/L Australia (Gallen et al., 2017)22 27 9 0.2–46 µg/L
Source: Adapted, with modifications, from Stoiber, T., Evans, S., Naidenko, O.V. 2020. Disposal of products and materials containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): A cyclical problem. Chemosphere 260: 127659.
In the U.S., landfill leachate is commonly collected and transferred to wastewater treatment plants, whereby PFAS and other contaminants in the leachate end up in wastewater effluent and in treated sewage sludge, also called biosolids. In turn, sewage sludge from wastewater treatment, if not applied on agricultural fields, is either transferred to landfills or incinerated. PFAS contaminants thus cycle between landfills and wastewater treatment, causing food and water pollution in the process.
Recommendations
The practice of transferring landfill leachate to wastewater treatment facilities does not solve the contamination problem. Capturing, treating and retaining PFAS at the landfill site stops the problem from moving further afield. The same approach should be used for all other liquid sources of PFAS pollution.
Wastewater and Biosolids
Wastewater treatment plants receive PFAS from multiple sources, including:
Degraded PFAS-based consumer and industrial products that leach into wastewater
Industrial facility discharges
Landfill leachate transferred to wastewater treatment plants
PFAS ingested and eliminated by humans
Conventional wastewater treatment processes cannot destroy or remove PFAS.23,24 Following wastewater treatment, PFAS end up either in wastewater effluent or in sewage sludge, and therefore wastewater treatment plants are one of the focal points in the environmental cycling of PFAS compounds.25
Table 3. Studies Reporting PFAS Measurements in Wastewater
Country Number of Wastewater Facilities in the Study Number of PFAS Tested Sum of PFAS Concentration in the Influent, Rounded Sum of PFAS Concentration in the Effluent, Rounded United States (Schultz et al., 2006)26 1 15 39-132 ng/L 38–124 ng/L United States (Masoner et al., 2020)27 5 73 1030–3360 ng/L 330–2110 ng/L Sweden (Eriksson et al., 2017)28 3 44 41–97 ng/L 31–78 ng/L European Union (Loos et al., 2013)29 90 7 Not analyzed Average: 812 ng/L Maximum: 50,107 ng/L China (Zhang et al., 2013)30 28 16 0.04–91 ng/L 0.01–107 ng/L Australia (Nguyen et al., 2019)31 2 17 31–219 ng/L Not analyzed Australia (Coggan et al., 2019)32 19 21 9–412 ng/L 34–517 ng/L
Source: Adapted, with modifications, from Stoiber, T., Evans, S., Naidenko, O.V. 2020. Disposal of products and materials containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): A cyclical problem. Chemosphere 260: 127659.
PFAS discharged with wastewater effluent into surface water contaminate drinking water for water systems and communities downstream. PFAS contamination also negatively affects other uses of wastewater effluent, such as irrigation and groundwater aquifer recharge.33 The practice of transferring landfill leachate to wastewater plants contributes to the overall PFAS load in wastewater treatment plants.27,32
Longer-chain PFAS are more likely to concentrate in the sludge, whereas short-chain PFAS are more likely to remain in the effluent.32 A study in Germany reported that about one-tenth of the load of PFOA and about half of PFOS arriving with the influent to the wastewater treatment plant ends up in sludge.34
From wastewater treatment plants, treated sewage sludge is applied to agricultural fields, sent to the landfill or incinerated. Some states now require the testing of biosolids for PFAS prior to land application to avoid contamination of crops or animals. Heat treatment, commonly applied to sewage sludge to inactivate pathogenic organisms, increases measurable PFAS concentrations in biosolids.35
Table 4. Studies Reporting PFAS in Biosolids
Study Number of PFAS Tested Sum of PFAS Concentrations, Rounded Where PFAS Were Measured United States Samples from 4 wastewater treatment plants (Kim Lazcano et al., 2019)35 17 18–49 ng/g Sewage sludge, prior to treatment 8–123 ng/g Biosolids, after treatment (heat, composting, blending, hydrolysis) United States Samples from 1 wastewater treatment plant (Armstrong et al. 2016)36 12 98 ng/g* Limed biosolids, dry weight 2–601 ng/g** Limed biosolids, range of individual PFAS detections, dry weight United States Samples from a nationwide sewage sludge inventory (Venkatesan and Halden, 2013)37 13 539 ng/g* Sewage sludge, dry weight (air dried prior to extraction) 1.2–618 ng/g** Sewage sludge, range of individual PFAS detections, dry weight (air dried prior to extraction) United States Samples from 2 different sites (Yoo et al., 2009)38 10 98–682 ng/g Sewage sludge, dry weight United States Samples from 1 wastewater treatment plant (Schultz et al., 2006)26 15 120–488 ng/g*** Sewage sludge (primary, thickened, or activated) Canada Samples from 20 wastewater treatment plants (Letcher et al. 2020)39 22 5–93 ng/g Biosolids, dry weight (air dried prior to extraction) Australia Samples from 12 wastewater treatment plants (Sleep & Juhasz, 2020)40 28 5–145 ng/g Biosolids (air dried) Australia Samples from 14 wastewater treatment plants (Gallen et al., 2018)41 9 5–150 ng/g Biosolids Spain Samples from 16 wastewater treatment plants (Navarro et al. 2016)42 20 Up to 119 ng/g Municipal solid waste compost or wastewater treatment plant biosolids, dry weight China Samples from 12 wastewater treatment plants (Chen et al. 2012)24 2 PFOS: 0.5–20 ng/g PFOA: 0.5–158 ng/g Sewage sludge
* Average total concentration of PFAS.
** Range of detections for individual compounds detected in biosolids.
*** Sum of averages for individual PFAS detected primary, thickened, or activated sludge samples.
Source: EWG analysis of data from the peer-reviewed scientific literature.
Measuring PFAS concentrations in biosolids prior to field application is crucial, because PFAS are taken up by crops and can end up in food. In addition to PFAS from biosolids, agricultural crops and produce can become polluted by PFAS-contaminated water used for irrigation.43
PFAS uptake and accumulation in edible plants depends on the concentration of PFAS in soil, the amount of organic carbon in soil, the length of PFAS and the type of plants grown.44,45 A 2013 study conducted by scientists from the Colorado School of Mines reported that two PFAS chemicals, 4-carbon perfluorobutanoic acid, or PFBA, and 5-carbon perfluoropentanoic acid, or PFPeA, accumulated in lettuce and tomatoes grown in soil where biosolids were applied.46 Shorter-chain PFAS, which have four to six fluorinated carbons, tend to transfer into the leafy parts of plants, as well as into fruits,47 whereas longer-chain PFAS accumulate in the roots.48
PFAS contamination of produce and other food items poses a public health risk that must be addressed. There are no federal standards, guidelines, or health benchmarks for PFAS in biosolids. In the absence of national requirements, states are starting to develop their own guidelines to address this source of PFAS contamination. The state of Maine now requires that biosolids be tested prior to field application and has set screening levels of 2.5 nanogram per gram, or ng/g, for PFOA; 5.2 ng/g for PFOS; and 1900 ng/g for PFBA.49 New Hampshire is in the process of developing screening standards for PFAS in biosolids,50 and Massachusetts requires testing biosolids for PFAS.51
Recommendations
Monitoring PFAS at all wastewater treatment facilities and making those data publicly available.
Monitoring PFAS in treated sewage sludge prior to any agricultural application and making those data publicly available.
Developing human health-based benchmarks for PFAS in biosolids used for application on agricultural fields.
Additional research on advanced PFAS destruction and remediation technologies, specifically for PFAS in sewage sludge and wastewater effluent.
References


environmentalworkinggroupewg--2020-08-19--EWG Comments to NEJAC to Consider Both Historical and Current PFAS Contamination

EWG Comments to NEJAC to Consider Both Historical and Current PFAS Contamination Environmental Working Group presented comments to the National @ @ @ @ @ urging the Council to consider both historical and current PFAS contamination and to ensure that @ @ @ @ @ the health risks of PFAS .

The snap of a coffee lid, the pop of a chip bag opening, the crinkle of an empty wrapper – all ways that we use plastic before discarding and forgetting about it. But we’re reminded of the pollution...


environmentalworkinggroupewg--2020-08-20--EWG News Roundup (8/20): 10 Ways the Trump Administration Has Made Life More Toxic, Racial Dispariti

EWG News Roundup (8/20): 10 Ways the Trump Administration Has Made Life More Toxic, Racial Disparities Fueling COVID-19’s Force and More

As we ’ re nearing the end of President Trump ’ s first term , EWG counted down 10 ways his administration has made American life more toxic , especially for children .
In a recent study published in the journal Chemosphere , EWG scientists concluded that burning , discarding and flushing materials containing the toxic fluorinated chemicals known as PFAS do not effectively contain or destroy them but rather end up just returning either the same chemicals or their byproducts back into the environment .
EWG also broke down two recent studies that show how racial disparities and lack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sick kids get with COVID-19 .
Here ’ s some news you can use going into the weekend .
Circle of Blue : Report : When Reopening Schools , Don ’ t Forget About Lead The Environmental Working Group reported this week that schools may want to test their water for lead and bacteria before reopening this fall .
According to a study published in Chemosphere , scientists at the Environmental Working Group ( EWG ) , Washington , D.C. , have concluded that burning , discarding and flushing waste containing the toxic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ substances ( PFAS ) all contribute to environmental contamination .
Eat This , Not That !
: 5 Secret Dangers of Drinking Bottled Water According to a 2008 report from the Environmental Working Group , various trihalomethanes were detected in four brands of bottled water , including Sam 's Choice and Acadia , at two to three times greater levels than the bottled water industry 's voluntary standard of 10 ppb .
Before It ’ s News : Essential oils proven to neutralize the harmful effects of viruses and bacteria The Environmental Working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cleaning products can cause many health problems , including asthma , allergies , chemical Greatist : We Scoured the Internet for the Best Green Cleaning Products in Every Category Keeping this list in mind , we scoured the internet for products recommended by the Environmental Working Group ( EWG ) , a nonprofit that reports on and grades green cleaning products .
RealSimple : The Only Green Cleaning Guide You ’ ll Ever Need A reusable cloth without disinfectant is a fine option for routine cleaning , according to the Environmental Working Group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Can Impact Your Health The Environmental Working Group is a great resource and offers helpful consumer guides .
There ’ s the Environmental Working Group ’ s Skin Deep catalogue which rates over 70,000 personal care products , annual Ethical Fashion Reports which rate fashion brands on transparency and sustainability , apps like goodonyou with a similar rating system , and eco documentaries like The True Cost - my favourite to date - Damon Gameau 's 2040 .
Beauty News NYC : Beauty Best Bet : Stone and Tumble , A Natural Cure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ skincare issues such as acne , inflammation , psoriasis , general redness , and irritations of the skin have been tested .
Stone & Tumble is created within the EWG ( Environmental Working Group ) guidelines .
Kim Harley , PhD , one of the authors of the study , recommends the Environmental Working Group ’ s Skin Deep database , which allows you to search more than 60,000 products , and the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics , which provides guidance about how to avoid potentially risky chemicals in products .
The Zoe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sale Means All Squalane Everything For 25 % Off Some of the best finds — all vegan , cruelty-free , Environmental Working Group-certified , and free from 2,000 blacklisted ingredients — ahead .
Bustle : The Best Face Masks That Are *Actually* Organic This mask hasn ’ t ( yet ) been officially certified organic by a third-party agency , though it is verified by EWG , a private non-profit that monitors toxic ingredients in cosmetics and personal care products .
Bustle : These Innovative Korean Shampoos Will Transform Your Hair — & @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in this EWG-verified formula include French cypress , pine leaf , and eucalyptus oils , which give this shampoo a woodsy , spa-like scent and invigorating feel .
Marin : The Best Natural Skincare Products for At-Home Routines Many EO products are EWG verified and have earned other important certifications .
The Environmental Working Group ( EWG ) , an American non-profit dedicated to protecting human health and the environment , certification ensures items are free from harsh and harmful ingredients .
Products used are hypoallergenic , vegan , cruelty-free , dermatologist tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eco-friendly .
Prevention : Prevention ’ s 2020 Wellness Awards : The Top Tools You Need to Fulfill a Well-Balanced Lifestyle This EWG-verified spray is made with natural ingredients , and testers loved the light lavender scent .
Reprinted by MSN Seattleite : Summer 2020 Essentials + Tempting Treats to Try , Too Before heading outside , we ’ re diligent about lathering up with sun care products by MyChelle Dermaceuticals , a company we ’ re happy to support because its : a founding member of the Environmental Working Group ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; a PETA-certified , cruelty-free company ; and certified by Leaping Bunny .
Thrive Global : Cecily Pan : “ Confidence is the key !
When you ’ re confident in yourself , you will feel the beauty shines through from within ” That ’ s why we insist our products to be certified by COSMOS AND verified by EWG ( Environmental Working Group ) , even though this increases the difficulty and cost of product development immensely .
Who What Wear : I Wore a Different Perfume Every Day for a Month—These @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and like all of Henry Rose 's fragrances , it 's verified by the Environmental Working Group and certified by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute .
Over half of the money went to the richest 10 percent of farmers , according to a study from the Environmental Working Group , with the bottom 80 percent getting on average just $ 5,000 .
KPC News ( Kendallville , Ind . )
: Welfare for the rich : the basics Indeed , according to the Environmental Working Group , which tracks farm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billionaire members of the Forbes 400 got over $ 6.3 million in farm subsidies between 1995 and 2014 .
The Environmental Working Group ’ s ( EWG ) extensive analysis of new and expanding farms in North Carolina makes one thing clear : The Tar Heel State ’ s meat industry doesn ’ t give a damn about people of color .
Pay attention to labels , but get the real lowdown on ingredients , and how items are processed , from research- intensive sites like the Environmental Working Group ’ s Food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than the manufacturers ’ ingredient lists , which are virtually impossible to decipher ( unless you ’ re a food scientist ) .
Food Network : Should You Be Concerned About Weed Killer In Hummus ?
You may have seen headlines claiming that hummus isn ’ t safe to eat .
The Environmental Working Group ( EWG ) claims store-bought hummus contains levels of glyphosate , a commonly used herbicide , that are unsafe .
In July , the Environmental Working Group ( EWG ) released an analysis of lab testing that showed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and chickpea samples .
Live Strong : 6 Canned Proteins You Haven ’ t Tried Before — and Delicious Ways to Use Them While farmed and wild salmon are both great ways to get more fatty fish in your diet , wild salmon has lower levels of persistent organic pollutants ( POPs ) , which have been linked to type 2 diabetes and obesity , according to the Environmental Working Group ( EWG ) .
The Washington Post : Fred Tutman sees himself as the voice of the Patuxent , and he says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A report in January issued by the Environmental Working Group , a D.C.-based environmental activist organization specializing in chemical research , concluded that drinking water in the District and Prince George ’ s County contained levels of PFAS that the EWG considered unsafe .
Food Safety Magazine : The Growing Challenge of Safe Water for Use in Food Processing Operations A recent report by the Environmental Working Group ( EWG ) cites the latest statistics on PFAS ’ reach into everyday life : Drinking water systems serving an estimated 19 million people , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states , are known to be contaminated with one or more of the thousands of known PFAS .
The Upper Potomac Riverkeeper ’ s Antietam Creek PFAS Sampling Project cites a study by the Environmental Working Group that calls for maximum contaminant levels for PFAS in drinking water to be established at 1 ppt .
Cheapism : 25 'Superfoods ' That Are n't as Super as You Think And according to the Environmental Working Group , some non-organic kale has been found to be contaminated with a potentially carcinogenic pesticide that is banned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Style ( Pa. ) : How to Build Your Immune System Costs can be a big factor , but helpful tools like the Environmental Working Group ’ s 2020 Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen Shopper ’ s Guide to Pesticides in Produce can help consumers make choices regarding when it is most critical to choose organic over conventional .
Village Living Magazine : Improve Your Digestive System by Optimizing Your Microbiome The key to avoiding glysophyte is eating organic foods .
If you are unsure where to start with organics , look at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dirty dozen ” list .
Woman ’ s World : How to Clean Stained Tupperware in Just a Few Seconds Strawberries , which typically top the Environmental Working Group ’ s list of “ dirty dozen ” foods prone to holding onto potentially toxic pesticides , are especially in need of more than a quick rinse .
According to the Environmental Working Group ( EWG ) , scientists and public health agencies “ have found little evidence that the use of sunscreens in isolation from other sun protective measures prevents most types of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunscreen Ingredients You Want to Avoid ( and How to Choose the Good Stuff + Product Picks ) The Environmental Working Group ( EWG ) recommends against using powder and spray sunscreens due to the inhalation risk , which they report has a more direct route to the system than absorption through the skin .
This week on Lifestyles , Lillian speaks with Carla Burns , research analyst for the Environmental Working Group .
She ’ s also a part of the Healthy Living Science Team .
Carla talks about sun safety products @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and explains how to protect ourselves from the sun and limit daily exposure to chemicals .
Money : The Best Water Filters for Your Money Though laws like the 1974 Safe Drinking Water Act promote the regulation of contaminants in water , it doesn ’ t mean that all pollutants are regulated , or that violations aren ’ t widespread .
According to the Environmental Working Group ( EWG ) , there are more than 287 contaminants found in US tap water .

As we’re nearing the end of President Trump’s first term, EWG counted down 10 ways his administration has made American life more toxic, especially for children.
In a recent study published in the journal Chemosphere, EWG scientists concluded that burning, discarding and flushing materials containing the toxic fluorinated chemicals known as PFAS do not effectively contain or destroy them but rather end up just returning either the same chemicals or their byproducts back into the environment.
EWG also broke down two recent studies that show how racial disparities and lack of access to health care affect how sick kids get with COVID-19.
Here’s some news you can use going into the weekend.
Children’s Health
Circle of Blue: Report: When Reopening Schools, Don’t Forget About Lead
The Environmental Working Group reported this week that schools may want to test their water for lead and bacteria before reopening this fall.
PFAS Waste Disposal
Waste Today: Research
According to a study published in Chemosphere, scientists at the Environmental Working Group (EWG), Washington, D.C., have concluded that burning, discarding and flushing waste containing the toxic fluorinated chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) all contribute to environmental contamination.
Bottled Water
Eat This, Not That!: 5 Secret Dangers of Drinking Bottled Water
According to a 2008 report from the Environmental Working Group, various trihalomethanes were detected in four brands of bottled water, including Sam's Choice and Acadia, at two to three times greater levels than the bottled water industry's voluntary standard of 10 ppb.
Cleaning Products
Before It’s News: Essential oils proven to neutralize the harmful effects of viruses and bacteria
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) explains that commercial cleaning products can cause many health problems, including asthma, allergies, chemical
Greatist: We Scoured the Internet for the Best Green Cleaning Products in Every Category
Keeping this list in mind, we scoured the internet for products recommended by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a nonprofit that reports on and grades green cleaning products.
RealSimple: The Only Green Cleaning Guide You’ll Ever Need
A reusable cloth without disinfectant is a fine option for routine cleaning, according to the Environmental Working Group.
Consumer Guides
Cleveland Clinic: How Environmental Toxins Can Impact Your Health
The Environmental Working Group is a great resource and offers helpful consumer guides.
Skin Deep® Cosmetics Database
Marie Claire: Greenwashing: The Ultimate Betrayal
There’s the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep catalogue which rates over 70,000 personal care products, annual Ethical Fashion Reports which rate fashion brands on transparency and sustainability, apps like goodonyou with a similar rating system, and eco documentaries like The True Cost - my favourite to date - Damon Gameau's 2040.
Beauty News NYC: Beauty Best Bet: Stone and Tumble, A Natural Cure for Skin Inflammation
Its effectiveness for combatting skincare issues such as acne, inflammation, psoriasis, general redness, and irritations of the skin have been tested. Stone & Tumble is created within the EWG (Environmental Working Group) guidelines.
Berkeley Wellness (Calif.): Looking for Safer Cosmetics
Kim Harley, PhD, one of the authors of the study, recommends the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database, which allows you to search more than 60,000 products, and the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, which provides guidance about how to avoid potentially risky chemicals in products.
The Zoe Report: The Biossance Friends & Family Sale Means All Squalane Everything For 25% Off
Some of the best finds — all vegan, cruelty-free, Environmental Working Group-certified, and free from 2,000 blacklisted ingredients — ahead.
EWG VERIFIED®
Bustle: The Best Face Masks That Are *Actually* Organic
This mask hasn’t (yet) been officially certified organic by a third-party agency, though it is verified by EWG, a private non-profit that monitors toxic ingredients in cosmetics and personal care products.
Bustle: These Innovative Korean Shampoos Will Transform Your Hair — & They're All On Amazon
Key ingredients in this EWG-verified formula include French cypress, pine leaf, and eucalyptus oils, which give this shampoo a woodsy, spa-like scent and invigorating feel.
Marin: The Best Natural Skincare Products for At-Home Routines
Many EO products are EWG verified and have earned other important certifications. The Environmental Working Group (EWG), an American non-profit dedicated to protecting human health and the environment, certification ensures items are free from harsh and harmful ingredients.
Patch; Malden, Mass.: Care-Full Clean-Personal & Natural Laundry Service
Products used are hypoallergenic, vegan, cruelty-free, dermatologist tested, NEA Certified, EWG Verified and eco-friendly.
Prevention: Prevention’s 2020 Wellness Awards: The Top Tools You Need to Fulfill a Well-Balanced Lifestyle
This EWG-verified spray is made with natural ingredients, and testers loved the light lavender scent. Reprinted by MSN
Seattleite: Summer 2020 Essentials + Tempting Treats to Try, Too
Before heading outside, we’re diligent about lathering up with sun care products by MyChelle Dermaceuticals, a company we’re happy to support because its: a founding member of the Environmental Working Group’s “Verified for Your Health” program; a PETA-certified, cruelty-free company; and certified by Leaping Bunny.
Thrive Global: Cecily Pan: “Confidence is the key! When you’re confident in yourself, you will feel the beauty shines through from within”
That’s why we insist our products to be certified by COSMOS AND verified by EWG (Environmental Working Group), even though this increases the difficulty and cost of product development immensely.
Who What Wear: I Wore a Different Perfume Every Day for a Month—These 10 Earned Me Compliments
It's gorgeous, and like all of Henry Rose's fragrances, it's verified by the Environmental Working Group and certified by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute.
Farm Subsidies
The American Prospect: Farmers Reject Biden’s Pro-Corporate Rural Advisers
Over half of the money went to the richest 10 percent of farmers, according to a study from the Environmental Working Group, with the bottom 80 percent getting on average just $5,000.
KPC News (Kendallville, Ind.): Welfare for the rich: the basics
Indeed, according to the Environmental Working Group, which tracks farm subsidies and crop insurance payments, 50 billionaire members of the Forbes 400 got over $6.3 million in farm subsidies between 1995 and 2014.
Fields of Filth: North Carolina CAFO Report
PETA: 10 Facts Reveal How North Carolina’s Meat Industry Kills People of Color
The Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) extensive analysis of new and expanding farms in North Carolina makes one thing clear: The Tar Heel State’s meat industry doesn’t give a damn about people of color.
Food Scores
Purist: Ask The Dr.
Pay attention to labels, but get the real lowdown on ingredients, and how items are processed, from research- intensive sites like the Environmental Working Group’s Food Scores Guide (ewg.org), rather than the manufacturers’ ingredient lists, which are virtually impossible to decipher (unless you’re a food scientist).
Glyphosate in Hummus
Food Network: Should You Be Concerned About Weed Killer In Hummus?
You may have seen headlines claiming that hummus isn’t safe to eat. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) claims store-bought hummus contains levels of glyphosate, a commonly used herbicide, that are unsafe.
Common Dreams: Groundbreaking Study Shows Organic Diets Drastically Lower Glyphosate Levels in the Body
In July, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) released an analysis of lab testing that showed glyphosate in 90% of non-organic hummus and chickpea samples.
Meat Eater’s Guide to Climate Change + Health
Live Strong: 6 Canned Proteins You Haven’t Tried Before — and Delicious Ways to Use Them
While farmed and wild salmon are both great ways to get more fatty fish in your diet, wild salmon has lower levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which have been linked to type 2 diabetes and obesity, according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG).
PFAS Tap Water Contamination
The Washington Post: Fred Tutman sees himself as the voice of the Patuxent, and he says the river has a warning for us
A report in January issued by the Environmental Working Group, a D.C.-based environmental activist organization specializing in chemical research, concluded that drinking water in the District and Prince George’s County contained levels of PFAS that the EWG considered unsafe.
Food Safety Magazine: The Growing Challenge of Safe Water for Use in Food Processing Operations
A recent report by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) cites the latest statistics on PFAS’ reach into everyday life: Drinking water systems serving an estimated 19 million people, in at least 610 locations across 43 states, are known to be contaminated with one or more of the thousands of known PFAS.
LA Progressive: Antietam Creek Revisited
The Upper Potomac Riverkeeper’s Antietam Creek PFAS Sampling Project cites a study by the Environmental Working Group that calls for maximum contaminant levels for PFAS in drinking water to be established at 1 ppt.
Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce™
Cheapism: 25 'Superfoods' That Aren't as Super as You Think
And according to the Environmental Working Group, some non-organic kale has been found to be contaminated with a potentially carcinogenic pesticide that is banned in the European Union.
Lehigh Valley Style (Pa.): How to Build Your Immune System
Costs can be a big factor, but helpful tools like the Environmental Working Group’s 2020 Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce can help consumers make choices regarding when it is most critical to choose organic over conventional.
Village Living Magazine: Improve Your Digestive System by Optimizing Your Microbiome
The key to avoiding glysophyte is eating organic foods. If you are unsure where to start with organics, look at EWG’s site for their “dirty dozen” list.
Woman’s World: How to Clean Stained Tupperware in Just a Few Seconds
Strawberries, which typically top the Environmental Working Group’s list of “dirty dozen” foods prone to holding onto potentially toxic pesticides, are especially in need of more than a quick rinse.
EWG Guide to Sunscreens
Alive: Is Sunscreen Worth It?
According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), scientists and public health agencies “have found little evidence that the use of sunscreens in isolation from other sun protective measures prevents most types of skin cancer.”
Organic Authority: The Sunscreen Ingredients You Want to Avoid (and How to Choose the Good Stuff + Product Picks)
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) recommends against using powder and spray sunscreens due to the inhalation risk, which they report has a more direct route to the system than absorption through the skin.
KVCR (Southern Calif.): August 13: Lifestyles with Lillian Vasquez
This week on Lifestyles, Lillian speaks with Carla Burns, research analyst for the Environmental Working Group. She’s also a part of the Healthy Living Science Team. Carla talks about sun safety products, including sunscreen and bug repellant, and explains how to protect ourselves from the sun and limit daily exposure to chemicals.
Tap Water Database
Money: The Best Water Filters for Your Money
Though laws like the 1974 Safe Drinking Water Act promote the regulation of contaminants in water, it doesn’t mean that all pollutants are regulated, or that violations aren’t widespread. According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), there are more than 287 contaminants found in US tap water.