environmentalworkinggroupewg--2020-04-01--EWG Applauds Drinking Water Focus for Next COVID Stimulus Bill

WASHINGTON – EWG today applauded House leaders for making drinking water pollution a priority for the next COVID stimulus bill .
“ Investing in drinking water infrastructure will boost the economy and help get contaminants like PFAS and lead out of our tap water , ” said Scott Faber , EWG ’ s senior vice president for government affairs .
“ No one should be drinking polluted water in the middle of a pandemic.
” Overall , House leaders have proposed to spend more than $ 75 billion on water infrastructure .
House leaders said today their coronavirus infrastructure package @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fund by $ 25.4 billion and programs to ensure clean drinking water in schools , day care centers and on Native American Reservations .
The bill will also fund new , modern clean water and wastewater infrastructure by investing $ 40 billion in the Clean Water State Revolving Fund .
The bill will also establish a new Low-Income Household Drinking Water and Wastewater Assistance program to assist low-income households in paying their drinking water and wastewater utility bills during public health emergencies .
“ Too many Americans are drinking water contaminated with chemicals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including PFAS , ” Faber said .
“ We applaud House leaders for making clean water a priority during this time of crisis.
” EWG has identified drinking water systems with high levels of contamination through EWG ’ s Tap Water Database : https : //www.ewg.org/tapwater/ 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 – EWG today applauded House leaders for making drinking water pollution a priority for the next COVID stimulus bill.
“Investing in drinking water infrastructure will boost the economy and help get contaminants like PFAS and lead out of our tap water,” said Scott Faber, EWG’s senior vice president for government affairs. “No one should be drinking polluted water in the middle of a pandemic.”
Overall, House leaders have proposed to spend more than $75 billion on water infrastructure.
House leaders said today their coronavirus infrastructure package will expand the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund by $25.4 billion and programs to ensure clean drinking water in schools, day care centers and on Native American Reservations. The bill will also fund new, modern clean water and wastewater infrastructure by investing $40 billion in the Clean Water State Revolving Fund.
The bill will also establish a new Low-Income Household Drinking Water and Wastewater Assistance program to assist low-income households in paying their drinking water and wastewater utility bills during public health emergencies.
For more information, visit https://transportation.house.gov/imo/media/doc/2020%20Moving%20Forward%20Factsheet.pdf
“Too many Americans are drinking water contaminated with chemicals that can damage the immune systems, including PFAS,” Faber said. “We applaud House leaders for making clean water a priority during this time of crisis.”
EWG has identified drinking water systems with high levels of contamination through EWG’s Tap Water Database: https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/
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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.


environmentalworkinggroupewg--2020-04-01--How To Shop Safely and Eat Well During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Although our daily routines have drastically shifted in the past few weeks , one thing has n't changed : the need to eat healthfully .
Healthy eating is always important , but now there ’ s an even more crucial reason – supporting our immune system to fend off invading pathogens like the novel coronavirus .
But during this pandemic , shopping for groceries raises daunting concerns .
How do I keep my distance in a crowded produce aisle ?
How recently was my shopping cart cleaned ?
Thankfully , with millions of Americans staying home under quarantine , many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ curbside pickup of online orders .
Here are some tools developed by EWG to help you choose the healthiest options for you and your family .
Fresh food is typically the best option for healthy eating .
But when shopping online in these uncertain times , look for foods in the frozen-food aisle .
Organic vegetables , like whole green beans or green peas , offer a great nutritional bang for your buck .
Frozen green beans are half the cost of fresh and retain more vitamin A and C content than other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more vitamin C than fresh peas that may have been stored for several days .
Don ’ t forget that if you use part of a package , transfer the rest to an airtight container to retain nutrients .
Organic fruits , like whole strawberries or blackberries , make a great snack , and they 're superior to dehydrated berries , which can lose up to half of their original vitamin C. If you thaw them in the fridge , they ’ ll retain more of their nutrients .
The longer frozen foods @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the more nutrients they lose .
When it comes fresh fruits and vegetables , food safety rules have n't changed .
To reduce the risk of ingesting pesticides , wash all conventional produce by running it under the faucet , and use clean hands to rub off any soil or dirt .
The omega-3 fats found in fish promote heart and brain health .
They ’ ve also been found to promote some immune functions , such as the destruction of invading pathogens by white blood cells .
Frozen fish helps you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reasonable cost – while avoiding the endocrine-disrupting contaminant found in BPA-coated cans that can be used to package fish .
Experts recommend two servings a week , and keeping a supply of frozen fish at home can increase how often you eat fish .
Frozen seafood is typically less expensive and often higher quality than fresh fish , which may be transported on ice for more than a week before reaching the grocery store .
Use EWG 's Seafood Calculator to choose fish high in omega-3 fatty acids and low in mercury .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Organic meat and meat raised without unnecessary antibiotics have fewer antibiotic-resistant bacteria , reducing the risk of a bacterial infection during the pandemic .
Lamb , beef , pork and cheese tend to be high in unhealthy fats .
Their production also generates the most greenhouse gases and has other negative environmental impacts .
Here is a handy meat label decoder to help you identify meat and dairy products that are likely produced with antibiotics and hormones , so you can make the best choices for you and your family .
And don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; American adults eat too much processed meat and not enough fish , nuts or beans .
Dried beans and roasted nuts and seeds are great shelf-stable sources of low-pollution protein .
Store raw nuts and seeds in the fridge or freezer to preserve their nutrients and healthy fats , including vitamin E and omega-3 , which support a robust immune system .
EWG 's Food Scores is an easy-to-navigate database that helps consumers make healthier , greener food choices , with ratings for more than 80,000 products .
In dozens of categories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through the noise of brand advertising , dubious marketing claims and misleading nutrition labels .
Every food in the database is scored on a scale from 1 ( best ) to 10 ( worst ) based on nutrition , the degree of processing , and ingredients of concern , such as food additives and contaminants .
Food Scores has multiple search options , including age , gender , life stage , and pregnancy , and highlights options that may be contaminated with pesticide residue contamination or are certified organic , GMO-free or BPA-free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added sugar .
As EWG reported in 2011 , a single cup of three brands of cereal aimed at children contained more sugar than a Twinkie , and 44 brands had more sugar than three Chips Ahoy !
cookies .
Food Scores also highlights amounts of added sugar in cereal and other foods .
• The Food and Drug Administration says there are currently no nationwide shortages of food .
You may find some foods temporarily out of stock , mostly because customers are buying more than usual , not because there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hoard and purchase only what you need to eat for the week .
• Ask your delivery person to leave the groceries outside your door or choose contact-less delivery of groceries , if available .
• After picking up your groceries or bringing your delivery inside , make sure to wash your hands immediately and avoid touching your face .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds .
For the most up-to-date information on COVID-19 , please visit the Centers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Food and Drug Administration and your local public health department websites .
Please consult your doctor if you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 .
This material is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice .

Although our daily routines have drastically shifted in the past few weeks, one thing hasn't changed: the need to eat healthfully. Healthy eating is always important, but now there’s an even more crucial reason – supporting our immune system to fend off invading pathogens like the novel coronavirus.
But during this pandemic, shopping for groceries raises daunting concerns. How do I keep my distance in a crowded produce aisle? How recently was my shopping cart cleaned?
Thankfully, with millions of Americans staying home under quarantine, many grocery stores are now offering delivery or curbside pickup of online orders.
Here are some tools developed by EWG to help you choose the healthiest options for you and your family.
Fruits and Vegetables
Fresh food is typically the best option for healthy eating. But when shopping online in these uncertain times, look for foods in the frozen-food aisle.
Organic vegetables, like whole green beans or green peas, offer a great nutritional bang for your buck. Frozen green beans are half the cost of fresh and retain more vitamin A and C content than other frozen vegetables. Frozen green peas retain more vitamin C than fresh peas that may have been stored for several days. Don’t forget that if you use part of a package, transfer the rest to an airtight container to retain nutrients.
Organic fruits, like whole strawberries or blackberries, make a great snack, and they're superior to dehydrated berries, which can lose up to half of their original vitamin C. If you thaw them in the fridge, they’ll retain more of their nutrients. The longer frozen foods are left at room temperature to thaw, the more nutrients they lose.
When it comes fresh fruits and vegetables, food safety rules haven't changed. To reduce the risk of ingesting pesticides, wash all conventional produce by running it under the faucet, and use clean hands to rub off any soil or dirt.
Fish
The omega-3 fats found in fish promote heart and brain health. They’ve also been found to promote some immune functions, such as the destruction of invading pathogens by white blood cells.
Frozen fish helps you add omega-3 to your diet at a reasonable cost – while avoiding the endocrine-disrupting contaminant found in BPA-coated cans that can be used to package fish. Experts recommend two servings a week, and keeping a supply of frozen fish at home can increase how often you eat fish.
Frozen seafood is typically less expensive and often higher quality than fresh fish, which may be transported on ice for more than a week before reaching the grocery store. Use EWG's Seafood Calculator to choose fish high in omega-3 fatty acids and low in mercury.
Meat and Dairy
All meat is not created equal. Organic meat and meat raised without unnecessary antibiotics have fewer antibiotic-resistant bacteria, reducing the risk of a bacterial infection during the pandemic. Lamb, beef, pork and cheese tend to be high in unhealthy fats. Their production also generates the most greenhouse gases and has other negative environmental impacts.
Here is a handy meat label decoder to help you identify meat and dairy products that are likely produced with antibiotics and hormones, so you can make the best choices for you and your family. And don’t forget other sources of protein; American adults eat too much processed meat and not enough fish, nuts or beans.
Beans, Nuts and Seeds
Dried beans and roasted nuts and seeds are great shelf-stable sources of low-pollution protein. Store raw nuts and seeds in the fridge or freezer to preserve their nutrients and healthy fats, including vitamin E and omega-3, which support a robust immune system.
Packaged Foods
EWG's Food Scores is an easy-to-navigate database that helps consumers make healthier, greener food choices, with ratings for more than 80,000 products. In dozens of categories, shoppers can use it to cut through the noise of brand advertising, dubious marketing claims and misleading nutrition labels.
Every food in the database is scored on a scale from 1 (best) to 10 (worst) based on nutrition, the degree of processing, and ingredients of concern, such as food additives and contaminants. Food Scores has multiple search options, including age, gender, life stage, and pregnancy, and highlights options that may be contaminated with pesticide residue contamination or are certified organic, GMO-free or BPA-free.
Kids’ cereals are notorious for added sugar. As EWG reported in 2011, a single cup of three brands of cereal aimed at children contained more sugar than a Twinkie, and 44 brands had more sugar than three Chips Ahoy! cookies. Food Scores also highlights amounts of added sugar in cereal and other foods.
Other ideas for online grocery shopping:
The Food and Drug Administration says there are currently no nationwide shortages of food. You may find some foods temporarily out of stock, mostly because customers are buying more than usual, not because there is less food. Please don’t hoard and purchase only what you need to eat for the week.
Ask your delivery person to leave the groceries outside your door or choose contact-less delivery of groceries, if available.
After picking up your groceries or bringing your delivery inside, make sure to wash your hands immediately and avoid touching your face. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
For the most up-to-date information on COVID-19, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration and your local public health department websites.
Please consult your doctor if you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. This material is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice.


environmentalworkinggroupewg--2020-04-02--Monsanto Relied on Shady EPA Risk Study To Dispute Court Verdict That Roundup Caused Cancer

WASHINGTON – In a legal brief filed with a federal appeals court this week , EWG staff attorneys argue Monsanto relied heavily on an untrustworthy and dubious government risk assessment to dispute a jury ’ s findings that the agrochemical company ’ s Roundup weedkiller caused cancer in a California man .
Attorneys with EWG submitted a 43-page amicus brief to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of Edwin Hardeman , who successfully sued Monsanto in February 2016 .
In reaching its verdict in the Hardeman v. Monsanto case in a federal district court in San Francisco in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exposure to glyphosate , the signature ingredient in Roundup , caused Hardeman ’ s non-Hodgkin lymphoma .
Jurors awarded Hardeman $ 80 million in damages .
In June 2018 , Bayer acquired Monsanto in a deal worth $ 66 billion and is now trying to reverse the verdict in its pending appeal to the Ninth Circuit .
“ Mr .
Hardeman and the others whose cancer was caused by Monsanto ’ s poison deserve every penny awarded to them in court , ” said EWG President Ken Cook .
“ As this brief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Protection Agency took extraordinary steps to craft a risk assessment for Roundup that ignored critical pathways of exposure and dozens of independent studies , many of which showed strong evidence that the herbicide causes cancer in people.
” “ Colluding with regulators in Trump ’ s EPA to hide the cancer risks of Roundup is business as usual for Monsanto , but their deceitful and dangerous behavior shouldn ’ t be rewarded by the courts , ” added Cook .
“ This company needs to be held responsible for the harm it has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Americans.
” Bayer-Monsanto is appealing the verdict before the Ninth Circuit , and Hardeman ’ s attorneys invited EWG to weigh in with the court through the amicus brief filed on March 30 by EWG General Counsel Caroline Leary and Legislative Attorney Melanie Benesh .
The focus of EWG ’ s brief is to show that the EPA ’ s risk assessment for glyphosate , heavily used by Monsanto to cast doubt on the Hardeman verdict before the appellate court , is not only unreliable but also influenced heavily by Monsanto itself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the EPA largely depended on studies paid for and conducted by Monsanto , while completely ignoring a wide body of independent research that show connections between cancer and exposure to glyphosate and Roundup .
In March 2015 , as the EPA was working on its own risk assessment , the International Agency for Research on Cancer , or IARC – an arm of the World Health Organization – classified glyphosate as “ probably carcinogenic to humans.
” The 17-member panel of scientists reviewed nearly 1,000 peer-reviewed , published studies on the potential carcinogenicity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many of those studies .
Not only did the EPA ignore the IARC ’ s findings , and the underlying research that informed the panel ’ s conclusion the weedkiller probably causes cancer in people , but some EPA officials may have colluded with Monsanto to try to block the release of another federal government risk assessment .
Internal emails between Monsanto and Jess Rowland , who was leading EPA ’ s cancer assessment review of glyphosate , show Rowland colluding with company executives to try to stop release of the cancer assessment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Disease Registry , or ATSDR , part of the Department of Health and Human Services .
In an April 2015 email exchange , Monsanto executive Dan Jenkins said Rowland , who is now retired from the EPA , said , “ If I can kill this [ ATSDR assessment ] I should get a medal , ” according to internal memos from Monsanto made public during two other similar trials where the juries found in favor of the plaintiffs .
In another text message exchange , in June 2015 , Monsanto scientist Eric @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asking her to help connect him with officials at ATSDR before the agency published its assessment .
When the ATSDR assessment eventually came out , in April 2019 , it largely supported the conclusion by the IARC that glyphosate could cause cancer in people .
Shockingly , the EPA largely considered dietary exposure to glyphosate and did not conduct a risk assessment on occupational or home exposure , which is where the risk to people , including farmworkers , groundskeepers and gardeners , is greatest .
The IARC considered hazards from multiple routes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The EPA largely limited its assessment to dietary risks in the general population from residues in food .
EWG-commissioned laboratory tests have repeatedly found glyphosate contamination in oat-based foods that exceed levels deemed safe by EWG scientists .
EWG has pressed food companies to eliminate the contamination by prohibiting the use of glyphosate as a pre-harvest desiccant on oats , and Kellogg ’ s has announced a plan to do so .
The Environmental Working Group is a nonprofit , non-partisan organization that empowers people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ education tools , EWG drives consumer choice and civic action .

WASHINGTON – In a legal brief filed with a federal appeals court this week, EWG staff attorneys argue Monsanto relied heavily on an untrustworthy and dubious government risk assessment to dispute a jury’s findings that the agrochemical company’s Roundup weedkiller caused cancer in a California man.
Attorneys with EWG submitted a 43-page amicus brief to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of Edwin Hardeman, who successfully sued Monsanto in February 2016. In reaching its verdict in the Hardeman v. Monsanto case in a federal district court in San Francisco in March 2019, the jurors found that exposure to glyphosate, the signature ingredient in Roundup, caused Hardeman’s non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Jurors awarded Hardeman $80 million in damages.
In June 2018, Bayer acquired Monsanto in a deal worth $66 billion and is now trying to reverse the verdict in its pending appeal to the Ninth Circuit.
“Mr. Hardeman and the others whose cancer was caused by Monsanto’s poison deserve every penny awarded to them in court,” said EWG President Ken Cook. “As this brief lays out, Monsanto and the Environmental Protection Agency took extraordinary steps to craft a risk assessment for Roundup that ignored critical pathways of exposure and dozens of independent studies, many of which showed strong evidence that the herbicide causes cancer in people.”
“Colluding with regulators in Trump’s EPA to hide the cancer risks of Roundup is business as usual for Monsanto, but their deceitful and dangerous behavior shouldn’t be rewarded by the courts,” added Cook. “This company needs to be held responsible for the harm it has and is causing to an untold number of Americans.”
Bayer-Monsanto is appealing the verdict before the Ninth Circuit, and Hardeman’s attorneys invited EWG to weigh in with the court through the amicus brief filed on March 30 by EWG General Counsel Caroline Leary and Legislative Attorney Melanie Benesh.
The focus of EWG’s brief is to show that the EPA’s risk assessment for glyphosate, heavily used by Monsanto to cast doubt on the Hardeman verdict before the appellate court, is not only unreliable but also influenced heavily by Monsanto itself.
When drafting its risk assessment, the EPA largely depended on studies paid for and conducted by Monsanto, while completely ignoring a wide body of independent research that show connections between cancer and exposure to glyphosate and Roundup.
In March 2015, as the EPA was working on its own risk assessment, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, or IARC – an arm of the World Health Organization – classified glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic to humans.” The 17-member panel of scientists reviewed nearly 1,000 peer-reviewed, published studies on the potential carcinogenicity of the chemical. The EPA ignored many of those studies.
Not only did the EPA ignore the IARC’s findings, and the underlying research that informed the panel’s conclusion the weedkiller probably causes cancer in people, but some EPA officials may have colluded with Monsanto to try to block the release of another federal government risk assessment.
Internal emails between Monsanto and Jess Rowland, who was leading EPA’s cancer assessment review of glyphosate, show Rowland colluding with company executives to try to stop release of the cancer assessment by the Agency for Toxic Chemicals and Disease Registry, or ATSDR, part of the Department of Health and Human Services.
In an April 2015 email exchange, Monsanto executive Dan Jenkins said Rowland, who is now retired from the EPA, said, “If I can kill this [ATSDR assessment] I should get a medal,” according to internal memos from Monsanto made public during two other similar trials where the juries found in favor of the plaintiffs.
In another text message exchange, in June 2015, Monsanto scientist Eric Sachs contacted then-EPA official Mary Manibusan, asking her to help connect him with officials at ATSDR before the agency published its assessment.
“We’re trying to do everything we can to keep from having a domestic IARC occur w this group. may need your help,” wrote Sachs. “It’s been a while but I can. Sweetheart, I know lots of people so you can count on me,” Manibusan replied.
When the ATSDR assessment eventually came out, in April 2019, it largely supported the conclusion by the IARC that glyphosate could cause cancer in people.
Shockingly, the EPA largely considered dietary exposure to glyphosate and did not conduct a risk assessment on occupational or home exposure, which is where the risk to people, including farmworkers, groundskeepers and gardeners, is greatest.
The IARC considered hazards from multiple routes of exposure, including occupational exposure. The EPA largely limited its assessment to dietary risks in the general population from residues in food. EWG-commissioned laboratory tests have repeatedly found glyphosate contamination in oat-based foods that exceed levels deemed safe by EWG scientists. EWG has pressed food companies to eliminate the contamination by prohibiting the use of glyphosate as a pre-harvest desiccant on oats, and Kellogg’s has announced a plan to do so.
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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.


environmentalworkinggroupewg--2020-04-02--UPDATED MAP: Suspected and Confirmed PFAS Pollution at U.S. Military Bases

The toxic fluorinated chemicals known as PFAS are now confirmed or suspected at 678 military installations , according to EWG ’ s updated analysis of Defense Department records .
Through Freedom of Information Act requests , EWG has so far confirmed PFAS in the tap water or groundwater at 328 of these military installations .
Until recently , PFAS contaminated the drinking water of scores of military bases , and many communities near these installations continue to drink contaminated water .
EWG has found 28 bases with PFAS in drinking water at levels above those set by some state regulators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American and have been linked to serious health problems , including cancer and harm to the reproductive and immune systems .
Americans are exposed to dozens of PFAS every day .
Because PFAS never break down and they build up in our blood and organs , they are often known as “ forever chemicals.
” The Pentagon ’ s use of firefighting foam made with PFAS , also known as aqueous film-forming foam , or AFFF , has disproportionately exposed military service members and their families to PFAS pollution .
Through FOIAs , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highest PFAS detections in the nation have been found on or near military installations .
We found PFAS detections at 14 installations that were above 1 million parts per trillion , or ppt , far above the 70 ppt advisory level recommended by the EPA .
Pentagon officials have understood the risks of AFFF since the early 1970s , when Navy and Air Force studies first showed it was toxic to fish .
In the early 1980s , the Air Force conducted its own animal studies on AFFF , and in the early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chemical PFOS , the main ingredient in AFFF , exited the market .
In 2001 , a Defense Department memo concluded that the main ingredient in AFFF was “ persistent , bioaccumulating and toxic.
” But DOD waited until 2011 to warn service members about the risks posed by PFAS .
What ’ s more , the department has been slow to switch to PFAS-free alternatives to AFFF and has been slow to clean up legacy PFAS pollution .
Some Defense officials have argued for cleanup and screening levels that are less protective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those proposed by EPA .
The National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2020 included important bipartisan reforms , including a provision to phase out AFFF by 2024 .
But the NDAA fell short of what ’ s needed to address the serious public health risks posed by PFAS , especially PFOS and its close chemical cousin PFOA .
Congress must do more to accelerate the cleanup of legacy PFAS contamination .
To do so , Congress should increase funding for programs like the Defense Environmental Restoration Program and designate PFAS as “ hazardous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law .
Taking these steps will help ensure that PFAS manufacturers pay their fair share of cleanup costs .
Congress should also do more to alert active and retired service members and their families about their exposure to PFAS and the health risks they face as a result .

The toxic fluorinated chemicals known as PFAS are now confirmed or suspected at 678 military installations, according to EWG’s updated analysis of Defense Department records.
Through Freedom of Information Act requests, EWG has so far confirmed PFAS in the tap water or groundwater at 328 of these military installations.
Until recently, PFAS contaminated the drinking water of scores of military bases, and many communities near these installations continue to drink contaminated water. EWG has found 28 bases with PFAS in drinking water at levels above those set by some state regulators.
PFAS contaminate the blood of every American and have been linked to serious health problems, including cancer and harm to the reproductive and immune systems. Americans are exposed to dozens of PFAS every day. Because PFAS never break down and they build up in our blood and organs, they are often known as “forever chemicals.”
The Pentagon’s use of firefighting foam made with PFAS, also known as aqueous film-forming foam, or AFFF, has disproportionately exposed military service members and their families to PFAS pollution.
Through FOIAs, EWG has discovered that many of the highest PFAS detections in the nation have been found on or near military installations. We found PFAS detections at 14 installations that were above 1 million parts per trillion, or ppt, far above the 70 ppt advisory level recommended by the EPA.
Pentagon officials have understood the risks of AFFF since the early 1970s, when Navy and Air Force studies first showed it was toxic to fish. In the early 1980s, the Air Force conducted its own animal studies on AFFF, and in the early 2000s, the maker of the fluorinated chemical PFOS, the main ingredient in AFFF, exited the market. In 2001, a Defense Department memo concluded that the main ingredient in AFFF was “persistent, bioaccumulating and toxic.”
But DOD waited until 2011 to warn service members about the risks posed by PFAS. What’s more, the department has been slow to switch to PFAS-free alternatives to AFFF and has been slow to clean up legacy PFAS pollution. Some Defense officials have argued for cleanup and screening levels that are less protective of service members and their families than those proposed by EPA.
The National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2020 included important bipartisan reforms, including a provision to phase out AFFF by 2024. But the NDAA fell short of what’s needed to address the serious public health risks posed by PFAS, especially PFOS and its close chemical cousin PFOA.
Congress must do more to accelerate the cleanup of legacy PFAS contamination. To do so, Congress should increase funding for programs like the Defense Environmental Restoration Program and designate PFAS as “hazardous substances” under the Superfund toxic cleanup law. Taking these steps will help ensure that PFAS manufacturers pay their fair share of cleanup costs. Congress should also do more to alert active and retired service members and their families about their exposure to PFAS and the health risks they face as a result.


environmentalworkinggroupewg--2020-04-02--Actor and Advocate Mark Ruffalo Applauds $75 Billion Water Cleanup Proposal in COVID-19 Stimulus Bil

Actor and Advocate Mark Ruffalo Applauds $75 Billion Water Cleanup Proposal in COVID-19 Stimulus Bill

Actor and environmental advocate Mark Ruffalo applauded House leaders for proposing to spend $ 75 billion in the next COVID-19 stimulus bill to upgrade our drinking water infrastructure .
Here is Ruffalo ’ s statement : '' No one should be drinking polluted water during a pandemic , especially water polluted from PFAS .
Unfortunately , millions of Americans are drinking water contaminated with toxic ‘ forever chemicals.
’ That ’ s why it ’ s so important to make funding for drinking water infrastructure part of our response to this crisis .
Investing in drinking water infrastructure will not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but investing in water infrastructure will also help reduce the risks posed by PFAS pollution , especially the impacts PFAS have on our immune systems .
Once again , Speaker Pelosi is making PFAS pollution a priority for Congress . ''
The Environmental Working Group has now confirmed PFAS in the tap water or groundwater in more than 1,500 communities .
Ruffalo also urged Congress to set a two-year deadline for the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a drinking water standard for the notorious PFAS chemicals PFOA and PFOS , direct the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drinking water supplies , and designate forever chemicals as “ hazardous substances.
” “ We must get PFAS out of drinking water right away , ” Ruffalo said .
“ But it makes no sense to allow corporate polluters to keep dumping PFAS into our drinking water supplies at the same time we are paying to get it out .
And , it makes no sense for taxpayers and ratepayers to pay for all cleanup costs .
The polluters who made billions while they knowingly created this contamination crisis need to pay their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the House proposal , visit : https : //transportation.house.gov/imo/media/doc/2020 % 20Moving % 20Forward % 20Factsheet.pdf

Actor and environmental advocate Mark Ruffalo applauded House leaders for proposing to spend $75 billion in the next COVID-19 stimulus bill to upgrade our drinking water infrastructure. Here is Ruffalo’s statement:
"No one should be drinking polluted water during a pandemic, especially water polluted from PFAS. Unfortunately, millions of Americans are drinking water contaminated with toxic ‘forever chemicals.’ That’s why it’s so important to make funding for drinking water infrastructure part of our response to this crisis. Investing in drinking water infrastructure will not only create jobs and stimulate the economy, but investing in water infrastructure will also help reduce the risks posed by PFAS pollution, especially the impacts PFAS have on our immune systems. Once again, Speaker Pelosi is making PFAS pollution a priority for Congress."
The Environmental Working Group has now confirmed PFAS in the tap water or groundwater in more than 1,500 communities.
Ruffalo also urged Congress to set a two-year deadline for the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a drinking water standard for the notorious PFAS chemicals PFOA and PFOS, direct the EPA to limit industrial PFAS discharges into drinking water supplies, and designate forever chemicals as “hazardous substances.”
“We must get PFAS out of drinking water right away,” Ruffalo said. “But it makes no sense to allow corporate polluters to keep dumping PFAS into our drinking water supplies at the same time we are paying to get it out. And, it makes no sense for taxpayers and ratepayers to pay for all cleanup costs. The polluters who made billions while they knowingly created this contamination crisis need to pay their fair share.”
For more information on the House proposal, visit: https://transportation.house.gov/imo/media/doc/2020%20Moving%20Forward%20Factsheet.pdf