environmentalworkinggroupewg--2020-05-15--EWG News Roundup (5/15): Farm and Food Workers at COVID-19 Risk, EPA Balks at Regulating Rocket Fuel

EWG News Roundup (5/15): Farm and Food Workers at COVID-19 Risk, EPA Balks at Regulating Rocket Fuel Chemical and More

This week , EWG broke down how America ’ s farmworkers are imperiled when it comes to contracting COVID-19 .
This is due to various factors , including unhealthy work and living environments , and exposure to pesticides , drinking water contaminants and unhealthy air , among others .
EWG laid out steps federal lawmakers could take to protect this at-risk population of essential workers .
EWG also mapped meatpacking facilities across the U.S. and found that counties with or near these plants have almost twice the rate of known COVID-19 infections as the national average .
Duke Energy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ utility , is asking the state of Indiana to force residents to pay for energy that was not used because of the COVID-19 crisis .
“ Using the coronavirus pandemic to demand that families and businesses pay for electricity they did not use is a cynical exploitation of a public health and economic emergency that has cost Indiana more than 1,400 deaths and more than 600,000 jobs , ” said the Duke Energy Accountability Coalition , an alliance of public interest , social justice , watchdog and environmental groups , including EWG , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its policies .
On Thursday , the Trump Environmental Protection Agency indicated that it will not impose any limits on perchlorate , a rocket fuel chemical associated with brain damage in infants and young children .
“ The science on perchlorate is very clear : It harms infants and the developing fetus , ” said Olga Naidenko , Ph.D. , vice president for science investigations at EWG .
“ Once again the Trump EPA decided to ignore the science and side with the chemical industry instead of protecting future generations from perchlorate.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cosmetics Act , A.B .
2762 , passed out of the State Assembly Committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials .
The bill bans 12 chemicals from cosmetics , including formaldehyde , mercury , PFAS , long-chain parabens , and phthalates .
“ This vote is an important milestone in the history of cosmetics regulation , '' said EWG President Ken Cook .
`` For the first time , groups like EWG and the industry ’ s trade association , the Personal Care Products Council , support legislation to modernize the rules governing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some news you can use going into the weekend .
Ladies Want More : Celebrating Mother ’ s Day with a Wish for Healthy Babies Along with advice from greats like Dr. Cowan , EWG has been essential to me as a mother trying to create science-backed products I trust for my own family Young Parents : 7 FAQs about introducing solids to your baby : What parents should know If you ’ re keen on going green , she recommends checking out EWG Shopper ’ s Guide , which lists the Dirty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of pesticides ) and the Clean Fifteen ( those that may be worth spending more on , if organic ) .
“ We are proud to have joined a broad coalition , including the Black Women for Wellness , Breast Cancer Prevention Partners , CalPIRG and the Environmental Working Group , in supporting well-crafted , science-based reforms like AB 2762 .
Such legislation modernizes California ’ s cosmetics regulation and also strengthens consumer confidence in the products they trust and enjoy every day . ''
Reprinted by Cosmetics & Toiletries .
EWG President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He commented , “ Today ’ s vote to ban 12 ingredients from cosmetics is just the first step in the legislative process .
But this vote is an important milestone in the history of cosmetics regulation .
For the first time , groups like EWG and the industry ’ s trade association , the Personal Care Products Council , support legislation to modernize the rules governing these everyday products .
The Environmental Working Group , a national organization that advocates for stricter environmental regulations , released a report Thursday stating that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plant experienced a COVID-19 infection rate of 373 cases per 100,000 residents , nearly twice the national average , based on data through May 6 .
Reprinted by Kansas City Star HuffPost : Meatpacking Plants Turn To Trump For Backup Against Lawsuits Counties with or near a meatpacking plant have almost twice the rate of known COVID-19 cases as the national average , according to an Environmental Working Group analysis based on Johns Hopkins University data that was published Thursday .
Iowa Starting Line : Iowa ’ s Meatpacking Plant Outbreaks Rank No @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s investigation , published Thursday , found “ counties with or near meatpacking plants have almost twice the rate of known COVID-19 infections as the national average.
” EWG Press Call with Andrew Zimmern and Iris Figueroa on COVID-19 and Farm Workers Report Farmworkers are “ especially at risk of falling ill from Covid-19 ” because they often work without protective equipment , are exposed to pesticides , and live in crowded quarters , said the advocacy groups Environmental Working Group and Farmworker Justice on Wednesday .
The Kansas City Star : Missouri @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then balks at further COVID-19 relief Hartzler Farms Inc. has taken almost $ 1.2 million in crop subsidies since 1996 , according to a database compiled by the Environmental Working Group .
That includes more than $ 375,000 taken during her time in Congress .
Don ’ t Waste Your Money : The Best All Natural Household Cleaner The EWG ( Environmental Working Group ) is another good resource for background on harmful or questionable products .
Commercial oven cleaners are among the most toxic household cleaning products .
The Environmental Working Group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ask Away : Tips For A Sustainable Beauty & Skin Care Regime EWG stands for the Environmental Working Group , a non-profit that sets sustainable and healthy standards for our everyday products .
D Magazine : How To Provide Clean Spaces For Employees While Using Non-Toxic Choices Groups like the Environmental Working Group ( EWG ) and platforms such as Think Dirty are helping to empower and inform consumers about non-toxic personal care products like cleaning solutions , soap , hand sanitizer , lotion , hair , and skincare products .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I used to be one of you until my eyes were opened by the Environmental Working Group ) , I ’ ve outlined the toxic ingredients for five of the most popular face toners on the market today below .
Packaging World : Sugarcane and Corn : ‘ Ingredients Matter ’ in New Deodorant Packaging The company , formed in 2017 by two beauty industry professionals frustrated by the lack of high-quality natural deodorant options , offers deodorants and rollerball fragrances that have no aluminum , parabens , synthetic fragrances , or baking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cruelty free , vegan , and EWG ( Environmental Working Group ) Verified™ .
Reprinted by Healthcare Packaging Scary Mommy : Annual Teeth Cleaning Cancelled ?
8 Natural , Non-Toxic Products To Keep Your Teeth Healthy & Clean This toothpaste formula is sans all the bad stuff and is also vegan , Environmental Working Group-verified , and made with 98 percent USA origin ingredients , therefore supporting jobs in the USA .
Friends of the Earth : Public interest groups unite to form Duke Energy watchdog The Duke Energy Accountability Coalition is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Coalition of Indiana , the Energy and Policy Institute , Environmental Working Group , Friends of the Earth , NC WARN , Ohio Citizen Action and the League of Women Voters of South Carolina .
These include multi-drug resistant E. coli , among other superbugs .
Such superbugs infest nearly 80 % of meat in U.S. supermarkets , according to the Environmental Working Group , a non-profit environmental research organization .
“ The science on perchlorate is very clear : It harms infants and the developing fetus , ” Olga Naidenko , senior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health at the Environmental Working Group , said when the EPA unveiled its proposal last May .
According to an updated Environmental Working Group ( EWG ) analysis of government data , at least 2,500 industrial facilities across the nation could be discharging PFAS ( Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances ) into the air and water .
A potential cause of the PFAS contamination was discovered by the Washington , D.C.-based nonprofit The Environmental Working Group , which claimed in December that fire-fighting foam used at the former Fort Devens contained the chemical compounds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mass . )
Waste Dive : Controversy over incinerator-linked PFAS in New York draws scrutiny from federal lawmakers And after an April report from the Environmental Working Group found disposal sites owned by Waste Management and others could be leaching PFAS , House lawmakers mounted a push to institute deadlines for the EPA to determine how to regulate industrial PFAS discharges under the Clean Water Act .
Planet Watch : Three Big Automakers Pushed For Rollbacks of Obama Era Fuel Efficiency Standards The Environmental Working Group sent an open letter to the CEOs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Toyota .
The Environmental Working Group has lists of produce with the highest and lowest amounts of pesticide use .
( See Prioritizing What to Buy Organic ) .
Central Jersey : Eating organic foods could have benefits for one ’ s health The Environmental Working Group has a helpful shopper ’ s guide to pesticides in produce .
The guide includes an annual “ Dirty Dozen ” list of conventionally grown fruits and vegetables with the highest pesticide residue , as well as a “ Clean Fifteen ” list of conventional produce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Collective Evolution : Non-organic Kale Found To Be Contaminated With Dacthal ( Pesticide ) This is why the Environmental Working Group ( EWG ) advocates buying organic products .
Since its inception in 1993 , EWG has fought for consumers ’ rights to live healthier lives in a healthier environment .
Organic Authority : This Berry French Toast Recipe Calls For Breakfast in Bed When choosing both frozen or fresh berries , go organic .
All berries are heavily sprayed crops .
Consult the Environmental Working Group ’ s Dirty Dozen and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to the Environmental Working Group ’ s analysis of test data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture , nearly 70 percent of non-organically grown produce sold in the United States is contaminated with potentially harmful pesticide residues .
I showed some clean brands on ABC10 Morning Blend Extra Shot , but you can also check out the Environmental Working Group 's Skin Deep website to see how your sunscreen rates .
Sierra Club : Which Sunscreens Are Best for the Environment ?
Raw Elements has a high Environmental Working Group score , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oil or toxic chemical fragrances , and does n't use animal testing or plastic packaging .
Buzzfeed : 27 Things For Anyone Getting Back Into Running Outdoors '' I found this gem on the Environmental Working Group ( EWG ) website… ” Her World : Is Sunscreen Needed When You # WFH ?
Here ’ s A Comprehensive Guide According to the Environmental Working Group , these three UV filters are also known to have lower toxicity concerns , and so they ’ re less likely to have lasting effects on your skin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Environment ?
Raw Elements has a high Environmental Working Group score , uses USDA-certified organic ingredients and no palm oil or toxic chemical fragrances , and does n't use animal testing or plastic packaging .
Business Insider : The difference between purified , distilled , and tap water , and which is the best choice for drinking Additionally , you can go on the Environmental Working Group 's tap water database to search by your zip code , and you can learn if there are any known contaminants that exceed EWG @ @ @ @ @ @ @

This week, EWG broke down how America’s farmworkers are imperiled when it comes to contracting COVID-19. This is due to various factors, including unhealthy work and living environments, and exposure to pesticides, drinking water contaminants and unhealthy air, among others. EWG laid out steps federal lawmakers could take to protect this at-risk population of essential workers.
EWG also mapped meatpacking facilities across the U.S. and found that counties with or near these plants have almost twice the rate of known COVID-19 infections as the national average.
Duke Energy, the country’s biggest investor-owned power utility, is asking the state of Indiana to force residents to pay for energy that was not used because of the COVID-19 crisis.
“Using the coronavirus pandemic to demand that families and businesses pay for electricity they did not use is a cynical exploitation of a public health and economic emergency that has cost Indiana more than 1,400 deaths and more than 600,000 jobs,” said the Duke Energy Accountability Coalition, an alliance of public interest, social justice, watchdog and environmental groups, including EWG, formed to hold Duke Energy accountable for its policies.
On Thursday, the Trump Environmental Protection Agency indicated that it will not impose any limits on perchlorate, a rocket fuel chemical associated with brain damage in infants and young children.
“The science on perchlorate is very clear: It harms infants and the developing fetus,” said Olga Naidenko, Ph.D., vice president for science investigations at EWG. “Once again the Trump EPA decided to ignore the science and side with the chemical industry instead of protecting future generations from perchlorate.”
And finally on Thursday the California Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act, A.B. 2762, passed out of the State Assembly Committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials. The bill bans 12 chemicals from cosmetics, including formaldehyde, mercury, PFAS, long-chain parabens, and phthalates.
“This vote is an important milestone in the history of cosmetics regulation," said EWG President Ken Cook. "For the first time, groups like EWG and the industry’s trade association, the Personal Care Products Council, support legislation to modernize the rules governing these everyday products.”
Here’s some news you can use going into the weekend.
Children’s Health
Ladies Want More: Celebrating Mother’s Day with a Wish for Healthy Babies
Along with advice from greats like Dr. Cowan, EWG has been essential to me as a mother trying to create science-backed products I trust for my own family
Young Parents: 7 FAQs about introducing solids to your baby: What parents should know
If you’re keen on going green, she recommends checking out EWG Shopper’s Guide, which lists the Dirty Dozen (produce with the highest levels of pesticides) and the Clean Fifteen (those that may be worth spending more on, if organic).
AB 2762: California Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act
Global Cosmetic Industry: 'Toxic-free' Cosmetics Act Moves Forward
“We are proud to have joined a broad coalition, including the Black Women for Wellness, Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, CalPIRG and the Environmental Working Group, in supporting well-crafted, science-based reforms like AB 2762. Such legislation modernizes California’s cosmetics regulation and also strengthens consumer confidence in the products they trust and enjoy every day." Reprinted by Cosmetics & Toiletries.
HAPPI: California Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act Moves Forward
EWG President Ken Cook echoed the sentiments of PCPC. He commented, “Today’s vote to ban 12 ingredients from cosmetics is just the first step in the legislative process. But this vote is an important milestone in the history of cosmetics regulation. For the first time, groups like EWG and the industry’s trade association, the Personal Care Products Council, support legislation to modernize the rules governing these everyday products.
EWG’s Meatpacking Plants and COVID-19 Map
McClatchy DC: Missouri Rep. Hartzler offers bill to block COVID lawsuits against meatpacking plants
The Environmental Working Group, a national organization that advocates for stricter environmental regulations, released a report Thursday stating that counties within 15 miles of a meatpacking plant experienced a COVID-19 infection rate of 373 cases per 100,000 residents, nearly twice the national average, based on data through May 6. Reprinted by Kansas City Star
HuffPost: Meatpacking Plants Turn To Trump For Backup Against Lawsuits
Counties with or near a meatpacking plant have almost twice the rate of known COVID-19 cases as the national average, according to an Environmental Working Group analysis based on Johns Hopkins University data that was published Thursday.
Iowa Starting Line: Iowa’s Meatpacking Plant Outbreaks Rank No. 1 In The Nation
EWG’s investigation, published Thursday, found “counties with or near meatpacking plants have almost twice the rate of known COVID-19 infections as the national average.”
EWG Press Call with Andrew Zimmern and Iris Figueroa on COVID-19 and Farm Workers Report
FERN’s Ag Insider: Protect farmworkers to assure food supply, say advocacy groups
Farmworkers are “especially at risk of falling ill from Covid-19” because they often work without protective equipment, are exposed to pesticides, and live in crowded quarters, said the advocacy groups Environmental Working Group and Farmworker Justice on Wednesday.
Trump Administration Farm Bailout
The Kansas City Star: Missouri congresswoman takes a federal PPP loan, then balks at further COVID-19 relief
Hartzler Farms Inc. has taken almost $1.2 million in crop subsidies since 1996, according to a database compiled by the Environmental Working Group. That includes more than $375,000 taken during her time in Congress.
Cleaners
Don’t Waste Your Money: The Best All Natural Household Cleaner
The EWG (Environmental Working Group) is another good resource for background on harmful or questionable products.
Interiors Addict: Natural cleaning products: DIY these options!
Commercial oven cleaners are among the most toxic household cleaning products. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) recommends avoiding them altogether.
Cosmetics – Skin Deep
Ask Away: Tips For A Sustainable Beauty & Skin Care Regime
EWG stands for the Environmental Working Group, a non-profit that sets sustainable and healthy standards for our everyday products.
D Magazine: How To Provide Clean Spaces For Employees While Using Non-Toxic Choices
Groups like the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and platforms such as Think Dirty are helping to empower and inform consumers about non-toxic personal care products like cleaning solutions, soap, hand sanitizer, lotion, hair, and skincare products.
Root + Revel: Natural 3-Ingredient DIY Face Toner
For the skeptics out there (hi! I used to be one of you until my eyes were opened by the Environmental Working Group), I’ve outlined the toxic ingredients for five of the most popular face toners on the market today below.
Cosmetics – EWG VERIFIED™
Packaging World: Sugarcane and Corn: ‘Ingredients Matter’ in New Deodorant Packaging
The company, formed in 2017 by two beauty industry professionals frustrated by the lack of high-quality natural deodorant options, offers deodorants and rollerball fragrances that have no aluminum, parabens, synthetic fragrances, or baking soda, and are gluten free, cruelty free, vegan, and EWG (Environmental Working Group) Verified™. Reprinted by Healthcare Packaging
Scary Mommy: Annual Teeth Cleaning Cancelled? 8 Natural, Non-Toxic Products To Keep Your Teeth Healthy & Clean
This toothpaste formula is sans all the bad stuff and is also vegan, Environmental Working Group-verified, and made with 98 percent USA origin ingredients, therefore supporting jobs in the USA.
Duke Energy Accountability Coalition
Friends of the Earth: Public interest groups unite to form Duke Energy watchdog
The Duke Energy Accountability Coalition is a project of Appalachian Voices, Citizens Action Coalition of Indiana, the Energy and Policy Institute, Environmental Working Group, Friends of the Earth, NC WARN, Ohio Citizen Action and the League of Women Voters of South Carolina.
Meat Eaters Guide
Food Institute Focus: Startups See a Future in Cell-Based Meat
These include multi-drug resistant E. coli, among other superbugs. Such superbugs infest nearly 80% of meat in U.S. supermarkets, according to the Environmental Working Group, a non-profit environmental research organization.
Perchlorate
The Hill: EPA won't regulate rocket fuel chemical tied to developmental damage: NYT
“The science on perchlorate is very clear: It harms infants and the developing fetus,” Olga Naidenko, senior science adviser for children’s environmental health at the Environmental Working Group, said when the EPA unveiled its proposal last May.
PFAS Polluters Map
BioCycle: Controlling Industrial PFAS Discharges In Michigan
According to an updated Environmental Working Group (EWG) analysis of government data, at least 2,500 industrial facilities across the nation could be discharging PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) into the air and water.
PFAS Tap Water Contamination
Nashoba Valley Voice (Mass.): Outdoor water ban begins Friday in Ayer
A potential cause of the PFAS contamination was discovered by the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit The Environmental Working Group, which claimed in December that fire-fighting foam used at the former Fort Devens contained the chemical compounds. Reprinted by The Lowell Sun (Mass.)
PFAS Pollution from Waste Incineration
Waste Dive: Controversy over incinerator-linked PFAS in New York draws scrutiny from federal lawmakers
And after an April report from the Environmental Working Group found disposal sites owned by Waste Management and others could be leaching PFAS, House lawmakers mounted a push to institute deadlines for the EPA to determine how to regulate industrial PFAS discharges under the Clean Water Act.
Rollbacks of Obama Fuel Efficiency Standards
Planet Watch: Three Big Automakers Pushed For Rollbacks of Obama Era Fuel Efficiency Standards
The Environmental Working Group sent an open letter to the CEOs of GM, Fiat Chrysler, and Toyota.
Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce
Brava Magazine: Quiz: Organic Food 101
The Environmental Working Group has lists of produce with the highest and lowest amounts of pesticide use.
(See Prioritizing What to Buy Organic).
Central Jersey: Eating organic foods could have benefits for one’s health
The Environmental Working Group has a helpful shopper’s guide to pesticides in produce. The guide includes an annual “Dirty Dozen” list of conventionally grown fruits and vegetables with the highest pesticide residue, as well as a “Clean Fifteen” list of conventional produce with the lowest levels of pesticide residue.
Collective Evolution: Non-organic Kale Found To Be Contaminated With Dacthal (Pesticide)
This is why the Environmental Working Group (EWG) advocates buying organic products. Since its inception in 1993, EWG has fought for consumers’ rights to live healthier lives in a healthier environment.
Organic Authority: This Berry French Toast Recipe Calls For Breakfast in Bed
When choosing both frozen or fresh berries, go organic. All berries are heavily sprayed crops. Consult the Environmental Working Group’s Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen guides for more info.
South Jersey The Central Record: Go organic!
According to the Environmental Working Group’s analysis of test data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, nearly 70 percent of non-organically grown produce sold in the United States is contaminated with potentially harmful pesticide residues.
Sunscreens
ABC 10 (Sacramento, Calif.): Non toxic sunscreen options | Meg Unprocessed
I showed some clean brands on ABC10 Morning Blend Extra Shot, but you can also check out the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep website to see how your sunscreen rates.
Sierra Club: Which Sunscreens Are Best for the Environment?
Raw Elements has a high Environmental Working Group score, uses USDA-certified organic ingredients and no palm oil or toxic chemical fragrances, and doesn't use animal testing or plastic packaging.
Buzzfeed: 27 Things For Anyone Getting Back Into Running Outdoors
"I found this gem on the Environmental Working Group (EWG) website…”
Her World: Is Sunscreen Needed When You #WFH? Here’s A Comprehensive Guide
According to the Environmental Working Group, these three UV filters are also known to have lower toxicity concerns, and so they’re less likely to have lasting effects on your skin.
Sierra: Which Sunscreens Are Best for the Environment?
Raw Elements has a high Environmental Working Group score, uses USDA-certified organic ingredients and no palm oil or toxic chemical fragrances, and doesn't use animal testing or plastic packaging.
Tap Water Database
Business Insider: The difference between purified, distilled, and tap water, and which is the best choice for drinking
Additionally, you can go on the Environmental Working Group's tap water database to search by your zip code, and you can learn if there are any known contaminants that exceed EWG's health guidelines. Reprinted by MSN


environmentalworkinggroupewg--2020-05-14--Alert: Tests Find Asbestos in Talc-Based Eye Shadow Kits

WASHINGTON – The notorious human carcinogen asbestos has been found in two talc-containing eye shadow palettes , according to laboratory tests commissioned by the Environmental Working Group .
The lab found asbestos – up to nearly 3.9 million asbestos fiber structures per gram of eyeshadow – in the Jmkcoz 120 Colors Eyeshadow Palette makeup kit sold on Amazon .
Of the 45 shades tested from the kit , 40 percent contained asbestos .
Asbestos was found in a second Jmkcoz eyeshadow kit , Beauty Glazed Gorgeous Me Eye Shadow Tray Palette , sold on the company ’ s website and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to 3.5 million asbestos fiber structures per gram of eyeshadow .
Of the 25 shades tested from the kit , 20 percent contained the deadly fiber .
“ We urge anyone who has purchased either of these products for themselves , family or friends to take the necessary steps to ensure they are no longer being used , ” said Tasha Stoiber , Ph.D. , a senior scientist at EWG .
“ And we call on these companies and online retailers to immediately pull both of these products from their respective websites @ @ @ @ @ @ @ levels of exposure , can cause serious harm – even death – later in life.
” Scientific Analytical Institute , Inc. , based in Greensboro , N.C. , conducted the tests on behalf of EWG .
The institute is one of the world ’ s leading laboratories testing consumer products for the presence of asbestos .
Geologically , talc and asbestos can naturally occur alongside each other in rock .
Talc deposits in many regions are contaminated with asbestos fibers .
Asbestos fibers can be inhaled and become lodged in the lungs .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , illnesses whose symptoms may not become evident for years or even decades after exposure .
Health experts and government agencies agree that any exposure to asbestos is dangerous .
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration : “ There is no ‘ safe ’ level of exposure for any type of asbestos fiber .
Asbestos exposures as short in duration as a few days have caused mesothelioma in humans.
” The troubling news about the presence of asbestos in these eyeshadow palettes is just the latest example of the deadly fiber @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ingredient .
• In January , similar lab tests commissioned by EWG found asbestos in a talc-containing children ’ s toy makeup set .
• In October 2019 , Johnson & Johnson issued a voluntary recall of its baby powder after the Food and Drug Administration found trace levels of asbestos in samples of the popular product .
• In March 2019 , the FDA issued a rare alert , urging consumers to stop using certain cosmetics products from the national retailer Claire ’ s , after the agency found the deadly carcinogen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ products .
• The FDA issued a similar safety alert in September after the agency found asbestos in at least four different talc-based products marketed by Beauty Plus .
• In 2015 , EWG Action Fund , EWG ’ s 501 ( c ) ( 4 ) sister organization , found asbestos fibers in several brands of children ’ s crayons and toy crime scene investigation kits .
• In 2007 , tests commissioned by the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization also found the lethal fiber in a toy fingerprint kit named after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Investigation.
” • In 2000 , an investigation by journalists from the Seattle Post Intelligencer discovered asbestos in imported crayons made with talc .
The government does not require that cosmetics be tested for safety before they go on the market ; and any talc-containing products , intended for children or adults , can potentially be contaminated with asbestos .
At the federal level , in March 2019 , Rep. Debbie Dingell , D-Mich. , introduced legislation that would require warning labels on talc-based cosmetics that could contain asbestos and are marketed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , chairman of the powerful House Committee on Energy and Commerce , has introduced legislation that would give the FDA the power to review controversial chemicals used in cosmetics and determine whether those ingredients are safe , safe at certain levels or unsafe .
The bill also gives the FDA the capacity to recall and stop production of products that pose serious health risks to consumers , including those where asbestos has been found .
As long as dangerous ingredients such as asbestos remain on the market , it ’ s a good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : • Use EWG ’ s Skin Deep® cosmetics database to make sure you choose the makeup and other personal care products with the fewest hazardous ingredients .
• Be wary of toy makeup kits .
They are often made from cheap and potentially hazardous ingredients , like asbestos , lead and chemicals linked to serious health impacts .
• Avoid powders that contain talc , especially for children .
Makeup in powder form can be easily inhaled into little lungs , and can damage them .
Instead look for cream-based blushers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 – The notorious human carcinogen asbestos has been found in two talc-containing eye shadow palettes, according to laboratory tests commissioned by the Environmental Working Group.
The lab found asbestos – up to nearly 3.9 million asbestos fiber structures per gram of eyeshadow – in the Jmkcoz 120 Colors Eyeshadow Palette makeup kit sold on Amazon. Of the 45 shades tested from the kit, 40 percent contained asbestos.
Asbestos was found in a second eyeshadow kit, Beauty Glazed Gorgeous Me Eye Shadow Tray Palette, sold on the company’s website and on Amazon and eBay, at levels up to 3.5 million asbestos fiber structures per gram of eyeshadow. Of the 25 shades tested from the kit, 20 percent contained the deadly fiber.
UPDATE, May 20: Since EWG issued this alert on May 15, it appears both Amazon and Ebay have removed the palettes from their respective websites. However, there are many similar toy makeup kits for sale by both online retailers. Out of an abundance of caution, EWG advises parents and caregivers to avoid purchasing any makeup palettes that include talc as an ingredient.
“We urge anyone who has purchased either of these products for themselves, family or friends to take the necessary steps to ensure they are no longer being used,” said Tasha Stoiber, Ph.D., a senior scientist at EWG. “And we call on these companies and online retailers to immediately pull both of these products from their respective websites. Asbestos, even at the smallest levels of exposure, can cause serious harm – even death – later in life.”
Scientific Analytical Institute, Inc., based in Greensboro, N.C., conducted the tests on behalf of EWG. The institute is one of the world’s leading laboratories testing consumer products for the presence of asbestos.
Geologically, talc and asbestos can naturally occur alongside each other in rock. Talc deposits in many regions are contaminated with asbestos fibers.
Asbestos fibers can be inhaled and become lodged in the lungs. Asbestos can cause grave, often fatal, illnesses whose symptoms may not become evident for years or even decades after exposure.
Health experts and government agencies agree that any exposure to asbestos is dangerous. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration: “There is no ‘safe’ level of exposure for any type of asbestos fiber. Asbestos exposures as short in duration as a few days have caused mesothelioma in humans.”
The troubling news about the presence of asbestos in these eyeshadow palettes is just the latest example of the deadly fiber contaminating products that contain talc as an ingredient.
The government does not require that cosmetics be tested for safety before they go on the market; and any talc-containing products, intended for children or adults, can potentially be contaminated with asbestos.
At the federal level, in March 2019, Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., introduced legislation that would require warning labels on talc-based cosmetics that could contain asbestos and are marketed to children.
Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., chairman of the powerful House Committee on Energy and Commerce, has introduced legislation that would give the FDA the power to review controversial chemicals used in cosmetics and determine whether those ingredients are safe, safe at certain levels or unsafe. The bill also gives the FDA the capacity to recall and stop production of products that pose serious health risks to consumers, including those where asbestos has been found.
As long as dangerous ingredients such as asbestos remain on the market, it’s a good idea, particularly for parents, to:
Use EWG’s Skin Deep® cosmetics database to make sure you choose the makeup and other personal care products with the fewest hazardous ingredients.
Be wary of toy makeup kits. They are often made from cheap and potentially hazardous ingredients, like asbestos, lead and chemicals linked to serious health impacts.
Avoid powders that contain talc, especially for children. Makeup in powder form can be easily inhaled into little lungs, and can damage them. Instead look for cream-based blushers and eye shadow.
###
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--2020-05-15--EWG Statement on House Passage of Heroes Act

WASHINGTON – Today the House passed the HEROES Act , a $ 3 billion coronavirus stimulus package .
Here is a statement from EWG Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Scott Faber : Millions of families are struggling with hunger , and millions of workers are risking their lives to keep us fed .
The House was right to boost funding to feed hungry Americans through the SNAP program , to provide hazard and sick pay for food and farm workers , and to direct the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to issue emergency standards to protect food and farm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grow , harvest , pack , process , transport , sell and serve our food .
But many of the people who feed us are unusually susceptible to the coronavirus sweeping the nation .
As more and more of them become sick , our food supply chains could quickly unravel , causing food prices to spike and increasing the number of Americans who struggle with hunger .
Farm and food workers are working long hours , at enormous personal risk , to feed us .
Congress , the United States Department of Agriculture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protect these essential workers and recognize the critical contribution they make to our nation .
Read more on aid needed for food and farm workers here .

WASHINGTON – Today the House passed the HEROES Act, a $3 billion coronavirus stimulus package. Here is a statement from EWG Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Scott Faber:
Millions of families are struggling with hunger, and millions of workers are risking their lives to keep us fed. The House was right to boost funding to feed hungry Americans through the SNAP program, to provide hazard and sick pay for food and farm workers, and to direct the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to issue emergency standards to protect food and farm workers.
More than 20 million people grow, harvest, pack, process, transport, sell and serve our food. But many of the people who feed us are unusually susceptible to the coronavirus sweeping the nation. As more and more of them become sick, our food supply chains could quickly unravel, causing food prices to spike and increasing the number of Americans who struggle with hunger.
Farm and food workers are working long hours, at enormous personal risk, to feed us. Congress, the United States Department of Agriculture and OSHA must make every effort to protect these essential workers and recognize the critical contribution they make to our nation.
Read more on aid needed for food and farm workers here.


environmentalworkinggroupewg--2020-05-18--Hair Color With Less Harm: New In-Home Hair Dyes in Skin Deep®

As many hair salons remain closed months into the national shutdown triggered by the coronavirus pandemic , at-home hair dyes are flying off store shelves .
But many of these products may contain potentially harmful ingredients .
To ensure you have the latest product information so you can choose those with the fewest ingredients linked to health harms , EWG recently added more than a hundred new hair dyes and bleaches to the Skin Deep® cosmetics database .
Skin Deep is a free online resource that rates more than 86,000 personal care products based on the toxicity or hazards associated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ range from 1 , for products with the lowest associated health hazard , to 10 , the highest .
Using Skin Deep , we assessed more than 300 hair dyes and bleaches and found that only about a quarter of them score 1 or 2 .
The vast majority contain harsh and potentially hazardous ingredients .
This may not be surprising , since many studies have highlighted a number of ingredients in hair straighteners , dyes and a combination of both product types that are linked to an array of health harms , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and allergic reactions .
Researchers have also found that the use of some semi-permanent and permanent hair dyes have been linked to hair loss .
The use of these products may be especially concerning for Black women .
In a recent report by the National Institutes of Health , researchers noted an increased breast cancer risk among all women using hair dyes .
However , the Black women who participated in the study and used hair dyes had a 45 percent higher risk of developing breast cancer , whereas the increased risk to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If you ’ re planning to color or treat your hair at home , whether for the first time or as part of an ongoing routine , here are a few common ingredients of concern to watch for : • P-phenylenediamine , a common ingredient in hair dyes , is a strong skin sensitizer and has been shown to induce tumors in rat mammary glands .
• Although no longer commonly used in hair dyes , lead acetate can still be found in a few products on the market .
The use of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lead in the body – a potent neurotoxicant that has been linked to developmental issues , reduced fertility , organ system toxicity , cancer and other serious health problems .
Although the Food and Drug Administration has tried to ban this ingredient , it is allowed for now .
• Used in hair dyes , resorcinol can affect the proper functioning of hormones and trigger allergic reactions .
• Preservatives such as DMDM hydantoin or imidazolidinyl urea slowly form formaldehyde , a known human carcinogen , in the product to slow down bacterial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ function in cosmetics ; however , there are options that don ’ t have carcinogenic health concerns .
• Methylisothiazolinone and methylchloroisothiazolinone are preservatives that can cause serious allergic reactions , even in people who do not usually have allergies .
• “ Fragrance ” can include any number of over 4,000 undisclosed ingredients , including chemicals linked to serious health concerns .
To see how hair color and bleaching products rate in Skin Deep , and whether your favorite was included in our assessment , visit https : //www.ewg.org/skindeep/ or search for @ @ @ @ @ @ @

As many hair salons remain closed months into the national shutdown triggered by the coronavirus pandemic, at-home hair dyes are flying off store shelves. But many of these products may contain potentially harmful ingredients.
To ensure you have the latest product information so you can choose those with the fewest ingredients linked to health harms, EWG recently added more than a hundred new hair dyes and bleaches to the Skin Deep® cosmetics database.
Skin Deep is a free online resource that rates more than 86,000 personal care products based on the toxicity or hazards associated with their ingredients. Skin Deep scores range from 1, for products with the lowest associated health hazard, to 10, the highest.
Using Skin Deep, we assessed more than 300 hair dyes and bleaches and found that only about a quarter of them score 1 or 2. The vast majority contain harsh and potentially hazardous ingredients.
This may not be surprising, since many studies have highlighted a number of ingredients in hair straighteners, dyes and a combination of both product types that are linked to an array of health harms, including cancer, scalp and skin irritation and allergic reactions. Researchers have also found that the use of some semi-permanent and permanent hair dyes have been linked to hair loss.
The use of these products may be especially concerning for Black women. In a recent report by the National Institutes of Health, researchers noted an increased breast cancer risk among all women using hair dyes. However, the Black women who participated in the study and used hair dyes had a 45 percent higher risk of developing breast cancer, whereas the increased risk to white women was about 7 percent.
If you’re planning to color or treat your hair at home, whether for the first time or as part of an ongoing routine, here are a few common ingredients of concern to watch for:
P-phenylenediamine , a common ingredient in hair dyes, is a strong skin sensitizer and has been shown to induce tumors in rat mammary glands.
, a common ingredient in hair dyes, is a strong skin sensitizer and has been shown to induce tumors in rat mammary glands. Although no longer commonly used in hair dyes, lead acetate can still be found in a few products on the market. The use of such products can increase the level of lead in the body – a potent neurotoxicant that has been linked to developmental issues, reduced fertility, organ system toxicity, cancer and other serious health problems. Although the Food and Drug Administration has tried to ban this ingredient, it is allowed for now.
can still be found in a few products on the market. The use of such products can increase the level of lead in the body – a potent neurotoxicant that has been linked to developmental issues, reduced fertility, organ system toxicity, cancer and other serious health problems. Although the Food and Drug Administration has tried to ban this ingredient, it is allowed for now. Used in hair dyes, resorcinol can affect the proper functioning of hormones and trigger allergic reactions.
can affect the proper functioning of hormones and trigger allergic reactions. Preservatives such as DMDM hydantoin or imidazolidinyl urea slowly form formaldehyde, a known human carcinogen, in the product to slow down bacterial growth. Preservatives serve a very important function in cosmetics; however, there are options that don’t have carcinogenic health concerns.
slowly form formaldehyde, a known human carcinogen, in the product to slow down bacterial growth. Preservatives serve a very important function in cosmetics; however, there are options that don’t have carcinogenic health concerns. Methylisothiazolinone and methylchloroisothiazolinone are preservatives that can cause serious allergic reactions, even in people who do not usually have allergies.
and are preservatives that can cause serious allergic reactions, even in people who do not usually have allergies. “Fragrance” can include any number of over 4,000 undisclosed ingredients, including chemicals linked to serious health concerns.
To see how hair color and bleaching products rate in Skin Deep, and whether your favorite was included in our assessment, visit https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ or search for it in the Healthy Living App.


environmentalworkinggroupewg--2020-05-18--National Potato Giant Uses Obscure Leasing Scheme To Skirt Environmental Oversight in Minnesota

One of the nation ’ s largest industrial agriculture operations is hiding behind a small family farm to try to avoid environmental oversight of a plan to clear-cut pristine Minnesota forestland for a huge expansion of its potato-growing acreage , EWG charged in formal comments to the state ’ s Department of Natural Resources .
R.D .
Offutt Farms , headquartered in Fargo , N.D. , is the nation ’ s largest potato grower , with 190,000 acres spread over several states , including North and South Dakota , Minnesota , Missouri , Texas and Wisconsin .
It is tied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the U.S. , according to The Land Report ’ s 2019 ranking .
Its annual profits are estimated at $ 2.5 billion .
R.D .
Offutt Farms is just one of 126 divisions of the R.D .
Offutt Company , or RDO , also of Fargo .
RDO includes 11 potato-processing facilities in four states and the RDO Equipment Company , with more than 75 stores in nine states and partnerships in Africa , Australia , Mexico , Russia and Ukraine .
In Minnesota , Offutt Farms operates in the north-central region @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an aquifer that is extremely vulnerable to pollution because of its shallow depth and the area ’ s porous soils .
For nearly 30 years , Offutt has expanded its potato-growing empire in Minnesota , clearing thousands of acres of forest in the Pineland Sands area for irrigated potato fields .
In its most recent expansion phase , in 2015 , Offutt bought almost 8,000 acres of forestland in the Pineland Sands .
Soon thereafter , the company applied to the Department of Natural Resources , or DNR , for 54 irrigation well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intended to immediately clear-cut its recently purchased forestland to grow even more irrigated potatoes .
Concerned about potential pollution of the drinking water aquifer by nitrogen fertilizer , DNR ordered Offutt Farms to complete an initial environmental review of its application package .
But , as it had repeatedly done with earlier projects , Offutt avoided environmental review by temporarily whittling down the size of its project , ostensibly reducing its potential environmental impact and , with it , the need for environmental review .
In 2017 , Offutt sold about 600 acres @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , an area farmer .
As part of the sale , Nolte agreed to lease back acres to Offutt Farms for potato production .
He also agreed to apply for three water appropriation permits ( totaling 100 million gallons per year ) to irrigate 303 acres .
The permits that Nolte has now applied for cover three of the exact same wells from Offutt ’ s original 2015 application package , which DNR had refused to approve without environmental review .
In detailed comments submitted May 6 on the state ’ s recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , EWG argued that the proposed project is really part of Offutt ’ s effort to expand its potato empire while avoiding responsibility for assessing and addressing its environmental harms .
EWG based its argument on more than 700 pages of documents , obtained from DNR through an open records request .
[ Read EWG ’ s full comments here , and attachments to the comments here and here . ]
EWG ’ s comments call out the major threats that Offutt ’ s massive fertilizer- and chemical-intensive irrigated farming operation pose to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The comments also discuss the lack of accountability for cumulative and , in many cases , irreversible harms that have accrued over 30 years of Offutt Farms ’ irrigated potato operation in the Pineland Sands – harms that will continue to intensify and expand without completion of a thorough and legally required environmental review .
For decades , Offutt has made no secret of its tactics for avoiding regulatory oversight .
As early as 1997 , RDO avoided regulatory oversight by not incorporating its farm division , spreading out its farmed acreage across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ half of its farmland .
In 2019 , in response to criticism of the Nolte project , a company spokesman told the Fargo news outlet InForum that “ trading fields with neighboring farms is a common practice we ’ ve been doing for over 40 years.
” Mike Tauber , head of Minnesota ’ s Northern Water Alliance , laid out exactly how Offutt uses the reputation and size of a small farmer like Nolte as part of a coordinated strategy .
He told InForum : “ They are continuing to expand new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bigger .
The little guys are labelled in the permits so on paper Offutt has no footprint in newer projects .
They send the little guy to do the work.
” Drinking water from community and household wells near irrigated potato fields is already contaminated with nitrate pollution exceeding state and federal safe drinking water limits .
Rural communities have been forced to spend millions of dollars to remove toxic nitrates – a breakdown product of the nitrogen in fertilizer – from their drinking water .
And millions more in drinking water treatment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Offutt is permitted to keep using small-farmer strawmen to expand its footprint while evading environmental review .
In February , the Minnesota Department of Agriculture released the results of tests monitoring the groundwater on an Offutt Farms site .
The extremely high nitrate levels confirm that best management practices on Offutt ’ s irrigated acreage can not prevent unsafe levels of nitrate from leaking into the shallow drinking water aquifer of the Pineland Sands .
In an expert report supporting EWG ’ s comments on the proposed Nolte project , George Kraft , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groundwater pollution from irrigated farming in porous soils – makes clear that groundwater nitrate contamination at levels double to quadruple the legal limit will likely occur at the proposed Nolte project site .
State Rep. Peter Fischer , who chairs the water committee of the Minnesota House of Representatives , is sympathetic to Nolte ’ s position that his irrigation applications are not connected to Offutt ’ s expansion plans .
But he told the Star-Tribune of Minneapolis that the state can ’ t simply ignore the cumulative harm fertilizers and irrigation wells @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We need to make sure we ’ re protecting water sustainability.
” The evidence is clear that Offutt has amassed hundreds of permits and thousands of additional farm acres and is continuing to expand its operations .
Operations of this magnitude are required by law to undergo environmental review to assess the full potential for environmental harms and assess alternatives or methods to minimize impacts to natural resources .
Another expansion of Offutt ’ s industrial potato empire in the vulnerable Pineland Sands Aquifer without legally required environmental oversight could significantly and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drinking water with nitrates , pesticides , fungicides and insecticides .
After 30 years of operation , it is past time for Offutt Farms to accept responsibility for completing a full environmental review of its operation and future expansion plans in the Pineland Sands .
The full cost of environmental review will likely be far less than the water protection and treatment costs the company has already unjustifiably passed on to citizens , communities and the state of Minnesota .

One of the nation’s largest industrial agriculture operations is hiding behind a small family farm to try to avoid environmental oversight of a plan to clear-cut pristine Minnesota forestland for a huge expansion of its potato-growing acreage, EWG charged in formal comments to the state’s Department of Natural Resources.
R.D. Offutt Farms, headquartered in Fargo, N.D., is the nation’s largest potato grower, with 190,000 acres spread over several states, including North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Missouri, Texas and Wisconsin. It is tied for first place as the largest farm in the U.S., according to The Land Report’s 2019 ranking. Its annual profits are estimated at $2.5 billion.
R.D. Offutt Farms is just one of 126 divisions of the R.D. Offutt Company, or RDO, also of Fargo. RDO includes 11 potato-processing facilities in four states and the RDO Equipment Company, with more than 75 stores in nine states and partnerships in Africa, Australia, Mexico, Russia and Ukraine.
In Minnesota, Offutt Farms operates in the north-central region known as the Pineland Sands, above an aquifer that is extremely vulnerable to pollution because of its shallow depth and the area’s porous soils. For nearly 30 years, Offutt has expanded its potato-growing empire in Minnesota, clearing thousands of acres of forest in the Pineland Sands area for irrigated potato fields.
In its most recent expansion phase, in 2015, Offutt bought almost 8,000 acres of forestland in the Pineland Sands. Soon thereafter, the company applied to the Department of Natural Resources, or DNR, for 54 irrigation well permits and assessments, making clear it intended to immediately clear-cut its recently purchased forestland to grow even more irrigated potatoes.
Concerned about potential pollution of the drinking water aquifer by nitrogen fertilizer, DNR ordered Offutt Farms to complete an initial environmental review of its application package. But, as it had repeatedly done with earlier projects, Offutt avoided environmental review by temporarily whittling down the size of its project, ostensibly reducing its potential environmental impact and, with it, the need for environmental review.
In 2017, Offutt sold about 600 acres of its new holdings to Tim Nolte, an area farmer. As part of the sale, Nolte agreed to lease back acres to Offutt Farms for potato production. He also agreed to apply for three water appropriation permits (totaling 100 million gallons per year) to irrigate 303 acres. The permits that Nolte has now applied for cover three of the exact same wells from Offutt’s original 2015 application package, which DNR had refused to approve without environmental review.
In detailed comments submitted May 6 on the state’s recent preliminary environmental assessment of the Nolte project, EWG argued that the proposed project is really part of Offutt’s effort to expand its potato empire while avoiding responsibility for assessing and addressing its environmental harms. EWG based its argument on more than 700 pages of documents, obtained from DNR through an open records request.
In the comments, Jamie Konopacky, EWG’s Midwest director, wrote:
… [T]he proposed project cannot fairly be characterized as an isolated action to irrigate 303 acres of previously forested land.… Rather, it is undeniably part of RD Offutt Company’s massive phased action to convert an additional 7,000 acres of pristine forest to irrigated potato farmland in the vulnerable Pineland Sands Aquifer area. Given this fact, the proposed project has an exponentially greater potential for significant and irreversible harm than that currently presented and evaluated in the [preliminary environmental assessment].
[Read EWG’s full comments here, and attachments to the comments here and here.]
EWG’s comments call out the major threats that Offutt’s massive fertilizer- and chemical-intensive irrigated farming operation pose to drinking water, streams and communities. The comments also discuss the lack of accountability for cumulative and, in many cases, irreversible harms that have accrued over 30 years of Offutt Farms’ irrigated potato operation in the Pineland Sands – harms that will continue to intensify and expand without completion of a thorough and legally required environmental review.
For decades, Offutt has made no secret of its tactics for avoiding regulatory oversight. As early as 1997, RDO avoided regulatory oversight by not incorporating its farm division, spreading out its farmed acreage across states, and leasing or swapping nearly half of its farmland. In 2019, in response to criticism of the Nolte project, a company spokesman told the Fargo news outlet InForum that “trading fields with neighboring farms is a common practice we’ve been doing for over 40 years.”
Mike Tauber, head of Minnesota’s Northern Water Alliance, laid out exactly how Offutt uses the reputation and size of a small farmer like Nolte as part of a coordinated strategy. He told InForum: “They are continuing to expand new acres every year. Their umbrella gets bigger. The little guys are labelled in the permits so on paper Offutt has no footprint in newer projects. They send the little guy to do the work.”
Drinking water from community and household wells near irrigated potato fields is already contaminated with nitrate pollution exceeding state and federal safe drinking water limits. Rural communities have been forced to spend millions of dollars to remove toxic nitrates – a breakdown product of the nitrogen in fertilizer – from their drinking water. And millions more in drinking water treatment costs could be on the horizon if Offutt is permitted to keep using small-farmer strawmen to expand its footprint while evading environmental review.
In February, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture released the results of tests monitoring the groundwater on an Offutt Farms site. The extremely high nitrate levels confirm that best management practices on Offutt’s irrigated acreage cannot prevent unsafe levels of nitrate from leaking into the shallow drinking water aquifer of the Pineland Sands.
In an expert report supporting EWG’s comments on the proposed Nolte project, George Kraft, Ph.D. – a hydrologist specializing in assessing groundwater pollution from irrigated farming in porous soils – makes clear that groundwater nitrate contamination at levels double to quadruple the legal limit will likely occur at the proposed Nolte project site.
State Rep. Peter Fischer, who chairs the water committee of the Minnesota House of Representatives, is sympathetic to Nolte’s position that his irrigation applications are not connected to Offutt’s expansion plans. But he told the Star-Tribune of Minneapolis that the state can’t simply ignore the cumulative harm fertilizers and irrigation wells may cause to the Pineland Sands: “We need to make sure we’re protecting water sustainability.”
The evidence is clear that Offutt has amassed hundreds of permits and thousands of additional farm acres and is continuing to expand its operations. Operations of this magnitude are required by law to undergo environmental review to assess the full potential for environmental harms and assess alternatives or methods to minimize impacts to natural resources.
Another expansion of Offutt’s industrial potato empire in the vulnerable Pineland Sands Aquifer without legally required environmental oversight could significantly and irreversibly contaminate surface water, groundwater and drinking water with nitrates, pesticides, fungicides and insecticides. After 30 years of operation, it is past time for Offutt Farms to accept responsibility for completing a full environmental review of its operation and future expansion plans in the Pineland Sands. The full cost of environmental review will likely be far less than the water protection and treatment costs the company has already unjustifiably passed on to citizens, communities and the state of Minnesota.


environmentalworkinggroupewg--2020-05-19--In Major Win for Consumers, Johnson & Johnson Ends Sale of Talc-Based Baby Powders

WASHINGTON – EWG today welcomed the news that Johnson & Johnson will soon end the sale of talc-based baby powders in the U.S. and Canada , and called on other cosmetic companies to end the use of talc in other loose powders .
“ It ’ s good news that Johnson & Johnson will soon end the sale of talc-based baby powders in the U.S. and Canada , ” said Scott Faber , EWG ’ s senior vice president for government affairs .
“ Now other companies need to follow their lead.
” Geologically , talc and asbestos can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In many regions , talc deposits are contaminated with asbestos fibers .
Even small amounts of asbestos in talc can cause mesothelioma and other deadly diseases , many years after exposure .
Asbestos is one of the most dangerous substances on Earth .
From federal mortality data , EWG Action Fund , EWG ’ s 501 ( c ) ( 4 ) sister organization , estimated that up to 15,000 Americans die each year from asbestos-triggered diseases .
The federal government says there is no safe level of asbestos exposure for any type @ @ @ @ @ @ @ short in duration as a few days have caused mesothelioma in humans .
“ It ’ s no secret that talc can be contaminated with asbestos , ” Faber said .
“ Companies have known about the risk of asbestos-contaminated talc since the 1950s.
” Just last week , asbestos was found in two talc-containing eye shadow palettes , according to laboratory tests commissioned by EWG .
The lab found asbestos – up to nearly 3.9 million asbestos fiber structures per gram of eyeshadow – in the Jmkcoz 120 Colors Eyeshadow Palette makeup @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 45 shades tested from the kit , 40 percent contained asbestos .
Asbestos was found in a second Jmkcoz eyeshadow kit , Beauty Glazed Gorgeous Me Eye Shadow Tray Palette , sold on the company ’ s website and on Amazon and eBay , at levels up to 3.5 million asbestos fiber structures per gram of eyeshadow .
Of the 25 shades tested from the kit , 20 percent contained the deadly fiber .
The troubling news about the presence of asbestos in this toy makeup kit is just the latest example of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to children .
• In October , Johnson & Johnson issued a voluntary recall of its baby powder after the Food and Drug Administration found trace levels of asbestos in samples of the popular product .
• In March 2019 , the FDA issued a rare alert , urging consumers to stop using certain cosmetics products from the national retailer Claire ’ s , after the agency found the deadly carcinogen asbestos in at least three different talc-based products .
• FDA issued a similar safety alert in September after the agency found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ products marketed by Beauty Plus .
• In 2015 , EWG Action Fund found asbestos fibers in several brands of children ’ s crayons and toy crime scene investigation kits .
• In 2007 , tests commissioned by the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization also found the lethal fiber in a toy fingerprint named after the television show “ CSI : Crime Scene Investigation.
” • In 2000 , an investigation by journalists from the Seattle Post Intelligencer discovered asbestos in imported crayons made with talc .
For more information , view Faber ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

WASHINGTON – EWG today welcomed the news that Johnson & Johnson will soon end the sale of talc-based baby powders in the U.S. and Canada, and called on other cosmetic companies to end the use of talc in other loose powders.
“It’s good news that Johnson & Johnson will soon end the sale of talc-based baby powders in the U.S. and Canada,” said Scott Faber, EWG’s senior vice president for government affairs. “Now other companies need to follow their lead.”
Geologically, talc and asbestos can be formed from the same parent rock. In many regions, talc deposits are contaminated with asbestos fibers. Even small amounts of asbestos in talc can cause mesothelioma and other deadly diseases, many years after exposure.
Asbestos is one of the most dangerous substances on Earth. From federal mortality data, EWG Action Fund, EWG’s 501(c)(4) sister organization, estimated that up to 15,000 Americans die each year from asbestos-triggered diseases.
The federal government says there is no safe level of asbestos exposure for any type of asbestos fiber. Asbestos exposures as short in duration as a few days have caused mesothelioma in humans.
“It’s no secret that talc can be contaminated with asbestos,” Faber said. “Companies have known about the risk of asbestos-contaminated talc since the 1950s.”
Just last week, asbestos was found in two talc-containing eye shadow palettes, according to laboratory tests commissioned by EWG.
The lab found asbestos – up to nearly 3.9 million asbestos fiber structures per gram of eyeshadow – in the Jmkcoz 120 Colors Eyeshadow Palette makeup kit sold on Amazon. Of the 45 shades tested from the kit, 40 percent contained asbestos.
Asbestos was found in a second Jmkcoz eyeshadow kit, Beauty Glazed Gorgeous Me Eye Shadow Tray Palette, sold on the company’s website and on Amazon and eBay, at levels up to 3.5 million asbestos fiber structures per gram of eyeshadow. Of the 25 shades tested from the kit, 20 percent contained the deadly fiber.
The troubling news about the presence of asbestos in this toy makeup kit is just the latest example of the deadly fiber contaminating imported products marketed to children.
In October, Johnson & Johnson issued a voluntary recall of its baby powder after the Food and Drug Administration found trace levels of asbestos in samples of the popular product.
In March 2019, the FDA issued a rare alert, urging consumers to stop using certain cosmetics products from the national retailer Claire’s, after the agency found the deadly carcinogen asbestos in at least three different talc-based products.
FDA issued a similar safety alert in September after the agency found asbestos in at least four different talc-based products marketed by Beauty Plus.
In 2015, EWG Action Fund found asbestos fibers in several brands of children’s crayons and toy crime scene investigation kits.
In 2007, tests commissioned by the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization also found the lethal fiber in a toy fingerprint named after the television show “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.”
In 2000, an investigation by journalists from the Seattle Post Intelligencer discovered asbestos in imported crayons made with talc.
For more information, view Faber’s testimony before the House Oversight Committee.


environmentalworkinggroupewg--2020-05-19--EWG Statement on USDA Rule for the Coronavirus Food Protection Program

WASHINGTON – Today the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a $ 19 billion COVID-19 farm and food relief initiative , including $ 16 billion in direct payments to farmers .
These new payments come on top of at least $ 14 billion in payments made to offset the effects of the Trump administration ’ s trade war with China and more than $ 15 billion in ongoing , annual taxpayer-funded farm subsidies .
“ This rule will pour gasoline on a raging fire in farm country , ” said Scott Faber , senior vice president for government affairs at EWG @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the verge of extinction , Secretary Perdue ’ s decision to increase payment limits for corporations to $ 750,000 will accelerate the decline of the family farm .
When Secretary Perdue recently warned farmers to get big or get out , no one could have imagined he would use a pandemic to implement his vision for American agriculture .
Even worse , none of these funds must be used to help protect food and farm workers , who are taking incredible risks to keep us fed.
” Through FOIA requests , EWG @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flowed to the largest , most successful farms .
The top 1 percent of Market Facilitation Program payment recipients collected 14 percent of all MFP funds .
That means that 6,000 farmers each harvested more than $ 300,000 in 2018 and 2019 .
By contrast , the bottom 80 percent of MFP recipients – or about 500,000 farmers – each received above $ 7,000 in the same time period .
Unlike with anti-hunger or housing assistance programs , millionaires can still receive MFP payments – and other farm subsidies .
President Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meager “ means ” test that applies to most farm subsidies : Farm couples can receive payments so long as their annual average net income does not exceed $ 1.8 million .
EWG keeps finding city dwellers on the list of MFP recipients .
Even billionaires are cashing in .
“ It ’ s no surprise that the team at USDA – which is filled with former farm lobbyists and farm subsidy recipients – raised the payment limit or retained loopholes that allow distant relations or silent partners to collect subsidies , regardless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the farm , ” said Faber .

WASHINGTON – Today the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a $19 billion COVID-19 farm and food relief initiative, including $16 billion in direct payments to farmers. These new payments come on top of at least $14 billion in payments made to offset the effects of the Trump administration’s trade war with China and more than $15 billion in ongoing, annual taxpayer-funded farm subsidies.
“This rule will pour gasoline on a raging fire in farm country,” said Scott Faber, senior vice president for government affairs at EWG. “Instead of helping small farmers on the verge of extinction, Secretary Perdue’s decision to increase payment limits for corporations to $750,000 will accelerate the decline of the family farm. When Secretary Perdue recently warned farmers to get big or get out, no one could have imagined he would use a pandemic to implement his vision for American agriculture. Even worse, none of these funds must be used to help protect food and farm workers, who are taking incredible risks to keep us fed.”
Through FOIA requests, EWG has learned that previous bailout funding has flowed to the largest, most successful farms. The top 1 percent of Market Facilitation Program payment recipients collected 14 percent of all MFP funds. That means that 6,000 farmers each harvested more than $300,000 in 2018 and 2019. By contrast, the bottom 80 percent of MFP recipients – or about 500,000 farmers – each received above $7,000 in the same time period.
Unlike with anti-hunger or housing assistance programs, millionaires can still receive MFP payments – and other farm subsidies. President Trump’s USDA chose to retain the same meager “means” test that applies to most farm subsidies: Farm couples can receive payments so long as their annual average net income does not exceed $1.8 million.
EWG keeps finding city dwellers on the list of MFP recipients. Even billionaires are cashing in.
“It’s no surprise that the team at USDA – which is filled with former farm lobbyists and farm subsidy recipients – raised the payment limit or retained loopholes that allow distant relations or silent partners to collect subsidies, regardless of whether they live or work on the farm,” said Faber.


environmentalworkinggroupewg--2020-05-19--Massachusetts’ Net-Zero Goal Could Stall Without Federal Pandemic Relief

In January , Massachusetts Gov .
Charlie Baker announced a goal to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 .
Although all New England states have aggressive carbon reduction targets , Massachusetts will be at the center of the region ’ s efforts .
The Brattle Group reports that New England will need five times the power plant capacity it has now , but Massachusetts makes up nearly half the region ’ s electricity demand .
The good thing is that the state has been a leader in solar generation – ranking fourth in the nation for solar jobs and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – enough to power nearly half a million homes , according to the Solar Foundation and the Solar Energy Industries Association .
The state is also in the process of developing its first large-scale offshore wind farm .
Brattle says Massachusetts has about half the technical offshore wind potential in New England .
The challenge is that Brattle estimates offshore wind capacity will have to expand nearly 30 percent , and solar capacity more than 20 percent , each year of this decade to achieve the targeted emission reductions .
But the immediate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump administration ’ s foot-dragging on offshore wind approvals .
In response to Massachusetts utilities ' announcement that the pandemic would likely slow down the processing of solar developer requests for hooking up to the electric system , the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources issued emergency regulations that doubled the amount of installed solar capacity allowed under the state ’ s Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target Program .
Good timing .
According to the environmental entrepreneurs coalition E2 , Massachusetts was seventh in the nation for clean energy jobs prior to the pandemic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efficiency , renewables , energy storage and electric vehicles .
But an ongoing survey by BW Research Partners of pandemic-induced , clean energy job losses shows that the state has lost more than half those jobs , climbing from about 5,600 in March to 12,000 in April .
Among clean energy job losses nationwide , solar has been hit particularly hard .
The Solar Energy Industries Association expects nearly 40 percent fewer solar jobs through June than initially forecast , essentially wiping out job growth in the solar sector since 2014 .
BW @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reach 800,000 by July .
Massachusetts has announced two offshore wind projects , enough to power about 1 million homes , says project developer Iberdrola .
The American Wind Energy Association estimates that offshore wind development could create up to 83,000 jobs by 2030 – that is , if the Trump administration allows it .
The Vineyard Wind 1 project , in advanced stages of development , has been stalled by the Interior Department .
The agency has postponed the project ’ s final approval until December , reports NPR .
Industry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , director of North American renewable power for IHS Markit , put it to Energy and Environment News , `` The current administration does not seem very sympathetic to offshore wind anymore . ''
Liz Burdock , CEO of the organization , is also worried how the pandemic and Interior Department delays will affect smaller offshore wind component manufacturers .
In releasing the organization ’ s 2020 wind market report , Burdock said : If the Federal Government wants to boost the economy , it doesn ’ t have to look any further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should act today to devote the resources needed for review of construction and operation plans ( COPs ) as requested in the Administration ’ s 2021 budget .
U.S. small businesses will need work immediately following the containment of the coronavirus , and next year may be too late to keep them solvent .
The solar and wind industries are urging Congress to extend the federal tax credits for wind and solar and for direct payments to soften the financial blow to the renewable energy sector .
The industries have had apparent success @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harbor ” provisions for renewable projects under construction so that stalled projects can qualify for federal wind and solar tax credits .
Earlier this month , in response to Sen. Charles Grassley ( R-Iowa ) , the Treasury Department signaled that it “ plans to modify the relevant rules in the near future.
” Massachusetts is a national leader in solar and soon to be in offshore wind .
To ensure that the state meets its clean energy goals and sustains a healthy economy , Congress should act to accelerate approval of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and agree to the renewable industry ’ s requests for near-term federal support .

In January, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker announced a goal to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Although all New England states have aggressive carbon reduction targets, Massachusetts will be at the center of the region’s efforts.
The Brattle Group reports that New England will need five times the power plant capacity it has now, but Massachusetts makes up nearly half the region’s electricity demand. The good thing is that the state has been a leader in solar generation – ranking fourth in the nation for solar jobs and eighth in installed solar capacity last year – enough to power nearly half a million homes, according to the Solar Foundation and the Solar Energy Industries Association. The state is also in the process of developing its first large-scale offshore wind farm. Brattle says Massachusetts has about half the technical offshore wind potential in New England.
The challenge is that Brattle estimates offshore wind capacity will have to expand nearly 30 percent, and solar capacity more than 20 percent, each year of this decade to achieve the targeted emission reductions. But the immediate challenge is the coronavirus pandemic and the Trump administration’s foot-dragging on offshore wind approvals.
In response to Massachusetts utilities' announcement that the pandemic would likely slow down the processing of solar developer requests for hooking up to the electric system, the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources issued emergency regulations that doubled the amount of installed solar capacity allowed under the state’s Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target Program.
Good timing. According to the environmental entrepreneurs coalition E2, Massachusetts was seventh in the nation for clean energy jobs prior to the pandemic, with nearly 22,000 jobs related to energy efficiency, renewables, energy storage and electric vehicles. But an ongoing survey by BW Research Partners of pandemic-induced, clean energy job losses shows that the state has lost more than half those jobs, climbing from about 5,600 in March to 12,000 in April.
Among clean energy job losses nationwide, solar has been hit particularly hard. The Solar Energy Industries Association expects nearly 40 percent fewer solar jobs through June than initially forecast, essentially wiping out job growth in the solar sector since 2014. BW Research Partners expects clean energy job losses to reach 800,000 by July.
Massachusetts has announced two offshore wind projects, enough to power about 1 million homes, says project developer Iberdrola. The American Wind Energy Association estimates that offshore wind development could create up to 83,000 jobs by 2030 – that is, if the Trump administration allows it.
The Vineyard Wind 1 project, in advanced stages of development, has been stalled by the Interior Department. The agency has postponed the project’s final approval until December, reports NPR. Industry observers are nervous. As Rafael McDonald, director of North American renewable power for IHS Markit, put it to Energy and Environment News, "The current administration does not seem very sympathetic to offshore wind anymore."
Liz Burdock, CEO of the organization, is also worried how the pandemic and Interior Department delays will affect smaller offshore wind component manufacturers. In releasing the organization’s 2020 wind market report, Burdock said:
If the Federal Government wants to boost the economy, it doesn’t have to look any further than the Department of Interior. Congress should act today to devote the resources needed for review of construction and operation plans (COPs) as requested in the Administration’s 2021 budget. U.S. small businesses will need work immediately following the containment of the coronavirus, and next year may be too late to keep them solvent.
The solar and wind industries are urging Congress to extend the federal tax credits for wind and solar and for direct payments to soften the financial blow to the renewable energy sector. The industries have had apparent success in requesting an extension of “safe harbor” provisions for renewable projects under construction so that stalled projects can qualify for federal wind and solar tax credits. Earlier this month, in response to Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), the Treasury Department signaled that it “plans to modify the relevant rules in the near future.”
Massachusetts is a national leader in solar and soon to be in offshore wind. To ensure that the state meets its clean energy goals and sustains a healthy economy, Congress should act to accelerate approval of the offshore wind projects along the East Coast and agree to the renewable industry’s requests for near-term federal support.


environmentalworkinggroupewg--2020-05-20--EPA Chief: Environmental and Public Health Rollbacks ‘Make Things Better’

WASHINGTON – Environmental Protection Agency chief Andrew Wheeler told a Senate oversight committee today that the scores of rollbacks of environmental and public health regulations under the Trump administration have made things better .
In a hearing of the Senate Environmental and Public Works Committee , Sen. Tom Carper of Delaware , the top-ranking Democrat on the committee , asked Wheeler if he and the agency would “ stop writing rules that will make things actually worse , not better.
” “ It seems that at the end of his answer , Administrator Wheeler left out ‘ for polluters , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ For more than three years , the Trump EPA has done everything it can to remove the safeguards meant to protect Americans ’ exposure to toxic chemicals , dirty air and contaminated drinking water , ” Cook said .
“ For Wheeler to claim these rollbacks were for the good of the nation is absurd and insulting.
” Here are just some of the regulatory rollbacks the Trump administration has initiated at the behest of the fossil fuel , chemical , agrochemical and automobile industries : • Refusing to limit perchlorate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the nation ’ s drinking water supply .
• Rolling back auto fuel efficiency standards to allow more than a billion additional tons of carbon dioxide pollution from tailpipes .
• Citing the coronavirus pandemic as reason for halting enforcement of critical environmental laws for the fossil fuel , chemical , manufacturing and electricity industries .
• Proposing to scrap protections for children from atrazine , a toxic pesticide linked to birth defects and cancer .
• Ignoring worker safety in the decision to keep methylene chloride , a lethal paint-stripper chemical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Quashing safety rules at chemical plants to ease the “ burden ” on industry .
• Rolling back regulations on how coal-fired power plants store coal ash waste and dispose of waste water contaminated with heavy metals .
• Proposing a new rule that will leave millions of American children exposed to dangerous levels of lead in drinking water .
• Over the recommendations of EPA ’ s own scientists , refusing to ban chlorpyrifos , a pesticide that can cause brain damage in children .
• Ignoring career agency scientists who called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carcinogen asbestos .
• Siding with Monsanto , claiming the cancer-causing weedkiller glyphosate is “ safe.
” • Rejecting calls to adopt health-protective plan to clean up PFAS contamination .
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 – Environmental Protection Agency chief Andrew Wheeler told a Senate oversight committee today that the scores of rollbacks of environmental and public health regulations under the Trump administration have made things better.
In a hearing of the Senate Environmental and Public Works Committee, Sen. Tom Carper of Delaware, the top-ranking Democrat on the committee, asked Wheeler if he and the agency would “stop writing rules that will make things actually worse, not better.”
“All our rules make things better, sir,” Wheeler responded.
“It seems that at the end of his answer, Administrator Wheeler left out ‘for polluters,’” said EWG President Ken Cook.
“For more than three years, the Trump EPA has done everything it can to remove the safeguards meant to protect Americans’ exposure to toxic chemicals, dirty air and contaminated drinking water,” Cook said. “For Wheeler to claim these rollbacks were for the good of the nation is absurd and insulting.”
Here are just some of the regulatory rollbacks the Trump administration has initiated at the behest of the fossil fuel, chemical, agrochemical and automobile industries:
###
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--2020-05-20--It’s Time To End the Use of Talc in Loose Powders

The news , announced Tuesday , that Johnson & Johnson will soon end the sale of baby powder with talc is long overdue .
Because talc and asbestos can form in the same parent rock , cosmetics made with talc can become contaminated with the deadly carcinogen , which is responsible for the death of thousands of Americans every year .
Cosmetics companies have known since the 1950s that talc could be contaminated with asbestos , and the public was alerted in the early 1970s .
But the cosmetics industry persuaded the Food and Drug Administration it could be trusted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that cosmetics companies should be allowed to rely on an asbestos detection method that could see some but not all asbestos fibers .
That has proven to be a tragic mistake .
As The New York Times reported , “ the product that once defined [ Johnson & Johnson ’ s ] wholesome image ” has triggered “ thousands of lawsuits filed by patients who say it caused cancer.
” Thanks to the leadership of Rep. Frank Pallone , Jr. ( D-N.J. ) , Congress is inching closer to directing the FDA to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or restrict some dangerous chemicals and contaminants to ensure that these everyday products are safe .
The FDA has worked with others to develop an asbestos testing method that will more accurately detect the deadly asbestos fibers that can lodge in our lungs once they are inhaled .
But efforts to finally modernize cosmetics law have been sidelined , for the moment , by the COVID-19 pandemic .
And the FDA is not proposing to make this new , more accurate detection method mandatory .
That ’ s why responsible companies should follow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ simply end the use of talc in loose powders .
Many well-known brands continue to use talc in body and facial powders that can be inhaled , and EWG has identified more than 2,000 products that contain talc .
How much talc is inhaled – and how much is contaminated with asbestos – is difficult to estimate .
But it only takes one asbestos fiber , lodged in the lungs , to cause mesothelioma decades later .
EWG Action Fund , EWG ’ s 501 ( c ) ( 4 ) sister organization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans a year die from asbestos-related diseases .
In all , from 1999 to 2017 an estimated 236,981 to 277,654 Americans died from asbestos exposure .
In recent years , many cosmetics industry leaders have reformulated their products and joined with public health groups like EWG to update cosmetics laws that were enacted more than 80 years ago .
Just last week in California , the Personal Care Products Council joined EWG , Black Women for Wellness , Breast Cancer Prevention Partners and CalPIRG to support state legislation to ban 12 chemicals from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mercury , and some phthalates and parabens .
Responsible companies should build on this progress by finally ending the use of talc in loose powders .

The news, announced Tuesday, that Johnson & Johnson will soon end the sale of baby powder with talc is long overdue.
Because talc and asbestos can form in the same parent rock, cosmetics made with talc can become contaminated with the deadly carcinogen, which is responsible for the death of thousands of Americans every year.
Cosmetics companies have known since the 1950s that talc could be contaminated with asbestos, and the public was alerted in the early 1970s. But the cosmetics industry persuaded the Food and Drug Administration it could be trusted to regulate its own products – and that cosmetics companies should be allowed to rely on an asbestos detection method that could see some but not all asbestos fibers.
That has proven to be a tragic mistake. As The New York Times reported, “the product that once defined [Johnson & Johnson’s] wholesome image” has triggered “thousands of lawsuits filed by patients who say it caused cancer.”
Thanks to the leadership of Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-N.J.), Congress is inching closer to directing the FDA to review and, if necessary, ban or restrict some dangerous chemicals and contaminants to ensure that these everyday products are safe. The FDA has worked with others to develop an asbestos testing method that will more accurately detect the deadly asbestos fibers that can lodge in our lungs once they are inhaled.
But efforts to finally modernize cosmetics law have been sidelined, for the moment, by the COVID-19 pandemic. And the FDA is not proposing to make this new, more accurate detection method mandatory. That’s why responsible companies should follow the lead of J&J and simply end the use of talc in loose powders.
Many well-known brands continue to use talc in body and facial powders that can be inhaled, and EWG has identified more than 2,000 products that contain talc. How much talc is inhaled – and how much is contaminated with asbestos – is difficult to estimate. But it only takes one asbestos fiber, lodged in the lungs, to cause mesothelioma decades later.
EWG Action Fund, EWG’s 501(c)(4) sister organization, has calculated that 12,000 to 15,000 Americans a year die from asbestos-related diseases. In all, from 1999 to 2017 an estimated 236,981 to 277,654 Americans died from asbestos exposure.
In recent years, many cosmetics industry leaders have reformulated their products and joined with public health groups like EWG to update cosmetics laws that were enacted more than 80 years ago. Just last week in California, the Personal Care Products Council joined EWG, Black Women for Wellness, Breast Cancer Prevention Partners and CalPIRG to support state legislation to ban 12 chemicals from cosmetics by 2025, including formaldehyde, mercury, and some phthalates and parabens.
Responsible companies should build on this progress by finally ending the use of talc in loose powders.