environmentalworkinggroupewg--2020-07-15--Study: Disposal of PFAS Waste Increases Contamination

WASHINGTON – In a study published in the peer-reviewed journal Chemosphere , scientists at the Environmental Working Group conclude that burning , discarding and flushing waste containing the toxic fluorinated chemicals known as PFAS all contribute to environmental contamination .
The three standard practices for waste management outlined in the review – landfilling , wastewater treatment and incineration – do not effectively contain or destroy PFAS .
“ The three common ‘ disposal ’ options for getting rid of PFAS do not eliminate these contaminants but rather end up just returning either the same chemicals or their byproducts back into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Ph.D. , EWG senior scientist and primary author of the study .
“ PFAS disposal is really just another step in the contamination cycle.
” Communities with contaminated water supplies increasingly look to PFAS treatment technologies , but every technology produces PFAS-laden waste .
With current disposal options , the concentrated PFAS likely returns to the environment , to require removal once more .
As the need to dispose of this waste grows , handling of PFAS waste at disposal sites has received more scrutiny .
PFAS are discharged by industrial facilities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ using PFAS-containing firefighting foams , and sent to landfills or flushed down drains following their use in a multitude of consumer products .
Vast stores of legacy firefighting foam are being sent to incinerators that are suspected of spreading the contamination to local communities .
In the absence of federal regulations , PFAS receive no special treatment during the disposal process .
There is no requirement to monitor for PFAS in waste streams .
Contamination moves from site to site as a result , contributing to the ever-increasing list of contaminated communities .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ including what happens after disposal , is of critical importance .
PFAS are called “ forever chemicals ” because they never break down in the environment and could move through the cycle indefinitely .
These chemicals might suppress the immune system and are associated with cancer , reproductive and developmental harms , and reduced effectiveness of vaccines , among other health problems .
“ The disposal of PFAS can cause environmental pollution , which disproportionately affects people and communities near the waste disposal sites , ” says Olga V. Naidenko , Ph.D. , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ States , the EPA and waste management companies must take strong action to protect fence-line communities from harmful exposures to PFAS.
” The paper concludes with six measures for addressing the PFAS problem : • Limiting the use of PFAS to essential applications in order to reduce industrial discharges .
• Protecting the health of fence-line communities through strong public health policies .
• Capturing all liquid wastes from landfills and keeping them on site .
• Monitoring PFAS contamination at and near disposal sites .
The Environmental Working Group is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment .
Through research , advocacy and unique education tools , EWG drives consumer choice and civic action .

WASHINGTON – In a study published in the peer-reviewed journal Chemosphere, scientists at the Environmental Working Group conclude that burning, discarding and flushing waste containing the toxic fluorinated chemicals known as PFAS all contribute to environmental contamination. The three standard practices for waste management outlined in the review – landfilling, wastewater treatment and incineration – do not effectively contain or destroy PFAS.
“The three common ‘disposal’ options for getting rid of PFAS do not eliminate these contaminants but rather end up just returning either the same chemicals or their byproducts back into the environment,” says Tasha Stoiber, Ph.D., EWG senior scientist and primary author of the study. “PFAS disposal is really just another step in the contamination cycle.”
Communities with contaminated water supplies increasingly look to PFAS treatment technologies, but every technology produces PFAS-laden waste. With current disposal options, the concentrated PFAS likely returns to the environment, to require removal once more. As the need to dispose of this waste grows, handling of PFAS waste at disposal sites has received more scrutiny.
PFAS are discharged by industrial facilities, released by airports and military bases using PFAS-containing firefighting foams, and sent to landfills or flushed down drains following their use in a multitude of consumer products. Vast stores of legacy firefighting foam are being sent to incinerators that are suspected of spreading the contamination to local communities. In the absence of federal regulations, PFAS receive no special treatment during the disposal process. There is no requirement to monitor for PFAS in waste streams. Contamination moves from site to site as a result, contributing to the ever-increasing list of contaminated communities.
Mapping the full PFAS contamination cycle, including what happens after disposal, is of critical importance. PFAS are called “forever chemicals” because they never break down in the environment and could move through the cycle indefinitely. These chemicals might suppress the immune system and are associated with cancer, reproductive and developmental harms, and reduced effectiveness of vaccines, among other health problems.
“The disposal of PFAS can cause environmental pollution, which disproportionately affects people and communities near the waste disposal sites,” says Olga V. Naidenko, Ph.D., vice president for science investigations at EWG. “States, the EPA and waste management companies must take strong action to protect fence-line communities from harmful exposures to PFAS.”
The paper concludes with six measures for addressing the PFAS problem:
Limiting the use of PFAS to essential applications in order to reduce industrial discharges.
Protecting the health of fence-line communities through strong public health policies.
Capturing all liquid wastes from landfills and keeping them on site.
Monitoring PFAS contamination at and near disposal sites.
Researching PFAS incineration to address current data gaps.
Researching advanced remediation technologies to generate new waste management solutions.
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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--2020-07-16--Good/Bad News: Feds Save Rooftop Solar, Gut Law Boosting Small-Scale Renewables

WASHINGTON – Federal energy regulators dealt big electric utilities a big blow today , dismissing a bid by an industry front group that could have ended payments from utilities to rooftop solar customers .
At the same time , they gutted a law that since 1978 has required utilities to buy power from small renewable projects .
All four members of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission voted to dismiss a petition by the Northeast Ratepayers Association , or NERA , that would have stripped states of the right to require net metering , through which utilities compensate rooftop solar owners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
NERA , which refuses to divulge its membership , asked FERC to assume that authority , which could have drastically reduced such payments , undermining the incentive for consumers and businesses to invest in solar .
“ This was obviously yet another attempt by the electric utility industry to crush customer-owned solar , ” said EWG Senior Energy Policy Advisor Grant Smith .
“ The unanimous decision by FERC is a big victory for solar energy and the environment , and a well-deserved rebuke for NERA and the big utilities behind it.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s petition “ does not identify a specific controversy or harm the commission should address in a declaratory order.
” Utilities across the country have long tried to use their political clout to stamp out net metering .
For seven years , their national lobbying organization has called net metering and energy efficiency the biggest threat to utility profits .
State governments and regulators , attorneys general , renewable trade organizations and advocacy organizations , including EWG , lined up against NERA , which was the lone voice in favor of its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But by a 3-1 vote , FERC issued a final rule significantly weakening the Public Utility Regulatory Policy Act , or PURPA .
It was passed during the Carter administration to expand competition and boost renewable energy generation .
The vote today will make it more difficult to finance solar projects , because the rates for solar operations utilities have to pay will likely be much lower .
FERC Commissioner Richard Glick , the lone dissenting vote , warned that the changes amounted to “ gutting the heart of PURPA , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ move ” spells trouble for independent renewable penetration in the West and Southeast , where PURPA has enabled solar energy to flourish.
” “ Electric utility companies have lobbied hard against net metering for the same reasons they ’ ve gone after PURPA , ” said Smith .
“ Both policies have been successful at promoting renewables that aren ’ t under utility control and ownership.
” The Environmental Working Group is a nonprofit , non-partisan organization that empowers people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment .
Through research , advocacy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consumer choice and civic action .

WASHINGTON – Federal energy regulators dealt big electric utilities a big blow today, dismissing a bid by an industry front group that could have ended payments from utilities to rooftop solar customers. At the same time, they gutted a law that since 1978 has required utilities to buy power from small renewable projects.
All four members of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission voted to dismiss a petition by the Northeast Ratepayers Association, or NERA, that would have stripped states of the right to require net metering, through which utilities compensate rooftop solar owners for energy they return to the grid. NERA, which refuses to divulge its membership, asked FERC to assume that authority, which could have drastically reduced such payments, undermining the incentive for consumers and businesses to invest in solar.
“This was obviously yet another attempt by the electric utility industry to crush customer-owned solar,” said EWG Senior Energy Policy Advisor Grant Smith. “The unanimous decision by FERC is a big victory for solar energy and the environment, and a well-deserved rebuke for NERA and the big utilities behind it.”
FERC chairman Neil Chatterjee said NERA’s petition “does not identify a specific controversy or harm the commission should address in a declaratory order.”
Utilities across the country have long tried to use their political clout to stamp out net metering. For seven years, their national lobbying organization has called net metering and energy efficiency the biggest threat to utility profits.
State governments and regulators, attorneys general, renewable trade organizations and advocacy organizations, including EWG, lined up against NERA, which was the lone voice in favor of its ill-conceived, underhanded gambit against utility customers.
But by a 3-1 vote, FERC issued a final rule significantly weakening the Public Utility Regulatory Policy Act, or PURPA. It was passed during the Carter administration to expand competition and boost renewable energy generation. The vote today will make it more difficult to finance solar projects, because the rates for solar operations utilities have to pay will likely be much lower.
FERC Commissioner Richard Glick, the lone dissenting vote, warned that the changes amounted to “gutting the heart of PURPA,” and E&E News said the move ”spells trouble for independent renewable penetration in the West and Southeast, where PURPA has enabled solar energy to flourish.”
“Electric utility companies have lobbied hard against net metering for the same reasons they’ve gone after PURPA,” said Smith. “Both policies have been successful at promoting renewables that aren’t under utility control and ownership.”
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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--2020-07-21--PFAS Reform Provisions Included in Defense Spending Bill

WASHINGTON – More than a dozen reforms to reduce and remediate pollution from the toxic fluorinated chemicals known as PFAS were included in the annual Department of Defense spending bill that passed the House today .
PFAS pollution has been detected at more than 300 military installations , but the Defense Department has been slow to clean up legacy pollution or reduce ongoing PFAS exposures .
In the bill passed today , the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2021 would : • Require the Pentagon to phase out the nonessential use of PFAS in everyday products like cookware , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and furniture wax , carpeting and upholstery , and food packaging .
• Require the Pentagon to meet state PFAS cleanup standards when those standards exceed federal standards .
• Place a moratorium on the incineration of PFAS by the Defense Department until safe disposal regulations are finalized by the Pentagon and the Environmental Protection Agency .
• Require the Pentagon to notify farmers when PFAS that originates on a military installation contaminates nearby groundwater .
• Require the Pentagon to publish the results of drinking and groundwater testing for PFAS conducted on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • Expand blood testing to any active duty service members who want to have their blood tested for PFAS .
• Provide $ 150 million for research on the development of PFAS remediation and disposal technologies as well as PFAS-based firefighting foam replacements .
• Provide nearly $ 200 million in additional funding for PFAS remediation at active and former military installations , including National Guard facilities .
• Require federal experts to conduct a study on the use of PFAS chemicals in firefighting equipment and the risk posed to firefighters , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eight communities .
• Clarify that manufacturers using PFAS must disclose all discharges of the chemicals of more than 100 pounds .
PFAS-related provisions were championed by Reps. Adam Smith ( D-Wash. ) , Elissa Slotkin ( D-Mich. ) , Deb Haaland ( D-N.M. ) , Xochitl Torres Small ( D-N.M. ) , Chrissy Houlahan ( D-Pa. ) , Andy Levin ( D-Mich. ) , Antonio Delgado ( D-N.Y. ) , Jackie Speier ( D-Calif. ) , Mike Gallagher ( R-Wisc . )
, Dan Kildee ( D-Mich. ) , Debbie Dingell ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , Brian Fitzpatrick ( R-Penn . )
, Paul Tonko ( D-N.Y. ) , Andy Kim ( D-N.J. ) , Ed Perlmutter ( D-Colo. ) , Madeline Dean ( D-Penn . )
, Bill Posey ( R-Fla. ) , Ro Khanna ( D-Calif. ) , Haley Stevens ( D-Mich. ) , Peter Welch ( D-Vt. ) , Chris Pappas ( D-N.H. ) , Anne Kuster ( D-N.H. ) , Fred Upton ( R-Mich. ) , Lisa Blunt Rochester ( D-Del . )
, Brian Mast ( R-Fla. ) , Bill Huizenga ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , Brendan Boyle ( D-Penn . )
, Lizzie Fletcher ( D-Texas ) , Tom Malinowski ( D-N.J. ) , Rashida Tlaib ( D-Mich. ) , Nanette Barragán ( D-Calif. ) , Raul Grijalva ( Ariz. ) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D.N.Y. )
.
“ Thanks to bipartisan efforts , Congress remains as determined as ever to help combat the ballooning PFAS contamination crisis that is impacting military bases and nearby communities throughout the country , ” said Scott Faber , EWG senior vice president for government affairs .
“ EWG applauds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large bipartisan group of House members for keeping the pressure on the Pentagon to address the toxic PFAS contamination crisis.
” In January , the House passed H.R .
535 , the PFAS Action Act , which designates PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances , sets a two-year deadline for a national PFAS drinking water standard , and directs the EPA to restrict industrial PFAS emissions into the air and water .
“ Although the NDAA contains many PFAS reforms , we ’ re disappointed that House leaders were unable to include other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to kick-start the cleanup process , restrict industrial discharges and hold polluters accountable , ” Faber said .
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 – More than a dozen reforms to reduce and remediate pollution from the toxic fluorinated chemicals known as PFAS were included in the annual Department of Defense spending bill that passed the House today.
PFAS pollution has been detected at more than 300 military installations, but the Defense Department has been slow to clean up legacy pollution or reduce ongoing PFAS exposures.
In the bill passed today, the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2021 would:
Require the Pentagon to phase out the nonessential use of PFAS in everyday products like cookware, sunscreens, personal care products, floor and furniture wax, carpeting and upholstery, and food packaging.
Require the Pentagon to meet state PFAS cleanup standards when those standards exceed federal standards.
Place a moratorium on the incineration of PFAS by the Defense Department until safe disposal regulations are finalized by the Pentagon and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Require the Pentagon to notify farmers when PFAS that originates on a military installation contaminates nearby groundwater.
Require the Pentagon to publish the results of drinking and groundwater testing for PFAS conducted on military installations or former defense sites.
Expand blood testing to any active duty service members who want to have their blood tested for PFAS.
Provide $150 million for research on the development of PFAS remediation and disposal technologies as well as PFAS-based firefighting foam replacements.
Provide nearly $200 million in additional funding for PFAS remediation at active and former military installations, including National Guard facilities.
Require federal experts to conduct a study on the use of PFAS chemicals in firefighting equipment and the risk posed to firefighters, and expand a study of PFAS contamination in eight communities.
Clarify that manufacturers using PFAS must disclose all discharges of the chemicals of more than 100 pounds.
PFAS-related provisions were championed by Reps. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Deb Haaland (D-N.M.), Xochitl Torres Small (D-N.M.), Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), Andy Levin (D-Mich.), Antonio Delgado (D-N.Y.), Jackie Speier (D-Calif.), Mike Gallagher (R-Wisc.), Dan Kildee (D-Mich.), Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), Harley Rouda (D-Calif.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Penn.), Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Ed Perlmutter (D-Colo.), Madeline Dean (D-Penn.), Bill Posey (R-Fla.), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), Haley Stevens (D-Mich.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Chris Pappas (D-N.H.), Anne Kuster (D-N.H.), Fred Upton (R-Mich.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Brian Mast (R-Fla.), Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.), Francis Rooney (R-Fla.), Brendan Boyle (D-Penn.), Lizzie Fletcher (D-Texas), Tom Malinowski (D-N.J.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.), Raul Grijalva (Ariz.) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D.N.Y.).
“Thanks to bipartisan efforts, Congress remains as determined as ever to help combat the ballooning PFAS contamination crisis that is impacting military bases and nearby communities throughout the country,” said Scott Faber, EWG senior vice president for government affairs. “EWG applauds Armed Services Committee Chairman Smith and a large bipartisan group of House members for keeping the pressure on the Pentagon to address the toxic PFAS contamination crisis.”
In January, the House passed H.R. 535, the PFAS Action Act, which designates PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances, sets a two-year deadline for a national PFAS drinking water standard, and directs the EPA to restrict industrial PFAS emissions into the air and water.
“Although the NDAA contains many PFAS reforms, we’re disappointed that House leaders were unable to include other critical reforms that will do even more to kick-start the cleanup process, restrict industrial discharges and hold polluters accountable,” Faber said.
###
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--2020-07-21--A Produce Industry Hater of EWG’s Dirty Dozen™ Asked Consumers If They Trust Us: ‘Absolutely!’

The Packer , a leading trade publication for the conventional produce industry , loves to attack EWG ’ s annual Dirty Dozen™ list of fruits and vegetables with the most pesticides .
The Packer argues that the list discourages Americans from eating non-organic fresh produce , who should take growers ’ word that there ’ s no need to avoid toxic chemical residues on the food we eat .
The Packer never acknowledges that our Shopper ’ s Guide to Pesticides in Produce™ , which includes the Dirty Dozen , urges people to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the produce industry ’ s own research shows that people who use the list do just that .
If The Packer is Captain Ahab , the Dirty Dozen is Moby-Dick .
After the latest Shopper ’ s Guide was released in March , The Packer ran an online poll asking : “ Does the Dirty Dozen list influence how you shop ?
” We don ’ t know the overall results .
But enough respondents supported our guide and expressed fears about pesticides that The Packer ’ s editor-in-chief , Tom Karst @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Winning consumer trust not always possible.
” From Karst ’ s column , here are some questions and responses : Does the Dirty Dozen list influence how you shop ?
• Yes , if an item is on the list , I will either select an organic option or go without .
• Absolutely !
I cringe to hear ANYONE is eating conventional strawberries !
What is your level of trust in the safety of fresh [ conventional ] produce ?
• Not high for pesticides on fresh fruit and vegetables .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ trust their organic methods , very low .
• Not great ; who knows what happens behind the scenes .
What produce brand do you trust the most ?
Karst ’ s takeaways : “ Not everyone trusts in food… .
There is a small slice of consumers … that won ’ t be moved… .
Earning the trust of all the rest of consumers must be the goal , whether those shoppers buy organic or ‘ conventional ’ fruits and vegetables.
” “ A small slice ” ?
The Shopper ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visits last year .
And the Organic Trade Association reports : “ Organic is the fastest growing sector of the U.S. food industry .
Organic food sales increase by double digits annually , far outstripping the growth rate for the overall food market.
” As for earning consumers ’ trust , one poll respondent put it plainly : What do you think ?
Take our own survey below .
We ’ re pretty sure The Packer will see your answers .

The Packer, a leading trade publication for the conventional produce industry, loves to attack EWG’s annual Dirty Dozen™ list of fruits and vegetables with the most pesticides.
The Packer argues that the list discourages Americans from eating non-organic fresh produce, who should take growers’ word that there’s no need to avoid toxic chemical residues on the food we eat.
The Packer never acknowledges that our Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce™, which includes the Dirty Dozen, urges people to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, whether organic or conventionally grown. Or that the produce industry’s own research shows that people who use the list do just that. If The Packer is Captain Ahab, the Dirty Dozen is Moby-Dick.
After the latest Shopper’s Guide was released in March, The Packer ran an online poll asking: “Does the Dirty Dozen list influence how you shop?”
We don’t know the overall results. But enough respondents supported our guide and expressed fears about pesticides that The Packer’s editor-in-chief, Tom Karst, last week wrote a column admitting “Winning consumer trust not always possible.”
From Karst’s column, here are some questions and responses:
Does the Dirty Dozen list influence how you shop?
Yes, if an item is on the list, I will either select an organic option or go without.
Absolutely! I cringe to hear ANYONE is eating conventional strawberries!
What is your level of trust in the safety of fresh [conventional] produce?
It’s too shakey!
Not high for pesticides on fresh fruit and vegetables.
Unless I know the grower and trust their organic methods, very low.
Not very.
Not great; who knows what happens behind the scenes.
What produce brand do you trust the most?
Not relevant unless organic.
Local farm markets. I avoid major brands unless organic.
I don’t follow brands, just organic.
Karst’s takeaways: “Not everyone trusts in food…. There is a small slice of consumers … that won’t be moved…. Earning the trust of all the rest of consumers must be the goal, whether those shoppers buy organic or ‘conventional’ fruits and vegetables.”
“A small slice”? The Shopper’s Guide website had more than 1.8 million visits last year. And the Organic Trade Association reports: “Organic is the fastest growing sector of the U.S. food industry. Organic food sales increase by double digits annually, far outstripping the growth rate for the overall food market.”
As for earning consumers’ trust, one poll respondent put it plainly:
If the industry is so worried about this list, perhaps cleaning up the chemicals applied would go a long way in easing ‘anxiety’ of purchasing produce.
What do you think? Take our own survey below. We’re pretty sure The Packer will see your answers.


environmentalworkinggroupewg--2020-07-23--EWG News Roundup (7/23): House Passes PFAS Reforms in Military Spending Bill, Bodies of Water Infest

EWG News Roundup (7/23): House Passes PFAS Reforms in Military Spending Bill, Bodies of Water Infested With E. Coli and More

This week , the House passed the annual Department of Defense spending bill , which included more than a dozen reforms to reduce and remediate pollution from the toxic fluorinated chemicals known as PFAS .
“ Thanks to bipartisan efforts , Congress remains as determined as ever to help combat the ballooning PFAS contamination crisis that is impacting military bases and nearby communities throughout the country , ” said Scott Faber , EWG senior vice president for government affairs .
“ EWG applauds Armed Services Committee Chairman Smith and a large bipartisan group of House members for keeping the pressure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PFAS contamination crisis.
” Last week , The Packer , a conventional produce industry trade publication , polled consumers on the influence of EWG ’ s annual Dirty Dozen™ list .
The publication released some of the results of the poll , making it clear shoppers are just as concerned as EWG is about pesticides in their fruits and veggies .
And finally , bodies of water across the country are contaminated not just by toxic algae blooms but in some cases also by E. coli or other fecal coliform bacteria .
EWG @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why it ’ s so harmful .
Here ’ s some news you can use going into the weekend .
Business Insider : I use this gentle baby balm to ease my toddler 's skin irritation when her eczema flares up On top of that , all of their products carry the Environmental Working Group 's EWG Verified guarantee that they do not contain potentially harmful ingredients .
Too much fluoride can lead to `` dental fluorosis , which causes white lines , spots , staining or pitting to form on teeth and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the gums , '' as stated by EWG Children 's Health .
Dr. Greene : Is Organic Food Really Different ?
This is true even in babies at the moment of birth .
I participated in a study with the Environmental Working Group where we analyzed umbilical cord blood and found pesticides in every baby tested .
The Picky Eater Blog : The Best Natural Products for Babies ( 2020 Guide ) Here ’ s what I looked for when determining this list of the best natural products for babies : EWG Verified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Organic University of Michigan Health System News : 5 Misconceptions About Kids and Sunscreen For parents who want more details on specific sunscreens , DeHaan recommends looking them up online through the nonprofit Environmental Working Group .
Pharma Intelligence : Environmental Working Group Awards Its ‘ Verified ’ Seal To First CBD Brand , Prima The “ EWG VERIFIED ” mark , and Prima ’ s recently earned B Corp certification , should help to bolster the company ’ s purpose-driven , “ beyond clean ” claims in consumers ’ esteem .
Today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ popular hummus brands – here 's what you need to know The Environmental Working Group , a nonprofit environmental organization that receives funding from organic food companies like Stonyfield Farm and Organic Valley , conducted the study and found glyphosate ( which is used in herbicides like Roundup ) in many non-organic products it tested .
In a report released July 14 , the nonprofit Environmental Working Group ( EWG ) identified glyphosate at detectable levels in 80 % of non-organic or conventional hummus .
Goop : Is There Glyphosate in Your Hummus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Environmental Working Group , a nonprofit analysis group , launched a report this week stating that it had discovered glyphosate in 80 p.c of nonorganic hummus and chickpeas it sampled from main meals retailers .
Jewish Telegraphic Agency : Check your hummus : Environmental group finds high levels of possible carcinogen Laboratory tests commissioned by the Environmental Working Group found glyphosate , the chemical better known as Roundup , in 80 % of conventional chickpeas and hummus tested .
Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association : High Levels of Bayer ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laboratory tests commissioned by the Environmental Working Group found glyphosate , the notorious weedkiller linked to cancer , in more than 80 percent of non-organic hummus and chickpeas samples , and detected at far lower levels in several organic versions .
The study , from the Environmental Working Group ( EWG ) , found the chemical glyphosate in more than 80 percent of the non-organic hummus and chickpeas samples it studied .
The Environmental Working Group , a nonprofit environmental organization that receives funding from organic food companies like Stonyfield Farm and Organic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ glyphosate ( which is used in herbicides like Roundup ) in many non-organic products it tested .
Lite 98.7 ( Utica , N.Y. ) : Several Hummus Brands May Contain Herbicide According to the Environmental Working Group , tests were conducted on 37 conventional , or non-organic , chickpea and chickpea-based hummus samples .
Nearly 90 % of those samples contained glyphosate .
According to a study published in Chemosphere , scientists at the Environmental Working Group ( EWG ) , Washington , D.C. , have concluded that burning , discarding and flushing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as PFAS all contribute to environmental contamination .
Food Industry Executive : Contact Tracing , Social Distancing Monitoring , and Other Technologies for Keeping Workers Safe According to a study from the Environmental Working Group , at least 60 food processing facilities outside the meatpacking industry reported outbreaks through early June , with more than 1,000 workers diagnosed with the virus .
By mid-May , the Environmental Working Group had analyzed CDC data on infections and found that plants in Iowa were hit harder than those in any other state .
A little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recommendations , but they aren ’ t enforceable , while the rest of the country hasn ’ t issued any protocols , according to the Environmental Working Group ( EWG ) , which released its findings on Tuesday ( link ) .
Business Insider : Blueland is a new household cleaning startup that helps you reduce single-use plastic consumption — here ’ s how the products perform The key highlights are that all the products are free from volatile organic compounds ( VOCs ) , which are harmful to pregnant or nursing women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Environmental Working Group 's restricted list .
Reader 's Digest : 13 Silent Signs Your Home Is an Unhealthy Place to Live The Environmental Working Group ’ s investigation of more than 2,000 cleaning supplies on the American market revealed that many substances in them are linked to serious health problems like asthma , allergies , and even cancer .
EcoCult : Your Guide to Finding the Effective and Non-Toxic Laundry Detergents The Environmental Working Group , creators of the wildly popular “ Skin Deep ” cosmetics database , have also assessed hundreds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As of 2015 , there were almost 15,000 participants in the program , receiving seventy million dollars .
10 Magazine : Introducing HwaHae ( 화해 ) : The Best Thing to Happen to K-Beauty Lovers ( And Your Skin ) It lists the ingredients together with their EWG ( Environmental Working Group ) ratings , equipping you with the knowledge of what you ’ re actually putting on your face .
Buzzfeed : 24 Products That May Only Do One Thing , But They Do It Really , Really Well It 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ based on their Environmental Working Group ( EWG ) safety .
A report on the Environmental Working Group shared the alarming statistic that one in 12 beauty and personal care products marketed to Black women are ranked highly hazardous .
CNET : Clean beauty products : What it means and why brands ban certain ingredients The Environmental Working Group is a key civic group known for providing groundbreaking research on how toxic ingredients and other practices can harm people and the environment .
Women ’ s Wear Daily : How Black-Owned Beauty Retailers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ + GRN ’ s four-person team run the ingredients of each product available on the company ’ s web site through the Environmental Working Group ’ s Skin Deep database .
Beauty Independent : Is Greenwashing One Of Beauty ’ s Biggest Trends ?
Brand Founders Reveal How They See It Happening We stand behind our responsibility as a company to create clean and thoughtfully formulated products for our customers , and that is why our products are EWG verified clean .
Green America : More Green Businesses Getting Creative During COVID-19 Be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ certified skincare business that has seen success during the pandemic , too .
In December 2018 , Herbal Essence , a brand of Procter & Gamble , received Environmental Working Group ( EWG ) verified standard for its two new natural shampoo products .
The Environmental Working Group published reports suggesting that residues of glyphosate are present in granola , instant oats and snack bars that are popular with kids .
A new Environmental Working Group ( EWG ) investigative report has found a combination of manure and chemical fertilizer may be overloading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or both in the vast majority of Minnesota farming counties .
Excessive runoff from more than 23,000 animal feedlots across Minnesota has caused significant damage to the state ’ s water quality , according to a new report from the nonprofit Environmental Working Group .
Bipartisan , Bicameral PFAS-Free Military Purchasing Act Introduced : [ … ] The Environmental Working Group and the Green Science Policy Institute have endorsed the legislation .
PFAS , which are known to cause negative health effects , have been confirmed on 15 military bases in New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspected at eight others , according to the nonprofit Environmental Working Group .
National Association of Counties : Counties Are Affected by Aqueous Film-Forming Foam ( AFFF ) In an extensive study conducted by the EWG for example , water wells around dozens of airports tested a concentration of PFAS in excess of the EPA safety guidelines of 70 parts per trillion ( “ ppt ” ) , with some reaching values as high as 13,700 ppt .
Colorado Springs Gazette : Colorado commission adopts new policies on regulation of firefighting foam chemical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take action on PFOA and PFOS and on the broader class of PFAS chemicals that may pose health effects , ” says Melanie Benesh , legislative attorney for the Environmental Working Group , which has called for limiting the two chemicals in drinking water since the early 2000s .
Mashable : 20+ apps and websites to help you live a more sustainable life Another scanner app from the Environmental Working Group is the free Healthy Living app , which lets you scan or search food or cosmetic products to see how clean the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uses in its products to how they 're produced .
Celery is on the Environmental Working Group ’ s ( EWG ) Dirty Dozen list of the most pesticide-contaminated produce , so make sure you only buy organic celery .
However , according to a March-2020 report by the Environmental Working Group ( EWG ) , an America activist group , close to 70 % of the fresh foodstuff sold in the United States contains residues of toxic pesticides .
Eat This , Not That !
: 5 Best Store-Bought Broth & Stock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Environmental Working Group , `` A review reports that artificial and natural flavorings are unspecified mixtures of as many as 100 flavoring substances and solvents , emulsifiers , and preservatives . ''
Popular Science : Your summer guide to sunscreen , from SPF to not-so-magic pills There 's also a report from the Environmental Working Group that gives an overall rating to how UVA-protective certain brands are .
In the meantime , consumers who wish to find out more about their sunscreens can consult the website of the Environmental Working Group , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Who What Wear : I Realized I Knew Nothing About Sunscreen , so I Got Dermatologists to School Me Raw Elements ' sunscreen is top-rated by the Environmental Working Group .
Finger Lakes : Chlorine byproduct that contaminates local tap water linked to thousands of bladder cancers in Europe More than a dozen other Finger Lakes water systems — including those serving Canandaigua , Geneva , Ithaca , Penn Yan and Watkins Glen — have reported quarterly TTHMs of more than 100 ppb at least once since 2012 , according to data from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ watchdog based in Washington , D.C .

This week, the House passed the annual Department of Defense spending bill, which included more than a dozen reforms to reduce and remediate pollution from the toxic fluorinated chemicals known as PFAS.
“Thanks to bipartisan efforts, Congress remains as determined as ever to help combat the ballooning PFAS contamination crisis that is impacting military bases and nearby communities throughout the country,” said Scott Faber, EWG senior vice president for government affairs. “EWG applauds Armed Services Committee Chairman Smith and a large bipartisan group of House members for keeping the pressure on the Pentagon to address the toxic PFAS contamination crisis.”
Last week, The Packer, a conventional produce industry trade publication, polled consumers on the influence of EWG’s annual Dirty Dozen™ list. The publication released some of the results of the poll, making it clear shoppers are just as concerned as EWG is about pesticides in their fruits and veggies.
And finally, bodies of water across the country are contaminated not just by toxic algae blooms but in some cases also by E. coli or other fecal coliform bacteria. EWG broke down how this phenomenon happens and why it’s so harmful.
Here’s some news you can use going into the weekend.
Children’s Health
Business Insider: I use this gentle baby balm to ease my toddler's skin irritation when her eczema flares up
On top of that, all of their products carry the Environmental Working Group's EWG Verified guarantee that they do not contain potentially harmful ingredients.
Baby Gaga: Is Baby Fluoridated Water Safe?
Too much fluoride can lead to "dental fluorosis, which causes white lines, spots, staining or pitting to form on teeth and may weaken teeth as they emerge from the gums," as stated by EWG Children's Health.
Dr. Greene: Is Organic Food Really Different?
This is true even in babies at the moment of birth. I participated in a study with the Environmental Working Group where we analyzed umbilical cord blood and found pesticides in every baby tested.
The Picky Eater Blog: The Best Natural Products for Babies (2020 Guide)
Here’s what I looked for when determining this list of the best natural products for babies: EWG Verified, Made Safe Certified, or USDA Organic
University of Michigan Health System News: 5 Misconceptions About Kids and Sunscreen
For parents who want more details on specific sunscreens, DeHaan recommends looking them up online through the nonprofit Environmental Working Group.
Launch of EWG VERIFIED® Prima Products
Pharma Intelligence: Environmental Working Group Awards Its ‘Verified’ Seal To First CBD Brand, Prima
The “EWG VERIFIED” mark, and Prima’s recently earned B Corp certification, should help to bolster the company’s purpose-driven, “beyond clean” claims in consumers’ esteem.
Glyphosate in Hummus Report
Today: New study finds weed killer in popular hummus brands – here's what you need to know
The Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit environmental organization that receives funding from organic food companies like Stonyfield Farm and Organic Valley, conducted the study and found glyphosate (which is used in herbicides like Roundup) in many non-organic products it tested.
Detroit Free Press: Small amounts of weed killer in popular hummus brands, study shows
In a report released July 14, the nonprofit Environmental Working Group (EWG) identified glyphosate at detectable levels in 80% of non-organic or conventional hummus.
Goop: Is There Glyphosate in Your Hummus? And Other Stories to Read Now
The Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit analysis group, launched a report this week stating that it had discovered glyphosate in 80 p.c of nonorganic hummus and chickpeas it sampled from main meals retailers.
Jewish Telegraphic Agency: Check your hummus: Environmental group finds high levels of possible carcinogen
Laboratory tests commissioned by the Environmental Working Group found glyphosate, the chemical better known as Roundup, in 80% of conventional chickpeas and hummus tested.
Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association: High Levels of Bayer’s Weedkiller Found in Hummus, Chickpeas
Independent laboratory tests commissioned by the Environmental Working Group found glyphosate, the notorious weedkiller linked to cancer, in more than 80 percent of non-organic hummus and chickpeas samples, and detected at far lower levels in several organic versions.
Washington Latest: Weedkiller chemical found in popular brands of hummus
The study, from the Environmental Working Group (EWG), found the chemical glyphosate in more than 80 percent of the non-organic hummus and chickpeas samples it studied.
NBC News 7: New study finds weedkiller in popular hummus brands
The Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit environmental organization that receives funding from organic food companies like Stonyfield Farm and Organic Valley, conducted the study and found glyphosate (which is used in herbicides like Roundup) in many non-organic products it tested.
Lite 98.7 (Utica, N.Y.): Several Hummus Brands May Contain Herbicide
According to the Environmental Working Group, tests were conducted on 37 conventional, or non-organic, chickpea and chickpea-based hummus samples. Nearly 90% of those samples contained glyphosate.
Study for Removal of PFAS
Great Lakes Now: PFAS News Roundup: Research suggests link with COVID-19, disposal methods increase contamination
According to a study published in Chemosphere, scientists at the Environmental Working Group (EWG), Washington, D.C., have concluded that burning, discarding and flushing waste containing the toxic fluorinated chemicals known as PFAS all contribute to environmental contamination.
COVID-19 and Meatpacking Plants
Food Industry Executive: Contact Tracing, Social Distancing Monitoring, and Other Technologies for Keeping Workers Safe
According to a study from the Environmental Working Group, at least 60 food processing facilities outside the meatpacking industry reported outbreaks through early June, with more than 1,000 workers diagnosed with the virus.
Iowa Capital Dispatch: State medical director: CDC help ‘wasn’t needed’ with packing-plant outbreaks
By mid-May, the Environmental Working Group had analyzed CDC data on infections and found that plants in Iowa were hit harder than those in any other state.
COVID-19 and Farm Bailouts
Pro Farmer: Policy Focus 7/15
A little more than a dozen states have safety recommendations, but they aren’t enforceable, while the rest of the country hasn’t issued any protocols, according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), which released its findings on Tuesday (link).
Cleaning Products
Business Insider: Blueland is a new household cleaning startup that helps you reduce single-use plastic consumption — here’s how the products perform
The key highlights are that all the products are free from volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are harmful to pregnant or nursing women and children, and anything on the Environmental Working Group's restricted list.
Reader's Digest: 13 Silent Signs Your Home Is an Unhealthy Place to Live
The Environmental Working Group’s investigation of more than 2,000 cleaning supplies on the American market revealed that many substances in them are linked to serious health problems like asthma, allergies, and even cancer.
EcoCult: Your Guide to Finding the Effective and Non-Toxic Laundry Detergents
The Environmental Working Group, creators of the wildly popular “Skin Deep” cosmetics database, have also assessed hundreds of detergents to determine the safest ones.
Conservation Database
Prarie Public: The Big Business of Hunting
As of 2015, there were almost 15,000 participants in the program, receiving seventy million dollars.
Skin Deep® Cosmetics Database
10 Magazine: Introducing HwaHae (화해): The Best Thing to Happen to K-Beauty Lovers (And Your Skin)
It lists the ingredients together with their EWG (Environmental Working Group) ratings, equipping you with the knowledge of what you’re actually putting on your face.
Buzzfeed: 24 Products That May Only Do One Thing, But They Do It Really, Really Well
It's vegan, cruelty-free, and uses ingredients based on their Environmental Working Group (EWG) safety.
Byrdie: Āether Beauty Launches a Clean "Golden Supernova" Highlighter Formulated for Deep Skin Tones
A report on the Environmental Working Group shared the alarming statistic that one in 12 beauty and personal care products marketed to Black women are ranked highly hazardous.
CNET: Clean beauty products: What it means and why brands ban certain ingredients
The Environmental Working Group is a key civic group known for providing groundbreaking research on how toxic ingredients and other practices can harm people and the environment.
Women’s Wear Daily: How Black-Owned Beauty Retailers Are Shaking Up the Beauty Industry
BLK + GRN’s four-person team run the ingredients of each product available on the company’s web site through the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database.
EWG VERIFIED®
Bustle: The 16 Best Organic Skin Care Products
Olivarrier Cream all barrier reef: Certified vegan, EWG verified, COSMOS organic certified, Cert Clean Canada, PETA certified cruelty-free
Beauty Independent: Is Greenwashing One Of Beauty’s Biggest Trends? Brand Founders Reveal How They See It Happening
We stand behind our responsibility as a company to create clean and thoughtfully formulated products for our customers, and that is why our products are EWG verified clean.
Green America: More Green Businesses Getting Creative During COVID-19
Be Green Bath and Body is an EWG certified skincare business that has seen success during the pandemic, too.
Jewish Life News: Coffee Beauty Products Market Changing Strategies to provide Competitive edge
In December 2018, Herbal Essence, a brand of Procter & Gamble, received Environmental Working Group (EWG) verified standard for its two new natural shampoo products.
Glyphosate in Oats
The Western Producer: Oat acres in limbo
The Environmental Working Group published reports suggesting that residues of glyphosate are present in granola, instant oats and snack bars that are popular with kids.
Minnesota CAFO Report
Fluence Corporation: Feedlot Wastewater Could Threaten Minnesota Drinking Water
A new Environmental Working Group (EWG) investigative report has found a combination of manure and chemical fertilizer may be overloading cropland runoff with nitrogen, phosphorus, or both in the vast majority of Minnesota farming counties.
Owatonna People’s Press: Environmental group report highlights ag runoff issues
Excessive runoff from more than 23,000 animal feedlots across Minnesota has caused significant damage to the state’s water quality, according to a new report from the nonprofit Environmental Working Group.
PFAS Military Map
JD Supra: Wrap-Up of Federal and State Chemical Regulatory Developments, July 2020
Bipartisan, Bicameral PFAS-Free Military Purchasing Act Introduced: […] The Environmental Working Group and the Green Science Policy Institute have endorsed the legislation.
Journal Courier: House approves annual defense bill after veto threat
PFAS, which are known to cause negative health effects, have been confirmed on 15 military bases in New York, including Fort Drum, and is suspected at eight others, according to the nonprofit Environmental Working Group.
National Association of Counties: Counties Are Affected by Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF)
In an extensive study conducted by the EWG for example, water wells around dozens of airports tested a concentration of PFAS in excess of the EPA safety guidelines of 70 parts per trillion (“ppt”), with some reaching values as high as 13,700 ppt.
PFAS Tap Water Contamination
Colorado Springs Gazette: Colorado commission adopts new policies on regulation of firefighting foam chemical
“This is a multi-administration failure to take action on PFOA and PFOS and on the broader class of PFAS chemicals that may pose health effects,” says Melanie Benesh, legislative attorney for the Environmental Working Group, which has called for limiting the two chemicals in drinking water since the early 2000s.
Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce™
Mashable: 20+ apps and websites to help you live a more sustainable life
Another scanner app from the Environmental Working Group is the free Healthy Living app, which lets you scan or search food or cosmetic products to see how clean the company is, from the ingredients it uses in its products to how they're produced.
Bru Direct: 5 Health Benefits Of Fiber-Rich Celery
Celery is on the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) Dirty Dozen list of the most pesticide-contaminated produce, so make sure you only buy organic celery.
Deccan Chronicle: Most veggies, fruits have toxic pesticide residue
However, according to a March-2020 report by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), an America activist group, close to 70% of the fresh foodstuff sold in the United States contains residues of toxic pesticides.
Eat This, Not That!: 5 Best Store-Bought Broth & Stock Brands For Weight Loss
According to the Environmental Working Group, "A review reports that artificial and natural flavorings are unspecified mixtures of as many as 100 flavoring substances and solvents, emulsifiers, and preservatives."
EWG Guide to Sunscreens
Popular Science: Your summer guide to sunscreen, from SPF to not-so-magic pills
There's also a report from the Environmental Working Group that gives an overall rating to how UVA-protective certain brands are.
Wall Street Journal: Sunscreen Chemicals Accumulate in Body at High Levels
In the meantime, consumers who wish to find out more about their sunscreens can consult the website of the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit research organization that rates products.
Who What Wear: I Realized I Knew Nothing About Sunscreen, so I Got Dermatologists to School Me
Raw Elements' sunscreen is top-rated by the Environmental Working Group.
Tap Water Database
Finger Lakes: Chlorine byproduct that contaminates local tap water linked to thousands of bladder cancers in Europe
More than a dozen other Finger Lakes water systems — including those serving Canandaigua, Geneva, Ithaca, Penn Yan and Watkins Glen — have reported quarterly TTHMs of more than 100 ppb at least once since 2012, according to data from the Environmental Working Group, a non-profit watchdog based in Washington, D.C.


environmentalworkinggroupewg--2020-07-23--Historic PFAS Investments Proposed in House Spending Bills

WASHINGTON – Three spending bills proposed by the House will make historic investments to address the regulation and cleanup of the toxic fluorinated chemicals known as PFAS .
Spending bills for the Department of Defense and the Environmental Protection Agency will significantly increasing PFAS cleanup funding by the Pentagon , direct the EPA to accelerate efforts to restrict industrial discharges of PFAS , and also direct the EPA to complete efforts to designate PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances .
“ House leaders will once again make the PFAS contamination crisis a priority , ” said Scott Faber , senior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ This is a small but important down payment on what ’ s needed to reduce and remediate PFAS pollution .
We applaud House Appropriations Chairwoman Nita Lowey , as well as subcommittee chairs Pete Visclosky , Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Betty McCollum for addressing the ballooning PFAS contamination crisis.
” Earlier this week , the House passed a National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2021 that included more than a dozen PFAS reforms .
Here is a summary of the major PFAS-related provisions in the FY 2021 appropriations bills : • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dedicated funding to clean up PFAS contamination at active military installations , expand studies of defense communities affected by PFAS , and phase out PFAS-based firefighting foams .
• More than $ 50 million in research and development funding for PFAS remediation and disposal .
• Reports on Defense Department efforts to test the blood of military firefighters and the costs of cleanup at active military installations .
• $ 200 million to increase the pace of PFAS cleanup at closed military installations .
• Collaboration between the Defense Department and the Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effects from PFAS .
• $ 2.5 million to support regulatory work needed to designate PFAS chemicals as “ hazardous substances ” under the Superfund law .
• $ 2.4 million for the development of standards to limit industrial discharges of PFAS to surface waters and wastewater treatment plants .
• $ 1.5 million to set a national drinking water standard for PFAS in drinking water .
• $ 1.4 million for reporting of PFAS releases into the air and water under the Toxic Release Inventory .
• Additional funding to support the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. Geological Survey ’ s efforts to monitor waterways for PFAS .
Among the amendments to the EPA spending bill the House is expected to approve are : • An amendment to prohibit the Trump administration from withdrawing two proposed regulatory actions to designate PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances under Superfund and set a national drinking water standard for PFOA and PFOS , filed by Reps. Debbie Dingell ( D-Mich. ) , Bill Posey ( R-Fla. ) , Anne Kuster ( D-N.H. ) , Brian Fitzpatrick ( R-Penn . )
, Mike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stevens ( D-Mich. ) , Dan Kildee ( D-Mich. ) , Fred Upton ( R-Mich. ) , Lisa Blunt Rochester ( D-Del . )
, Peter Welch ( D-Vt. ) , Chris Pappas ( D-N.H. ) and Harley Rouda ( D-Calif. ) .
• An amendment to provide an additional $ 2 million to study the relationship between PFAS exposure and susceptibility to COVID-19 by Reps. Richard Hudson ( R-N.C. ) , Dingell and Pappas .
• An amendment filed by Reps. Hudson and Dingell to ensure that the EPA develops standards to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GenX into waterways .
According to the most recent analysis by EWG , 2,230 locations in 49 states are known to have PFAS contamination , including more than 300 military installations .
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 – Three spending bills proposed by the House will make historic investments to address the regulation and cleanup of the toxic fluorinated chemicals known as PFAS.
Spending bills for the Department of Defense and the Environmental Protection Agency will significantly increasing PFAS cleanup funding by the Pentagon, direct the EPA to accelerate efforts to restrict industrial discharges of PFAS, and also direct the EPA to complete efforts to designate PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances.
“House leaders will once again make the PFAS contamination crisis a priority,” said Scott Faber, senior vice president for government affairs at EWG. “This is a small but important down payment on what’s needed to reduce and remediate PFAS pollution. We applaud House Appropriations Chairwoman Nita Lowey, as well as subcommittee chairs Pete Visclosky, Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Betty McCollum for addressing the ballooning PFAS contamination crisis.”
Earlier this week, the House passed a National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2021 that included more than a dozen PFAS reforms.
Here is a summary of the major PFAS-related provisions in the FY 2021 appropriations bills:
FY 2021 Defense Appropriations Bill
More than $100 million in additional dedicated funding to clean up PFAS contamination at active military installations, expand studies of defense communities affected by PFAS, and phase out PFAS-based firefighting foams.
More than $50 million in research and development funding for PFAS remediation and disposal.
Reports on Defense Department efforts to test the blood of military firefighters and the costs of cleanup at active military installations.
FY 2021 Military Construction/Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill
$200 million to increase the pace of PFAS cleanup at closed military installations.
Progress report on PFAS cleanup at closed military installations.
Collaboration between the Defense Department and the Department of Veterans Affairs to monitor the health effects from PFAS.
FY 20021 Interior/Environment Appropriations Bill
$2.5 million to support regulatory work needed to designate PFAS chemicals as “hazardous substances” under the Superfund law.
$2.4 million for the development of standards to limit industrial discharges of PFAS to surface waters and wastewater treatment plants.
$1.5 million to set a national drinking water standard for PFAS in drinking water.
$1.4 million for reporting of PFAS releases into the air and water under the Toxic Release Inventory.
Additional funding to support the EPA’s PFAS research and the U.S. Geological Survey’s efforts to monitor waterways for PFAS.
Among the amendments to the EPA spending bill the House is expected to approve are:
An amendment to prohibit the Trump administration from withdrawing two proposed regulatory actions to designate PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances under Superfund and set a national drinking water standard for PFOA and PFOS, filed by Reps. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), Bill Posey (R-Fla.), Anne Kuster (D-N.H.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Penn.), Mike Gallagher (R-Wisc.), Haley Stevens (D-Mich.), Dan Kildee (D-Mich.), Fred Upton (R-Mich.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) and Harley Rouda (D-Calif.).
An amendment to provide an additional $2 million to study the relationship between PFAS exposure and susceptibility to COVID-19 by Reps. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.), Dingell and Pappas.
An amendment filed by Reps. Hudson and Dingell to ensure that the EPA develops standards to limit industrial discharges of the PFAS chemical GenX into waterways.
According to the most recent analysis by EWG, 2,230 locations in 49 states are known to have PFAS contamination, including more than 300 military installations.
###
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--2020-07-23--Lakes With Algae Outbreaks May Also Be Tainted With E. Coli

Toxic algae outbreaks – slimy , smelly blooms of microorganisms , triggered by polluted farm runoff into lakes and rivers – can cause nausea , vomiting and more serious , longer-term health impacts , such as liver failure and cancer , in people exposed through recreational contact or drinking water .
But where toxic algae infest bodies of water , there may also be contamination from E. coli or other fecal coliform bacteria .
Fecal coliform bacteria normally live in the digestive system of healthy humans and animals , causing no harm or illness .
Even in water , most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But some strains of E. coli can cause diarrhea , vomiting and even death , as with the outbreak late last year that was traced to lettuce grown in California ’ s Salinas Valley .
And these bacteria often come from the very source that contributes to algae outbreaks – livestock manure .
The presence of fecal coliforms in recreational water indicates that other scary pathogens often found in manure may lurk there , too , such as cryptosporidium and giardia , which cause extreme diarrhea .
Algae outbreaks , most common @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilizer and manure that run off of farm fields .
In some areas , septic tanks and wastewater are the source of fecal coliforms in surface water .
But in farm country , often the main source of such bacteria is the use of manure from livestock feedlots – known as animal feeding operations , or AFOs – as crop fertilizer .
AFOs can hold thousands of chickens , hogs and cattle in small confined settings .
These feeding operations annually generate millions of tons of manure – 50 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A lot of that manure is applied to nearby farm fields as a fertilizer .
After rain or irrigation , manure runs off farm fields and gets into recreational waters .
The nutrients and fecal coliform in the manure can then trigger both algae blooms and dangerous bacterial contamination .
Iowa is one of many states where beaches often close because of both types of contaminants .
In the summer , the Iowa Department of Natural Resources tests the water of 39 state park beaches each week for microcystin and E. coli @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if tests find microcystin are above eight micrograms per liter , or µg/L , or if five samples within 30 days exceed 126 “ colony-forming units ” of E. coli per 100 milliliters of water .
The agency has found both microcystin and E. coli contamination in many state park lakes .
For example , in August 2019 , it issued a swimming advisory for Beeds Lake in Franklin County , for both microcystin and E. coli , because both were above the state ’ s guidelines .
Beeds Lake has had E. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back to 2011 .
So far this year , the lake has had an E. coli advisory since June 13 .
The most likely cause of both microcystin and E. coli in this lake are the 37 animal feeding operations found within a five-mile radius .
Franklin County has 40 times more hogs than people .
There are similar examples in states across the country .
Since animal feeding operations are a main source of nutrients and bacteria that cause these beach closures , local , state and federal authorities must do much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Throughout the summer , EWG will track beach closures from algae outbreaks and fecal coliform bacteria across the country .
To learn more about AFOs ’ impact on public health , see EWG ’ s Factory Farms page .

Toxic algae outbreaks – slimy, smelly blooms of microorganisms, triggered by polluted farm runoff into lakes and rivers – can cause nausea, vomiting and more serious, longer-term health impacts, such as liver failure and cancer, in people exposed through recreational contact or drinking water.
But where toxic algae infest bodies of water, there may also be contamination from E. coli or other fecal coliform bacteria.
Fecal coliform bacteria normally live in the digestive system of healthy humans and animals, causing no harm or illness. Even in water, most fecal coliforms are not a health threat.
But some strains of E. coli can cause diarrhea, vomiting and even death, as with the outbreak late last year that was traced to lettuce grown in California’s Salinas Valley. And these bacteria often come from the very source that contributes to algae outbreaks – livestock manure.
The presence of fecal coliforms in recreational water indicates that other scary pathogens often found in manure may lurk there, too, such as cryptosporidium and giardia, which cause extreme diarrhea.
Algae outbreaks, most common in the summer, are triggered by nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilizer and manure that run off of farm fields. In some areas, septic tanks and wastewater are the source of fecal coliforms in surface water. But in farm country, often the main source of such bacteria is the use of manure from livestock feedlots – known as animal feeding operations, or AFOs – as crop fertilizer.
AFOs can hold thousands of chickens, hogs and cattle in small confined settings. These feeding operations annually generate millions of tons of manure – 50 million tons a year in Minnesota alone.
A lot of that manure is applied to nearby farm fields as a fertilizer. After rain or irrigation, manure runs off farm fields and gets into recreational waters. The nutrients and fecal coliform in the manure can then trigger both algae blooms and dangerous bacterial contamination.
Iowa is one of many states where beaches often close because of both types of contaminants. In the summer, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources tests the water of 39 state park beaches each week for microcystin and E. coli. An advisory against swimming is issued if tests find microcystin are above eight micrograms per liter, or µg/L, or if five samples within 30 days exceed 126 “colony-forming units” of E. coli per 100 milliliters of water.
The agency has found both microcystin and E. coli contamination in many state park lakes. For example, in August 2019, it issued a swimming advisory for Beeds Lake in Franklin County, for both microcystin and E. coli, because both were above the state’s guidelines.
Beeds Lake has had E. coli advisories in many years, going back to 2011. So far this year, the lake has had an E. coli advisory since June 13. The most likely cause of both microcystin and E. coli in this lake are the 37 animal feeding operations found within a five-mile radius. Franklin County has 40 times more hogs than people.
Animal Feeding Operations Within 5 Miles of Beeds Lake, Iowa
Source: EWG, from Iowa Department of Natural Resources Data
There are similar examples in states across the country. Since animal feeding operations are a main source of nutrients and bacteria that cause these beach closures, local, state and federal authorities must do much more to control manure runoff from AFOs.
Throughout the summer, EWG will track beach closures from algae outbreaks and fecal coliform bacteria across the country. To learn more about AFOs’ impact on public health, see EWG’s Factory Farms page.


environmentalworkinggroupewg--2020-07-27--McConnell COVID-19 Relief Package Fails Hungry Families, Food and Farm Workers

The following is a statement from Scott Faber , EWG ’ s senior vice president of government affairs , on @ @ @ @ @ today by Senate Republicans : The relief package released today by Senate Republicans fails to @ @ @ @ @ to protect food and farm workers from COVID-19 or to address the needs of families @ @ @ @ @ of the people who feed us are especially susceptible to the coronavirus sweeping the nation @ @ @ @ @ become sick , food supply chains will continue to unravel , causing food prices to @ @ @ @ @ employers to endanger their workers , as Senate Republicans have recklessly proposed , Congress must @ @ @ @ @ workers have protective gear , access to COVID-19 testing , and sick and hazard pay @ @ @ @ @ the standard SNAP benefit to help ensure every family has enough to eat .
Legislators @ @ @ @ @ our food supply chains and the people who help feed us at great personal risk @ @ @

The following is a statement from Scott Faber, EWG’s senior vice president of government affairs, on the COVID-19 relief package released today by Senate Republicans:
The relief package released today by Senate Republicans fails to provide what’s needed to protect food and farm workers from COVID-19 or to address the needs of families struggling with hunger. Many of the people who feed us are especially susceptible to the coronavirus sweeping the nation. As more and more become sick, food supply chains will continue to unravel, causing food prices to spike.
Rather than allowing employers to endanger their workers, as Senate Republicans have recklessly proposed, Congress must ensure that food and farm workers have protective gear, access to COVID-19 testing, and sick and hazard pay. Congress must also increase the standard SNAP benefit to help ensure every family has enough to eat. Legislators must do more to protect our food supply chains and the people who help feed us at great personal risk to themselves.


environmentalworkinggroupewg--2020-07-28--Senate GOP’s COVID Relief Package: $20 Billion for Big Farmers, Zero for Farmworkers and Hungry Fami

Senate GOP’s COVID Relief Package: $20 Billion for Big Farmers, Zero for Farmworkers and Hungry Families

There ’ s only one word to describe Senate Republicans ’ proposal to shower even more COVID-19 relief funding on the nation ’ s largest farmers while providing none to protect farm workers or help hungry families .
The proposal released Monday by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) would provide $ 20 billion in additional relief to large farmers .
This new funding is in addition to a $ 19 billion COVID-19 relief initiative announced in April , including $ 16 billion in direct payments to farmers , more than $ 14 billion in payments made to offset @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s trade war with China , and more than $ 15 billion in ongoing , annual taxpayer-funded farm subsidies .
Overall , federal farm subsidy spending will set new records in 2019 and 2020 – likely violating international trade agreements .
Through Freedom of Information Act requests , EWG has learned that most bailout funding has flowed to the largest , most successful farms – not to the family farms in greatest need of help .
Between August 2018 and October 2019 , the top 1 percent of recipients of Market Facilitation Program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funds , with 6,000 farmers each harvesting more than $ 300,000 .
One farmer , Smith & Sons in Texas , received $ 2.3 million .
Another , Deline Farms in Missouri , received $ 2.2 million .
By contrast , in the same time period , the bottom 80 percent of MFP recipients – or about 500,000 farmers – each received about $ 7,000 .
Unlike hunger or housing assistance programs , MFP payments and other farm subsidies can still go to millionaires .
The Trump administration ’ s Agriculture Department chose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 .
The agency also did nothing to close loopholes that allow distant relations or silent partners to collect subsidies , regardless of whether they live or work on the farm .
As a result , EWG keeps finding `` city slickers '' on the list of farm bailouts .
Even Trump campaign advisors and billionaires are cashing in .
Despite the surge in funding , the USDA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 disaster funds to provide growers or farmworkers with personal protective equipment or funds for housing and transportation options that will reduce the spread of the coronavirus .
So far , bailout spending has provided $ 590 million to farmers in the 100 counties with the most farmworkers .
But there is no requirement that these funds be used to improve worker conditions .
Instead , the lion ’ s share of bailout funds flowed to the largest and most successful farmers .
The harvest season is in full swing , bringing thousands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Trump administration has so far refused to issue mandatory protections from COVID-19 .
Although some farmworkers are able to spread out in fields , many migrant and seasonal workers live and travel to work in ways that increase the likelihood the virus will spread .
So far , at least 5,000 farmworkers have tested positive for COVID-19 and at least six have died .
Despite appeals from Congress , neither the Occupational Safety and Health Administration nor the USDA has yet issued emergency standards requiring farm employers to meet safety guidelines developed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prevention .
Only 10 states have adopted mandatory job safety standards .

There’s only one word to describe Senate Republicans’ proposal to shower even more COVID-19 relief funding on the nation’s largest farmers while providing none to protect farm workers or help hungry families.
Sickening.
The proposal released Monday by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) would provide $20 billion in additional relief to large farmers.
This new funding is in addition to a $19 billion COVID-19 relief initiative announced in April, including $16 billion in direct payments to farmers, more than $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.
Overall, federal farm subsidy spending will set new records in 2019 and 2020 – likely violating international trade agreements.
Through Freedom of Information Act requests, EWG has learned that most bailout funding has flowed to the largest, most successful farms – not to the family farms in greatest need of help. Between August 2018 and October 2019, the top 1 percent of recipients of Market Facilitation Program payments collected 14 percent of all MFP funds, with 6,000 farmers each harvesting more than $300,000.
One farmer, Smith & Sons in Texas, received $2.3 million. Another, Deline Farms in Missouri, received $2.2 million. By contrast, in the same time period, the bottom 80 percent of MFP recipients – or about 500,000 farmers – each received about $7,000.
Unlike hunger or housing assistance programs, MFP payments and other farm subsidies can still go to millionaires. The Trump administration’s Agriculture Department 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.
The agency also did nothing to close loopholes that allow distant relations or silent partners to collect subsidies, regardless of whether they live or work on the farm. As a result, EWG keeps finding "city slickers" on the list of farm bailouts. Even Trump campaign advisors and billionaires are cashing in.
Despite the surge in funding, the USDA has not yet pledged to spend any COVID-19 disaster funds to provide growers or farmworkers with personal protective equipment or funds for housing and transportation options that will reduce the spread of the coronavirus.
So far, bailout spending has provided $590 million to farmers in the 100 counties with the most farmworkers. But there is no requirement that these funds be used to improve worker conditions. Instead, the lion’s share of bailout funds flowed to the largest and most successful farmers.
The harvest season is in full swing, bringing thousands of farmworkers into the fields, but the Trump administration has so far refused to issue mandatory protections from COVID-19. Although some farmworkers are able to spread out in fields, many migrant and seasonal workers live and travel to work in ways that increase the likelihood the virus will spread.
So far, at least 5,000 farmworkers have tested positive for COVID-19 and at least six have died.
Despite appeals from Congress, neither the Occupational Safety and Health Administration nor the USDA has yet issued emergency standards requiring farm employers to meet safety guidelines developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Only 10 states have adopted mandatory job safety standards.


environmentalworkinggroupewg--2020-07-28--European Regulators Find ‘No Safe Level’ of Hormone-Disrupting Chemical Common in Cosmetics

A notoriously hazardous cosmetic ingredient now has another black mark on its record : Butylparaben – a hormone-disrupting chemical used as a preservative in personal care products and linked to cancer , sperm damage and environmental harm – was recently classified by the European Chemicals Agency as a substance of very high concern .
The agency , known as ECHA , could not identify a safe level of exposure to butylparaben .
Once chemicals are classified as substances of very high concern , they are placed on the so-called Candidate List , and ECHA says “ our aim is to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , EWG has called for the removal from cosmetics of long-chain parabens , including butylparaben .
Under mounting public pressure , led in part by EWG , many cosmetic manufacturers have taken steps to remove the concerning parabens from their products .
But pleas to the federal Food and Drug Administration have fallen on deaf ears , and butylparaben is still found in products on store shelves .
There are 174 products that contain butylparaben in EWG ’ s Skin Deep® cosmetics database , a free resource that scores personal care product safety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ingredients .
It is continually updated with new products and ingredients .
ECHA ’ s move to classify butylparaben as a substance of very high concern is a step toward protecting European consumers .
But it does not go far enough and does not affect products sold in the U.S .
Classification as a substance of very high concern does not mean a substance is immediately banned .
Rather , it requires chemical manufacturers in the European Union to provide information about safe use until ECHA reviews the chemical further , particularly if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ product .
But this does not solve the problem of parabens , because they are used in personal care products at concentrations of less than 0.1 percent .
Animal studies have found that butylparaben harms male fertility , even at the lowest exposure levels tested .
EWG recommends the U.S. and EU take decisive action to safeguard public health by banning long-chain parabens in personal care products and other consumer goods .
In the meantime , consumers should use Skin Deep or EWG ’ s Healthy Living app to choose products free from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ isobutyl- and isopropylparaben – to protect themselves and the environment .
Products that bear EWG ’ s VERIFIED™ mark are also an excellent choice : They meet EWG ’ s strictest standards for health and transparency , so they are free from hundreds of hazardous ingredients , including long-chain parabens .
Three other chemicals were included in the recent update to the Candidate List : 1-vinylimidazole , 2-methylimidazole and dibutylbis ( pentane-2,4-dionato-O , O ' ) tin , used in the production of polymers , coating products and plastics .

A notoriously hazardous cosmetic ingredient now has another black mark on its record: Butylparaben – a hormone-disrupting chemical used as a preservative in personal care products and linked to cancer, sperm damage and environmental harm – was recently classified by the European Chemicals Agency as a substance of very high concern.
The agency, known as ECHA, could not identify a safe level of exposure to butylparaben. Once chemicals are classified as substances of very high concern, they are placed on the so-called Candidate List, and ECHA says “our aim is to gradually phase them out.”
For years, EWG has called for the removal from cosmetics of long-chain parabens, including butylparaben. Under mounting public pressure, led in part by EWG, many cosmetic manufacturers have taken steps to remove the concerning parabens from their products.
But pleas to the federal Food and Drug Administration have fallen on deaf ears, and butylparaben is still found in products on store shelves. There are 174 products that contain butylparaben in EWG’s Skin Deep® cosmetics database, a free resource that scores personal care product safety based on the hazards associated with their ingredients. It is continually updated with new products and ingredients.
ECHA’s move to classify butylparaben as a substance of very high concern is a step toward protecting European consumers. But it does not go far enough and does not affect products sold in the U.S.
Classification as a substance of very high concern does not mean a substance is immediately banned. Rather, it requires chemical manufacturers in the European Union to provide information about safe use until ECHA reviews the chemical further, particularly if the substance exceeds 0.1 percent in a product. But this does not solve the problem of parabens, because they are used in personal care products at concentrations of less than 0.1 percent.
Animal studies have found that butylparaben harms male fertility, even at the lowest exposure levels tested. EWG recommends the U.S. and EU take decisive action to safeguard public health by banning long-chain parabens in personal care products and other consumer goods.
In the meantime, consumers should use Skin Deep or EWG’s Healthy Living app to choose products free from long-chain parabens – butyl-, propyl-, isobutyl- and isopropylparaben – to protect themselves and the environment. Products that bear EWG’s VERIFIED™ mark are also an excellent choice: They meet EWG’s strictest standards for health and transparency, so they are free from hundreds of hazardous ingredients, including long-chain parabens.
Three other chemicals were included in the recent update to the Candidate List: 1-vinylimidazole, 2-methylimidazole and dibutylbis(pentane-2,4-dionato-O,O')tin, used in the production of polymers, coating products and plastics.


environmentalworkinggroupewg--2020-07-28--Dog Days of Summer: Pet Deaths From Toxic Algae Blooms Already Mounting

As some COVID-19 shutdowns now stretch into their fifth month , and with record-setting temperatures blanketing the U.S. , cooped-up Americans may be hankering for water-centric recreation .
But those with pet dogs may want to leave them at home to protect them from the growing problem of toxic algae outbreaks – and to stay out of the water themselves .
So far this summer , at least six dogs have died after exposure to toxic algae blooms , outbreaks of poison-emitting bacteria in rivers , lakes and other bodies of water .
That ’ s twice as many as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the 14 total reported deaths in 2019 took place before the end of July .
Toxic algae outbreaks are more common during the warmer months , but they are increasingly a year-round problem .
At least one appeared as early as January in Florida .
The Environmental Working Group tracks and maps news reports of outbreaks going back to 2010 .
The number has risen steadily since then , with one-fifth more blooms in 2019 than the previous year .
The federal government only tracks outbreaks of toxic algae blooms in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ water included in EWG ’ s map .
The dog deaths this summer from toxic algae blooms have taken place at Little York Lake , in Cortland , N.Y. ; Cedar Lake , in Minneapolis ; in Mantua Reservoir and the Virgin River in Zion National Park , both in Utah ; and a private pond near Bozeman , Mont .
Two were puppies and one a younger dog ; their smaller size and developing bodies may have put them at greater risk , though there is much scientists still don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths hint at the blooms ’ far-reaching consequences for aquatic habitats and the people whose livelihood depends on their health and sustainability .
Algae blooms are largely caused by manure and fertilizer runoff from farm fields .
They ’ re damaging to aquatic ecosystems , because they cut off the oxygen supply of the plants and wildlife living in the water .
Not all algae blooms are toxic , but short-term exposure to those that are can cause sore throat , nausea and vomiting in people .
Long-term exposure can lead to liver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alzheimer ’ s-like illnesses .
Toxic algae outbreaks have also been linked to fish , dolphin and turtle die-offs .
There is increasing evidence that the toxins emitted by toxic algae can be airborne .
Sixty-eight percent of Americans rely on drinking water that depends on lakes , rivers or other surface water , according to the Environmental Protection Agency .
In 2014 , Toledo , Ohio , was forced to issue an emergency do-not-drink advisory after microcystins , one group of toxins that can be produced by algae blooms , were found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s water source .
Increasing runoff from farms and confined animal feeding operations is just one of several factors that have led to a rise in frequency and severity of outbreaks in recent years .
Higher temperatures and heavier rains brought by climate change have also played a part .
But curbing runoff is key to preventing toxic algae blooms in the future .
It is impossible even for experts to identify with the naked eye which blooms are toxic , and local and regional authorities have largely fallen short in warning the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So if you see algae in a lake or other body of water that is blue-green or looks like pea soup , contact your local health department , and try to get public attention about it by reaching out to local media .
You can also learn more about warning signs here .

As some COVID-19 shutdowns now stretch into their fifth month, and with record-setting temperatures blanketing the U.S., cooped-up Americans may be hankering for water-centric recreation. But those with pet dogs may want to leave them at home to protect them from the growing problem of toxic algae outbreaks – and to stay out of the water themselves.
So far this summer, at least six dogs have died after exposure to toxic algae blooms, outbreaks of poison-emitting bacteria in rivers, lakes and other bodies of water. That’s twice as many as this time last year: Only three of the 14 total reported deaths in 2019 took place before the end of July.
Toxic algae outbreaks are more common during the warmer months, but they are increasingly a year-round problem. At least one appeared as early as January in Florida.
The Environmental Working Group tracks and maps news reports of outbreaks going back to 2010. The number has risen steadily since then, with one-fifth more blooms in 2019 than the previous year. The federal government only tracks outbreaks of toxic algae blooms in the largest lakes, missing many bodies of water included in EWG’s map.
The dog deaths this summer from toxic algae blooms have taken place at Little York Lake, in Cortland, N.Y.; Cedar Lake, in Minneapolis; in Mantua Reservoir and the Virgin River in Zion National Park, both in Utah; and a private pond near Bozeman, Mont. Two were puppies and one a younger dog; their smaller size and developing bodies may have put them at greater risk, though there is much scientists still don’t know about toxic algae.
The dog deaths hint at the blooms’ far-reaching consequences for aquatic habitats and the people whose livelihood depends on their health and sustainability. Algae blooms are largely caused by manure and fertilizer runoff from farm fields. They’re damaging to aquatic ecosystems, because they cut off the oxygen supply of the plants and wildlife living in the water.
Not all algae blooms are toxic, but short-term exposure to those that are can cause sore throat, nausea and vomiting in people. Long-term exposure can lead to liver failure and cancer, and may cause Alzheimer’s-like illnesses. Toxic algae outbreaks have also been linked to fish, dolphin and turtle die-offs. There is increasing evidence that the toxins emitted by toxic algae can be airborne.
Sixty-eight percent of Americans rely on drinking water that depends on lakes, rivers or other surface water, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. In 2014, Toledo, Ohio, was forced to issue an emergency do-not-drink advisory after microcystins, one group of toxins that can be produced by algae blooms, were found in Lake Erie, the city’s water source.
Increasing runoff from farms and confined animal feeding operations is just one of several factors that have led to a rise in frequency and severity of outbreaks in recent years. Higher temperatures and heavier rains brought by climate change have also played a part. But curbing runoff is key to preventing toxic algae blooms in the future.
It is impossible even for experts to identify with the naked eye which blooms are toxic, and local and regional authorities have largely fallen short in warning the public about the possibility of danger. So if you see algae in a lake or other body of water that is blue-green or looks like pea soup, contact your local health department, and try to get public attention about it by reaching out to local media. You can also learn more about warning signs here.