Press Releases

Communities Petition EPA to Regulate Hazardous PFAS Chemicals

January 15, 2020

How are an indigenous tribal leader from an Arctic community, a North Carolina Sunday School teacher, a Michigan attorney, a Colorado community leader, and two suburban mothers from outside of Philadelphia united in an effort that could impact the drinking water and health of everyone in the U.S.?

Today they joined scientists from the Green Science Policy Institute in petitioning the EPA to list hundreds of PFAS (per- and polyfluorinated chemicals) as hazardous wastes under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The petitioners are being represented by the University of California Berkeley Environmental Law Clinic.…

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Scientists Celebrate PFAS Victories in NDAA

December 17, 2019

The U.S. Senate today approved the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which contains groundbreaking provisions to reduce harm from the “forever chemicals” PFAS that are contaminating the drinking water of millions of Americans. These include nationwide water testing for PFAS by the U.S. Geological Survey and phasing out PFAS in military firefighting foam. The president is expected to sign the bill into law before the end of the year.…

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New Flame Retardants, Old Problems: Replacement Flame Retardants Present Serious Risks

October 22, 2019

New flame retardants escaping from our TVs, other electrical and electronic products, and children’s car seats are just as toxic as the flame retardants they’re intended to replace, according to a peer-reviewed study published today in Environmental Science & Technology Letters. The authors found that the replacement chemicals, called organophosphate flame retardants, have been associated with lower IQ in children, reproductive problems, and other serious health harms.…

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Bigger Not Always Better for Toxic Chemicals: Study finds “Green” Flame Retardant Breaks Down into Possibly Harmful Products

January 9, 2019

It’s not easy being green. Kermit the Frog probably didn’t have chemistry in mind when he sang that line, but according to researchers from Germany, the phrase rings true for a purportedly “green” flame retardant. Many everyday products contain flame retardant chemicals which are often found to be toxic to humans and ecosystems. A new peer-reviewed study published today in Environmental Science & Technology, found that heat and ultraviolet light can break down a flame retardant marketed as eco-friendly into smaller, potentially harmful chemicals.…

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Newly-Discovered Pollutant Haunting Homes – Scientists Find New Member of Toxic Chemical Family Everywhere They Look

October 30, 2018

Ghosts and phantoms may not be the only invisible threats lurking in our neighborhoods this Halloween. Researchers at Indiana University have discovered a previously unidentified, potentially toxic chemical in air, water, and homes around the Great Lakes region. In a peer-reviewed article published today in Environmental Science & Technology, the researchers report that exposure to the mysterious contaminant is widespread, and may be of particular concern for toddlers.…

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