Press Releases
Dramatic Shift in Federal Policy: Pregnant Women & Children Warned Against Products with Toxic Flame Retardants
September 27, 2017
Today the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a landmark guidance in the Federal Registry recommending that consumers, especially those who are pregnant or with young children, obtain assurances from retailers that children’s products, furniture, mattresses, and electronics cases do not contain any chemical in the class of organohalogen flame retardants.
Landmark Decision on Household Products with Toxic Flame Retardants Protects Children from Harmful Chemicals
September 20, 2017
Today, in a precedent-setting decision, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has granted a petition to ban children’s products, furniture, mattresses, and electronics cases that contain any member of the harmful chemical class of organohalogen flame retardants.
Buyer Beware: Antimicrobial Products Can Do More Harm Than Good
June 20, 2017
Are you buying antimicrobial or antibacterial soaps? According to over 200 scientists and medical professionals, you may want to save your money. A consensus statement published today in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Environmental Health Perspectives concludes that common antimicrobial products do not provide health benefits and cause health and environmental harm. The statement also calls for greater caution in using antimicrobial chemicals in everyday products.…
Newly discovered fluorinated chemicals more difficult to filter from water
May 30, 2017
A peer-reviewed study released today documents that newly discovered highly fluorinated chemicals are likely to be more difficult to remove from drinking water by activated carbon filtration systems.
Highly Fluorinated Chemicals Found in All Body Organs Tested - Supposedly “Safer” Substitute Compounds Found at Highest Levels
April 4, 2017
Researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the University of Notre Dame report in a paper (link) published online today in Environmental Science and Technology Letters that, using a new radiolabeling technique, they found that highly fluorinated chemicals accumulate in body organs and tissues.
The Never-Ending Story: Chemicals that Outlive – and Harm – Us
February 22, 2017
Chemical manufacturers have agreed to pay $670 million in damages to people with cancer and other health harm from exposure to a recently phased-out highly fluorinated chemical.
Consuming toxic chemicals with our fast food?
February 1, 2017
While enjoying fast food, many people feel pangs of guilt at the calories and salt they are consuming. Today, researchers are pointing to yet another possible cause for concern.
Toxic chemicals contaminate drinking water of 6 million in US
August 9, 2016
Cancer-causing highly fluorinated chemicals are polluting the drinking water of an estimated 6 million – and likely many more – Americans, and the blood of almost everyone.
Trading your health for stain- and waterproof clothing?
April 30, 2015
“Stain-resistant, Nonstick, Waterproof and Lethal” is how journalist Callie Lyons refers to a chemical called C8 found in the bodies of nearly all humans and animals on the planet.
Health, Firefighter, Consumer and Science Groups Seek Ban on Household Products with Toxic Chemical Flame Retardants
March 31, 2015
Today, a broad coalition of health, firefighter, consumer and science groups filed a petition asking the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to ban four categories of consumer products — children’s products, furniture, mattresses and the casings around electronics — if they contain any flame retardant in the chemical class known as organohalogens.
Majority of Couches in New Study Contain Toxic Flame Retardants: Flame Retardants Associated with Cancer, Hormone Disruption And Neurological Harm
November 28, 2012
A new Duke University and UC Berkeley study published today in Environmental Science & Technology found that 85% of the couches were treated with chemical flame retardants, which are either toxic or lack adequate health information.
US study finds health and environmental risk in building insulation
November 26, 2012
Researchers in the United States are calling for a change to the US building codes, following a study showing that the mandatory flame retardants routinely added to foam insulation are not only harmful to human health and the environment, but also make no difference to the prevention of fire in buildings where a fire-safe thermal barrier already exists.