As you might imagine, I’ve seen my share of movies about toxic chemicals. There are a bunch, many of them excellent.
This one struck me because of the director’s personal inspiration to track down the source of her parent’s shiny new (practical, affordable, durable) vinyl siding. I love how she just won’t stop short of convincing them it’s not as simple as they think (been there?).
She had a hunch that vinyl had a dark side and, not surprising to me or Enviroblog readers, it does.
Find out about PVC for yourself by following co-director Judith Helfand’s investigative globe trot to understand the real (not-so-simple) source of her parents’ blue vinyl.
A comprehensive plan to reform the nation’s primary law responsible for regulating the use of industrial chemicals is about to be introduced in Congress.
The question of which substances the federal government should target first was part of the discussion at a hearing before the US House Energy and Commerce Committee subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection last week.
PBTs are bad, but they’re hardly alone
Committee members and witnesses focused their attention on a certain group of chemicals commonly called persistent and bioaccumulative toxic substances, or PBTs.
These are among the most notorious and dangerous chemicals ever put into commerce, which include DDT, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), the Teflon chemicals perfluorooctanyl sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluoroctanoic acid (PFOA), brominated flame retardants, lead and mercury compounds and dioxins.
But PBTs are just some of the 83,000 chemicals used as…
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We all know bottled water is “the pits” (remember Erma Bombeck?), but we don’t all say it like Derek. Listen up and be ready to laugh as Derek Forgie goes “inside the bottle.”
Want to learn more? Check out EWG’s safe drinking water resources:
Let’s make it crystal clear that you want an effective national chemicals policy that protects human health, especially our children who are most affected by toxic chemicals. We know you’re frustrated by the current system. So let’s change it.
Numbers talk: 75,000 signatures is our goal
We want to deliver this petition to key lawmakers on Capitol Hill with 75,000 signatures - including yours - to show them how BIG and PASSIONATE this kid-safe movement has become. Can you help us…
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Dust bunnies aren’t just the visible reminder than we’ve (once again) waited far too long to clean house. They can also be allergenic and they contain toxic chemicals.
Now that’s a more compelling reason to clean than impressing the guests.
Why is your household dust toxic?
Every home has a little dust — and its own unique “dust load,” based on a variety of factors like where you live, what you cook, if you smoke, the climate, and how many people — and animals — live there.
Ordinary house dust is a complex mixture of generally yucky stuff — pet dander, fungal spores, tiny particles, soil tracked in on your feet, carpet fibers, human hair and skin, you name it. It’s also a place where harmful chemicals are found. One recent study by the Silent Spring Institute identified 66 endocrine-disrupting compounds in household dust tests, including flame retardants, home-use pesticides, and phthalates.
The chemicals in your dust originate from both inside and outside your house:<br…
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If you’ve ever wondered what’s toxic in your house, you’ll want to watch this home walk-through with Jane Houlihan, EWG’s Senior Vice-President for Research. She joins Jennifer Folsom, mom to 3 young boys, on an informational walk through the Folsom’s Alexandria, Virginia home.
Houlihan identifies toxic chemicals in three key rooms: the kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room. Grab a pad and paper so you’re ready to take notes!
But the notion that the nation’s federal chemicals policy is toothless and ineffective isn’t likely dinner table talk across America - yet.
Thanks to Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s discussion of the problem on CNN earlier this week, it might be soon. Watch this 4-minute segment to get the basics on why TSCA should be reformed - now:
If 4 minutes isn’t enough for you, be sure to catch Dr. Gupta’s hour-long special on the subject, Toxic Town USA. It debuts on CNN March 20th @ 8 PM eastern.
It’s hardly news that pesticides can be dangerous and are very worth avoiding - both for your health and the environment.
But when your friends and family ask why you bother, having a solid grasp of the reasons to avoid them is always handy:
Pesticides and your health: What’s the problem?
As acknowledged by the U.S. and international government agencies, different pesticides have been linked with a variety of toxic effects, including:
Nervous system effects
Carcinogenic effects
Hormone system effects
Skin, eye and lung irritation
Pesticides are unique among the chemicals we release into the environment; they have inherent toxicity because they are designed to kill living organisms: insects, plants, and fungi that are considered “pests.” Because they are toxic by design, many pesticides pose health risks to people, risks that have been acknowledged by independent research scientists and physicians across the world.
The majority of the U.S. population has detectable…
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Among the flood of new smart phones, the Motorola Droid, Blackberry Bold, and Google Nexus One rate high marks from tech reviewers for performance and features. But the reviews and ads don’t mention that these phones also emit relatively high levels of radiation, compared to federal safety standards.
How can you tell your phone’s radiation level?
Not by looking at your phone, that’s for sure. But EWG’s new consumer guide - and newly introduced state legislation - aim to protect consumers’ right to know:
In mid-February, EWG released our latest guide to cell phone radiation levels, focusing on the newest, most highly touted smart phones to hit the market in recent months. (For example, the radiation level of Apple’s newest iPhone ranks in the middle of the pack.)
The consumer guide’s update coincides with introduction by Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) of legislation, sponsored by EWG, requiring cell phones and wireless headsets sold in California to disclose the amount of…
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In the past few weeks, EWG staff testified five times to support strong chemical policies at the state and federal levels: in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and the US Senate.
For an overview (and video) of the February 4th US Senate hearing where EWG President Ken Cook testified about the importance of human biomonitoring and the Kid-Safe Chemicals Act, head over to our Kid-Safe policy blog.
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