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The Biden-Harris Administration announced a broad action plan across ten federal agencies to replace all lead pipes in the country within a decade.

Ugbaad Ali, Community Environmental Health Tom Graff Fellow We all deserve to live in a healthy and vibrant community, yet many residents of Flint, Michigan, are overburdened by a lifetime of toxic exposures and environmental injustice. Recently, a coalition of environmental justice groups and community organizers in Flint used their combined power to organize against …

Jennifer McPartland, Ph.D., is a Senior Scientist, and Lariah Edwards, Ph.D., is an EDF-George Washington University Postdoctoral Fellow EPA Administrator Michael Regan recently completed a five-day “journey to justice” tour, highlighting communities across three US states that have been adversely affected by decades of chemical and air pollution. EPA’s focus on protecting those whose health is …

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) intends to withdraw two answers to frequently asked questions about the responsibilities of property management companies (PMCs) to comply with the agency’s Lead-Based Paint Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule (RRP). EDF applauds the agency’s action, which is consistent with the intent of the rule. The agency’s Federal Register notice explaining …

This blog is adapted from an Op-Ed originally published by Environmental Health News on Nov. 23 and is authored by Lauren Ellis, Research Analyst and Maricel Maffini, consultant. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of highly persistent chemicals used in hundreds of products. Many PFAS are toxic and have been detected in the …

Lauren Ellis, Research Analyst, Environmental Health Earlier this week, EDF submitted comments to EPA on the agency’s draft scope for the manufacturer-requested risk evaluation of D4 under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). This is EPA’s first draft scope under the Biden Administration – providing an opportunity to see where improvements have been made and …

Lindsay McCormick, Program Manager This month, EDF published an article along with collaborators from Auburn University and Mississippi State University, based on a pilot we conducted in partnership with local organizations[1] to comprehensively test and remediate lead in water at 11 child care facilities in Illinois, Michigan, Mississippi and Ohio. The study found that while …

Tom Neltner, Chemicals Policy Director On October 7, FDA announced that it is reinstating its ban on lead acetate as the active ingredient in hair dyes that hide grey hair when used regularly. In 1980, the agency approved the chemical for hair dyes. In response to a color additive petition from the Environmental Defense Fund …

Richard Denison, Ph.D., is a Lead Senior Scientist. After nearly 35 years at EDF, I am retiring this week. While I have had the privilege of working on many things in my time at EDF, for the last 20+ years my main focus has been on the Toxic Substances Control Act: making the case for why …

Tom Neltner, Chemicals Policy Director and Maricel Maffini, consultant Over the years, we have seen a disturbing approach being taken by some dietary supplement companies to circumvent the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) oversight. Their strategy undermines both dietary supplement safety and food safety. These companies are leveraging FDA’s decision to allow manufacturers to secretly …

Tom Neltner, Chemicals Policy Director and Maricel Maffini, consultant The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has made no apparent progress to comply with the legal requirement that it consider the cumulative effect of chemicals in the diet that have similar health impacts when evaluating the safety of an additive. A year ago, on September 23,

Richard Denison, Ph.D., is a Lead Senior Scientist. [I delivered a shorter version of these comments at the September 22, 2021 webinar titled “Hair on Fire and Yes Packages! How the Biden Administration Can Reverse the Chemical Industry’s Undue Influence,” cosponsored by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), NH Safe Water Alliance, and EDF.  A recording …

Chemicals in food continue to be a top food safety concern among consumers Tom Neltner, Chemicals Policy Director and Maricel Maffini, consultant The latest annual food industry survey demonstrates that U.S. consumers continue to have significant concerns about chemicals in food. Specifically, the survey from the International Food Information Council (IFIC) found: 29% of consumers …

Tom Neltner, Chemicals Policy Director; Maricel Maffini, consultant; and Tom Bruton with Green Science Policy Institute Since 2002, FDA has authorized the use of four types of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) to make plastic food packaging, one as recently as 2016. The PFAS are allowed in plastic at levels up to 2000 parts …

In-person and online shopping both have implications for the planet, even if a product arrives at your doorstep from an electric-powered delivery van, and is wrapped in biodegradable packaging.

EDF withdrew from the Baby Food Council over the organization’s failure to reach an agreement on the development of the Baby Food Standard.

As Hispanic Heritage Month comes to a close while the drought in California stubbornly marches on, here are three critical steps state and local leaders need to take to address water equity. The post 3 critical actions for water equity in California’s Latino communities – ¡apúrense! first appeared on Growing Returns.

Dr. Maria Doa will join EDF’s Healthy Communities team as Senior Director, Chemical Policy.

The Understanding Packaging (UP) Scorecard is a tool that measures food packaging materials to provide companies with the information needed to make sustainable purchasing decisions.

Stakeholder presentation for National Academy of Sciences grant to examine and address the vulnerability of petrochemical facilities along Galveston Bay to flood-induced chemical spills and releases.

There’s a large and growing body of evidence around the prevalence of toxic chemicals in food packaging and the impact they’re having on human health.

EDF statement from Eric Schwaab, Senior Vice President, Ecosystems and Oceans

Tom Neltner, Chemicals Policy Director, Maricel Maffini, consultant, and Tom Bruton with Green Science Policy Institute.  Results from an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) investigation into PFAS-contaminated pesticides have much broader, concerning implications for food, cosmetics, shampoos, household cleaning products, and other consumer products, as well as recycling. This investigation, first announced earlier this year, found …

Jennifer McPartland, Ph.D., is a Senior Scientist, and Lariah Edwards, Ph.D., is an EDF-George Washington University Postdoctoral Fellow A recent article in Inside EPA ($) indicated that the US EPA’s Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) will begin piloting a “unified approach” to the evaluation of chemicals for cancer and non-cancer endpoints. Specifically, it appears that the …

Everyone deserves access to clean beauty products -- change is long overdue.