Enviroblog: July 2004 Archives

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Smart discussion of the latest science and news on toxins in your food, water, and air, and what government agencies should be doing to protect public health. Enviroblog is a project of EWG Action Fund. (More. . .)

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Pregnant Women, Potential Mothers and Kids are of Most Concern

The Wall Street Journal reported in July about the increasing popularity of tests designed to tell how much mercury has accumulated in the body.

Also on the rise: therapies to help reduce one's mercury "body burden." Doctors recommend reducing consumption of high-mercury fish (such as shark, swordfish, king mackerel, tilefish, and albacore tuna) and a few offer serious chelation therapy drugs to strip the body of heavy metals. Some alternative-medicine practitioners recommend supplements like garlic and high-sulfur foods like eggs and spinach.

Tuna Calculator: How much is safe to eat? We'll tell you what FDA won't.

EWG Files Legal Challenge to FDA Mercury Health Advisory

Posted by EWG at 3:07 PM

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American Medical Association Urges FDA to Assess Canned Tuna to Determine if Warning Labels Are Needed

The American Medical Association (AMA), the national professional organization for all physicians in the United States, has adopted a resolution that includes the following recommendation :

"Given the limitations of national consumer fish consumption advisories, the Food and Drug Administration should consider the advisability of requiring that fish consumption advisories and results related to mercury testing be posted where fish, including canned tuna, are sold."

AMA was forced to recommend that FDA assess the issue of canned tuna warnings specifically because the federal government has refused to give the public sound advice on the safety of canned tuna .

In December 2003, the EWG filed a legal challenge under the Data Quality Act (DQA) seeking to block the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from issuing a weak proposed health advisory for mercury in seafood .

The DQA requires all influential statements by the federal government to be accurate, reproducible, clear and based on the best peer-reviewed science. The FDA's proposed mercury health advisory meets none of these criteria.

Posted by EWG at 11:04 AM

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July 2, 2004

MTBE Leaks Continue to Foul Drinking Water

The Baltimore Sun recently reported the toxic gasoline additive MTBE (methyl tertiary butyl ether) has been found leaking into drinking water in nearby county wells, adding Harford County's Fallston area to the growing list of communities whose water supplies have been polluted by MTBE. More than 20 families are suing Exxon Mobil Corp. over the foul-smelling toxin which leaked into wells serving 84 homes, allegedly from an underground storage tank at a nearby Exxon station.

In October 2003, EWG compiled and published on its website all the nation's water supplies that have been contaminated with MTBE, providing a detailed record of communities facing costly clean up efforts. In large cities alone, the clean up bill could reach $29 billion, according to the U.S. Conference of Mayors. EWG also published internal company documents proving Big Oil pushed MTBE while hiding dangers they've known for decades. Now oil companies falsely claim the government forced them to use MTBE to clean the air.

A provision inserted into the federal energy bill by Texas and Louisiana Republican congressman at the request of oil companies and MTBE producers, would prohibit claims seeking compensation from the companies for MTBE spills and force taxpayers bear clean up costs. The MTBE provision continues to be controversial, preventing the energy bill from passing in the Senate.

Posted by EWG at 3:07 PM

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