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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. Written by EWG staff.
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Under new law, USDA changes school lunch
11th-Hour Scramble Foils California Chemical Lobby
ASK EWG: Handwashing safely, without a sink
Progress: Less lead allowed in water pipes
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Toxins in our Kids' Foods: Where is the FDA?
Why, oh why is there plastic in my aluminum water bottle?
Fluoride in Your Water: How much is too much?
Borax: Not the Green Alternative It's Cracked Up to Be
Test Your Knowledge of Cosmetics Safety: 8 Myths Debunked
EWG's Tips to avoid BPA exposure
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Cutting the Pork from U.S. Farm Bill
Sunscreen safety & DC drinking water
Perchlorate in people, kids' personal care products & plastics, and sunscreen
BPA in baby formula & safe cosmetics
What can I do about fluoride in my water?
What is new carpet treated with? What can I do?
Are stainless steel water bottles safe?
Is mineral-based makeup safer?
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Monthly Archive
You just lost an excuse to buy bottled water
By Lisa Frack, EWG Social Media Manager
Picture this: You're at the airport. You remembered your refillable water bottle and got it through security by draining its contents in the security line (can't take 'em through full). But when you go to refill the thing once you've reached the gate, either:
- the water fountain runs so low you can't possibly fill your bottle. Shoot, you can barely take a sip! or,
- there is no water to be had because you're at one of those spread-out airports with a billion different security entrances, and there's no water fountain anywhere near your gate.
There are, however, stores selling bottled water in just about every direction.
So what do you do?
Go thirsty? Buy the dreaded bottled water for 1,900 times the cost of tap in a single-use plastic bottle? No, you don't. Why? Because now there's another option in town - a water-refilling station, designed just for that reusable water bottle you remembered to bring. It goes by the name Global Tap, and it looks like this:
Now don't get too excited yet, because so far it's only in one airport in one U.S. city in the U.S. Not surprisingly, that city is San Francisco, a real city of firsts.
A good alternative to bottled water
This on-the-go drinking water innovation is a multi-faceted victory for residents and visitors. Offering local tap water is an economically and environmentally friendly alternative to weakly regulated bottled water, which comes at an inflated cost to both consumers and the environment.
Because it's under-regulated, it's hard to know what you're drinking when you buy bottled water. They just don't tell you - and no wonder, since almost half of all bottled water comes from municipal sources, and when we tested its contents several years ago, it wasn't exactly pure. EWG recently examined 173 bottled water labels on the market to see if they provided basic information about their product, such as where the water came from and how it was treated. Only three brands were able to provide complete answers to these questions - questions that municipal water sources - like the one supplying San Francisco's Global Tap dispensers - are required to answer by law.
Almost one-fifth of bottled waters do not list the location of their water source. (The industry acknowledges that 47 percent of bottled water is municipally sourced.) And then it's sold at up to 1,900 times the price of tap water. Two words: no thanks.
Drink that filtered tap water - at home AND on the go
Filtered tap water continues to be the best choice for consumers in terms of quality, transparency and cost. San Francisco's economical solutions to environmental and health issues should inspire communities across the country looking to ensure access to clean water.
So when you leave home, don't fall off the green wagon! Grab that refillable water bottle (not the BPA-containing plastic one) and refill - wherever you are. If you're lucky enough to be in San Francisco - Global Tap just made it a little easier.
Learn more and weigh in
Find out more about this new program and where these water-refilling stations are located around town -- they're not just at the airport. And take a few minutes to tell the SF Public Utilities Commission, a key backer of this program -- what you think of the new water-refilling stations and where you'd like to see more of them. Just click here to start their survey.
[Photo courtesy of Global Tap]
New York State: Avoid these 85 chemicals if you can
By Olga Naidenko, PhD, EWG Senior Scientist
When someone with $8 billion a year in purchasing power tells the world what they don't want, marketers and manufacturers are likely to pay attention.
That's what's happened recently in New York, where state agencies operate 16,000 facilities and a fleet of 17,000 vehicles and generate more than 800,000 tons of waste a year. The state has a new official policy that urges those agencies, for the sake of public health, to avoid buying things that contain any of 85 toxic chemicals whenever they can find safer, cost-effective alternatives. The goal is to minimize New Yorkers' exposure to these chemicals as much as possible and keep the bad stuff from ending up in landfills.
The unprecedented step is a victory for the people of the New York, but potentially also for other states that may be inspired to follow the Empire State's example.
A special inter-agency committee adopted the policy two days before the end of 2010 and published its "avoidance list." On it are known and probable human carcinogens as well as substances that accumulate in the body and don't readily break down in the environment, the so-called persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic chemicals - PBTs for short.
Said Anne Rabe of the national Center for Health, Environment & Justice:
"This will have a major impact on greening the marketplace with New York State's annual buying power of $9 billion."
Although it is advisory only and agencies are not required to follow it, The Green Procurement Chemical Avoidance List is a powerful model for exercising consumer choice on a grand scale to protect public health from toxic chemicals in products, building materials or equipment.
The list is the product of a four-year effort that brought together multiple environmental groups, aided by supportive New York state officials. Former Gov. David A. Paterson signed the executive order creating the inter-agency committee in April 2008, and newly installed Gov. Andrew Cuomo renewed it shortly after taking office this month.
We at Environmental Working Group applaud these inspiring efforts. The protection of public health - and the hard work of purchasing officers seeking to make best decisions for their communities - will be greatly aided by the decision in New York.
Wal-Mart Launches Healthy Food Initiative
By Alex Rindler, EWG Government Affairs Associate
With First Lady Michelle Obama in attendance, Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, announced (Jan. 20) that it is launching a five-year plan to provide its customers with healthier and more affordable food choices.
In addition to lowering its prices on fruits and vegetables, the company pledged to reduce the amount of trans fats, added sugars and sodium in thousands of packaged foods sold under its house brand, Great Value, including frozen entrées, lunchmeats, salad dressings, potato chips and fruit drinks. Walmart will also wield its enormous market power to press its major supplies to take similar steps, the company said,
The initiative builds on the recent successes of the First Lady's Let's Move campaign to combat childhood obesity and promote healthy eating. Just last month, President Obama signed into law the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, a $4.5 billion measure to expand child nutrition programs and improve the quality of school meals nationwide.
Wal-Mart also plans to address the problem of "food deserts" by building more stores in areas that lack easy access to fresh produce and increasing its charitable contributions to nutrition programs.
The company's commitment lends major new momentum to efforts to meet the growing demand for better food. As the nation confronts long-term health and nutrition challenges, EWG encourages other industry leaders to take similar initiatives to improve the health and wellbeing of millions of Americans.
On skiing: Sunny slopes & toxic wax
By Lisa Frack
Just because it's cold when you're on the slopes, doesn't mean you get to ignore the sun. In fact, a recent study of ultraviolet (UV) radiation at high-altitude U.S. ski resorts suggests that winter outdoor enthusiasts should pay close attention to protecting their exposed skin from the winter sun - including using sun-protective clothing (such as goggles and hats or helmets with visors), sunscreen, and lip balm with SPF.
Good thing you can find safer, skin-protective clothes and sunscreen products in EWG's 2010 Sunscreen Guide (plus, we have an Amazon "store" where you can quickly order what you need!). Travelling? Get our handy iPhone app.
And while we're talking about skiing and your health, you should know that ski wax could do more than make you fast - it could harm your health, too (especially if you apply it often or don't know how to use it safely). According to a new study reported in Environmental Health News:
...scientific research suggests that ski wax can expose users to perfluorochemicals (PFCs) that build up in their bodies and may carry potentially serious health risks, including cardiovascular disease, liver damage, hormone disruption and cancer.
Environmental Working Group Senior Scientist Olga Naidenko says the research provides a key piece to the puzzle of how PFCs build up in the body:
"This study is really important because it shows that this process is happening in humans. We already knew that it happens in animals."
The concerns are greatest for professionals who wax far more than the occasional pair of skis. It's something to think about next time you get those skis waxed or consider waxing them yourself.
Want to know more about PFCs?
Download EWG's one-page Guide to PFC's - they're found in many more places than the bottom of your skis.
Under new law, USDA changes school lunch
By Jason Rano, EWG Senior Legislative Analyst
In mid-December, as millions of American school children were eagerly anticipating their holiday break of sleeping late and no homework, President Obama signed into law the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. Now, just a month later, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has taken its first steps under the law to improve the nutritional content of the school lunches eaten every day by about 32 million children, and the breakfasts served to nearly 11 million.
Though not perfect (very few bills are after they go through the legislative process), the new law does expand and improve school meal programs and confronts head-on the unprecedented obesity rates and related health problems of America's kids.
USDA quickly made specific changes to improve kids' health
On January 13th, USDA announced a rule that for the first time establishes calorie maximums and minimums for school-served meals. It will also reduce sodium in meals, increase the amount of fruits, vegetables and whole-grain foods offered and require that only 1 percent or fat-free milk be served.
The rule is certainly not a panacea. It doesn't cover vending machines, which will be dealt with at a later date. But it is an excellent first step to help our children eat healthier, live healthier and have more energy to learn.
11th-Hour Scramble Foils California Chemical Lobby
Bill Allayaud, EWG California Director of Government Affairs
Outgoing California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger seemed poised to give a nice holiday gift to the chemical industry - weak Green Chemistry program regulations that would not ensure consumers get safer products, as the state's 2008 green chemistry law intended.
But a funny - and fortunate - thing happened as the Schwarzenegger administration was packing up.
On Dec. 23, 11 days before Jerry Brown was to be inaugurated as California's new governor, Secretary for Environmental Protection Linda Adams shelved the loophole-ridden draft rules and ordered that they be rewritten with the explicit help of the state's respected Green Ribbon Science Panel.
The rationale behind Adams' last minute order has not been made public, but knowledgeable sources gave EWG this account:
In early November, state environmental officials drafted a set of regulations that the environmental community found, though not perfect, acceptable. The chemical industry pushed back hard, complaining that the rules would prove far too burdensome. Soon thereafter, state officials alerted us that they were about to release a new "streamlined" draft.
It is common knowledge that Schwarzenegger and his chief of staff, Susan Kennedy, are very close to the Chamber of Commerce and its big business members, who have donated considerable amounts to the governor's political efforts. Reliable sources both inside and outside the Capitol told us that it was Schwarzenegger's staff that ordered the hurried rewrite. Sure enough, the revised draft was a big win for Proctor and Gamble, Chevron, Dupont, and Dow, among others. On Dec. 2, the industry alliance issued a letter that amounted to an end-zone dance.
But while product manufacturers liked the new approach, several members of the Green Ribbon Science Panel complained it was terribly flawed. Assembly member Mike Feuer, the legislative architect of the Green Chemistry program, expressed "profound disappointment" with the turn of events.
So what happened in the closing days of the "Governator's" administration to stop this industry giveaway in its tracks?
A reliable source tells us that Secretary Adams stood up to Schwarzenegger's staff and said the regulations were simply too weak to become California code. We in the environmental community wonder if she persuaded Schwarzenegger that a strong Green Chemistry program would add luster to his legacy as governor, while feeble, industry-friendly regulations would invite EWG and other environmentalists to air credible charges that Schwarzenegger had sold out.
Whatever happened behind closed doors, the results are good: Schwarzenegger left office without locking those pro-industry rules into law.
Now that the can has been kicked into the next administration, what happens next?
We hope that Governor Brown will replace Secretary Adams with as strong or even stronger person to oversee CalEPA's duties, which include protecting public health and the environment. We are advocating that a strong chief be appointed to the Department of Toxic Substances Control and that its dedicated career civil servants will be allowed to rewrite the Green Chemistry regulations based on scientifically-defensible standards that truly protect public health. We hope the Green Ribbon Science Panel will have a stronger role in guiding decisions.
If all this happens, California could pave the way for action in other states. After all, nearly one in eight Americans resides in California. That means that Californians buy about an eighth of all consumer products sold in the U.S. Since few manufacturers want to produce finished products one way for California and another way for the rest of the American public, rigorous California standards could mean that someday soon, people across the country will be able to take a product off the shelf and without fear of exposure to toxic chemicals or hormone disrupters.
That's the promise of Green Chemistry. But as this tortuous episode shows, there are a lot of political potholes on the road to a healthier world.
ASK EWG: Handwashing safely, without a sink
Emily Ion with Rebecca Sutton, PhD
Question: How do I avoid germs when I can't wash my hands in a sink with running water?
The absolute best way to fight germs and prevent infection is good old-fashioned hand washing. But when you can't scrub up, you can turn to waterless hand sanitizers, those convenient little bottles for on-the-go.
But there are risks involved with some of these products (not to mention the disposable plastic containers): many expose you to potentially harmful chemicals and may compromise your long-term immunity. So read the labels - not all sanitizers are created equal.
Avoid hand sanitizers with triclosan.
Most conventional antibacterial wipes, gels, and soaps contain triclosan, an anti-bacterial agent added to myriad consumer products. Triclosan is nearly ubiquitous in liquid hand soap. The Environmental Protection Agency classifies it as a pesticide, and it is linked to liver and inhalation toxicity. Even very low concentrations may disrupt thyroid function. EWG lists triclosan among the top 7 chemicals for children to avoid.
The American Medical Association discourages the use of antibacterial products in the home because they may encourage the development of superbugs -- antibiotic-resistant bacteria. As well, the overuse of antibacterial products may weaken people's immune systems. A recent study on immune dysfunction found that teenagers exposed to high levels of triclosan are more likely to suffer from hayfever or allergies.
Other chemicals to avoid in hand sanitizers:
- Fragrance. Manufacturers are not required to list the chemicals in synthetic scents. They often hide several toxic chemicals.
- "Quat chemicals," including benzalkonium chloride and alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride. The Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics considers these chemicals to be "asthmagens," or substances that can cause asthma to develop in otherwise healthy people.
Choose safe, effective alternatives.
The safest option for waterless hand-cleaning are alcohol-based sanitizers, because they don't contain triclosan but still properly disinfect.
To remove grime, dust and dirt from hands, try using a non-toxic baby wipe. They tend to lather up and lubricate enough to loosen dirt and can be found in portable sizes. But read the labels! Some baby wipes also contain "quat" chemicals.
Once you get to a sink, be sure to lather, rinse and repeat - the old-fashioned way.
Learn (a whole lot) more with EWG's Healthy Home Tip on handwashing - and use our Cosmetics Database to find hand sanitizers without triclosan or fragrance.
Progress: Less lead allowed in water pipes
By Jason Rano, EWG Senior Legislative Analyst
Much has been said and written about the surprising flood of legislation that came out of the lame-duck Congress in the waning days of 2010 - repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell, extending (temporarily) the Bush-era tax cuts, overhauling the nation's food safety system, ratifying the START treaty and providing health care assistance to 9/11 workers. It was a lot for any month-long stretch, never mind one in the era of Congressional gridlock.
With hardly any fanfare, however, another important bill passed, one that will go a long way toward protecting Americans' health. Significantly, it also demonstrated that legislating in the public's interest need not get caught in the partisan crossfire.
On Jan. 4, President Obama signed into law the Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act. It cleared Congress thanks to the leadership of Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), chairwoman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW), working with two leading Republican senators - EPW's senior minority member James Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), and in the House Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.),
What will the new law do?
The law will reduce the amount of lead allowed in faucets and plumbing fixtures to a tiny fraction of the old limit - from 8 percent to 0.25 percent. This is important because most of the lead that ends up in drinking water leaches out of pipes and fixtures through which the water flows. Lead poisoning can cause memory loss, infertility, impaired intellect and cardiovascular, skeletal, kidney and renal problems.
In the aftermath of last year's election, many in the environmental community have reflected on the implications of the Senate's failure to pass climate change legislation and the rightward shift of the new Congress. Out of that have come calls, including from Environmental Working Group, to "get back to basics" on environmental issues, including focusing on protecting public health.
The bipartisan lead legislation will do just that.
