Consumer Products

Our shocking new report uncovered four brands of crayons and two brands of kids’ crime scene kits that tested positive for deadly asbestos. What’s worse, these contaminated toys are being sold across the country with no warning!

By now most of us know to wear sunscreen at the beach or during other outdoor activities. But some people mistakenly think wearing sunscreen makes them immune from sunburn, which can lead to skin cancer.
 

As a research intern at EWG, I’ve investigated sunscreens to learn more about how they work and the claims that companies make. I wondered why I’d been told to put sunscreen on a sunburn, even after I came inside. The answer isn’t soothing. Anti-inflammatory ingredients in sunscreen suppress redness, pain and inflammation, even after skin damage. In other words, the sunscreen makes burned skin feel better temporarily – but it’s still burned.

As the July 4^th weekend approaches, EWG has added more than 30 new products to our 2015 Guide to Sunscreens! Twenty-one made our Best Beach & Sport Sunscreens and Best Moisturizers lists because they offer broad spectrum protection from UVA and UVB radiation and don’t contain harmful ingredients such as retinyl palmitate.  
 

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. That old adage is certainly true for cancer. Despite great advances in treatments and therapies, preventing the disease from ever occurring will always be the best option.

With all of the chemicals that get put into consumer products, it can be difficult to protect our children from toxic hazards. Knowing what to look for and what kids’ products contain harmful chemicals is the first step.
 

You may know that bisphenol A, a synthetic estrogen found in the epoxy coatings of food cans, has been linked to many health problems. Many companies have publicly pledged to stop using BPA in their cans. But consumers like you have had no way to know which canned foods use BPA-based epoxy. Until now.

EWG analyzed 252 canned food brands, mostly between January and August 2014, to find out which of them packed their food into cans coated with BPA-laden epoxy. Here’s what we discovered.

Last year, our 25-year-old classmate was diagnosed with melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. Her illness came as a shock. “Isn’t melanoma a disease of older people?” we said to ourselves.

This weekend is all about fun in the sun. Whether you’re heading to the beach, a lake or a backyard picnic, be sure to cover up to protect your skin against sunburn and pesky bug bites.