EWG News Roundup (10/18): California Seeks To Reduce Lead From Daycare Facilities, Debunking PFAS Polluters’ False Claims and More

This week, California regulators announced steps to reduce children’s lead exposure at day care facilities across the state. In a hearing, the State Water Resources Board adopted a goal of reducing lead in centers’ drinking water to no more than 1 part per billion – the toughest lead reduction action in the nation to date.

“Lead exposure at the earliest, most vulnerable stages of a child’s life can have pronounced and lifelong consequences,” said Susan Little, EWG’s senior advocate for California government affairs. “The board’s action is a huge step forward in making sure we do everything possible to protect them from the risks of this potent neurotoxin. Parents shouldn’t have to worry if their children are at risk from lead-contaminated water and food when they drop them off at day care. This move will go a long way toward making sure that doesn’t happen."

EWG, along with CalPIRG, Clean Water Action and other organizations and advocates, urged the water board to adopt the 1 ppb goal as part of the regulations for a new lead testing law recently signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom that was originally sponsored by EWG.

Opponents to designating PFAS – the family of highly toxic chemicals – as “hazardous substances” under the Superfund law claim the designation will effectively ban PFAS across all commerce. EWG broke down these claims and explained why they are not true.

Here’s some news you can use going into the weekend.

EPA Lead and Copper Rule

E&E News: Enviros lament ‘lost opportunity’ with lead rule revamp

"It is indeed a very good thing," agreed Olga Naidenko, the Environmental Working Group's vice president for science investigations. "It is fair to say it is long overdue to not allow sample cheating."

Heliyon – Cumulative Risk Assessment

Environmental Monitor: Assessing Cumulative Risk From Water Pollutants

New research from scientists at the Environmental Working Group (EWG) shows that an approach that assesses cumulative risk from water contaminants could save lives. EWG senior scientist Tasha Stoiber spoke with EM about how the team developed the innovative new approach.

Meat Eater’s Guide to Climate Change + Health

Live Kindly: What is Red Meat Really Doing to the Planet?

Lamb also has a high carbon footprint. Some believe it’s even higher than beef. According to the Environmental Working Group, this is because lambs produce less edible meat than cows.

Metals in Jewelry 

National Jeweler: CA Law Tightens Restrictions on Lead, Cadmium in Jewelry

Senator Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angeles) introduced SB 647 in February. It was co-sponsored by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, the Environmental Working Group and the Center for Environmental Health.

Monsanto’s Glyphosate

Salon: Why Dr. Zach Bush believes herbicides could end life on Earth

As Salon's Matt Rozsa reported earlier this year, an Environmental Working Group study tested 21 oat-based cereal and snack products for glyphosate. 17 of then contained glyphosate at levels considered unsafe for children, including multiple brands of Cheerios.

Medical Health News: Why Dr. Zach Bush believes herbicides could end life on Earth

As Salon's Matt Rozsa reported earlier this year, an Environmental Working Group study tested 21 oat-based cereal and snack products for glyphosate.

Plastics

Enviro News: CAUTION ADVISED: Study: Tea Bags Leaching off Billions of Microplastic Particles into Herbal, Green Teas

“There is very little published research on the potential adverse health effects of chemicals that leach from plastic food containers, so it’s difficult to say they’re safe with any degree of certainty, especially with long-term use,” Anila Jacob, MD, Senior Scientist with the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit advocacy organization, told WebMD.

Seafood Guide

Mercola: Would You Trade the World’s Most Nutritious Food for Gold?

Similarly, when the Environmental Working Group tested farmed salmon from U.S. grocery stores, they found farmed salmon had, on average. Reprinted by HealthGlu

Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce™

American Fitness Professionals and Associates: The Science Behind Three Commonly Consumed Red Fruits & Vegetables

When possible, you should always look for organic tomatoes as they are included on the Environmental Working Group's 2019 Dirty Dozen List.

Eating Well: How to Lose Weight on a Budget

If organic is important to you, the Environmental Working Group has identified the foods that are most contaminated (that you should consider buying organic), as well as the produce that is cleanest and most free of pesticides (that you can buy conventional). 

Winnipeg Free Press (Canada): The trouble with buying organic

To start, check out the Environmental Working Group’s annual Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen lists (https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/), which provides information about the produce with the highest pesticide residues and those with the lowest. This can help with shopping for organic produce.

Ask Men: Best Sunscreens for Men’s Faces

In addition to that, this cruelty-free daily facial sunscreen scored an EWG rating of one, which is not an easy feat. 

Beauty World News: Beach, Please! It’s Time to Break This Hideous Beach Habit

The EWG rates ThinkSport SPF 50 Sunscreen with a perfect score, as it has no known biologically toxic chemicals and is water-resistant up to 80 minutes.

She Knows: Protect Your Kids’ Skin With These 5 High-SPF Sunscreens

But perhaps best of all, it has an excellent rating from the Environmental Working Group for ingredients that are least likely to have negative impacts on humans or the environment. Reprinted by Woman’s TaleYahoo!

Tap Water Database

The Garden City News (NY): Go Green with Kelly and Colleen

Get angry, and then get educated. Review the resources available on the websites of the Environmental Working Group (ewg.org); Our Water, Our Lives (ourwaterlives.org); Water for Long Island (waterforlongisland.org); and The Citizens Campaign for the Environment (citizenscampaign.org).

Natural News: What’s really in your tap water? (The answers might surprise you)

Sending your samples off to a lab might not be practical, but you may be able to find out more about your water online. If you use a municipal water supply, check out the EWG Tap Water Database. Reprint Chemicals News

The News-Star (Monroe LA): Tulane study points to natural cause for arsenic-tainted water

According to a new study from the Environmental Working Group, even tap water that has been dubbed 'safe' may not be and could increase cancer risk.

North Carolina Health News: DEQ, Greensboro won’t identify industry that contaminated downstream drinking water

Melanie Benesh, the legislative attorney for the Environmental Working Group in Washington, said in an email that “Greensboro should absolutely notify residents in the vicinity and downstream from this accidental spill.”

Telegram and Gazette (Worchester MA): Shrewsbury town meeting to address chromium in well water

Unexpected levels of the chemical, recognized as a human carcinogen when inhaled, were first detected in the town’s wells in 2016 after a report from the Environmental Working Group, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit watchdog group.

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