This week, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s technical staff refused a request by Pacific Gas & Electric to resume reviewing a 2009 license renewal application for the aging Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant in California. The decision is important because it prevents PG&E from making an end run around NRC regulations that require the company to file a new and up-to-date license renewal application.
“It’s not too late for the California Legislature to redirect the billion dollars slated for revival of these unsafe and uneconomical reactors to the support of safe and renewable alternative energy sources, such as solar and wind power, energy efficiency and load management,” said Caroline Leary, an attorney for EWG.
On Monday, the Food and Drug Administration announced new standards for toxic metals in baby foods.
“The FDA’s announcement sends an important signal to farmers and baby food companies to get to work,” said Scott Faber, EWG senior vice president for government affairs. “More progress must be made, including changes in where and how we grow rice, potatoes, carrots and other ingredients in baby foods.”
Here’s some news you can use going into the weekend.
Children’s health
The Bump: Squeaky Clean: 9 Best Baby Shampoo and Wash Options
Both the baby shampoo and conditioner are made with 100 percent plant-based ingredients, and everything included gets a top rating from the EWG.
FDA guidelines for lead in baby food
CBS News: New FDA guidelines call for reducing — but not eliminating — lead in baby food
"Today's announcement to set tougher standards for toxic metals in baby foods is important progress by the FDA," Scott Faber, senior vice president of government affairs at the nonprofit Environmental Working Group, said in a statement. Reprinted by News Break; Web Today; WSGW (Mich); Naija On Point; DigitPatrox; 6 additional media outlets
CNN: FDA proposes new levels for lead in baby food, but critics say more action is needed
There is much more that can be done, according to Scott Faber, senior vice president of government affairs for the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit environmental health organization. “We can change where we farm and how we farm to reduce toxic metals absorbed by plants,” Faber said. “We also urge baby food manufacturers to conduct continuous testing of heavy metals in all their products and make all testing results publicly available.” Reprinted by News 8000; Local News 8 (Idaho); KEYT-TV (Calif); KTVZ (Ore.); KYMA News (Ariz); 16 additional media outlets
The New York Times: F.D.A. Proposes Limits for Lead in Baby Food
“This is really important progress for babies,” said Scott Faber, vice president of public affairs for the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit organization that had urged the agency to take action to remove metals from foods. “We were grateful that F.D.A. has and the Biden administration has made reducing toxic metals in baby food a priority.” Reprinted by WRAL News (Raleigh); User Walls; The Boston Globe; The Press Democrat; New On News; 8 additional media outlets
Bloomberg Law: Baby Food Makers Get FDA’s Proposed Lead Limits After Delay (1)
Scott Faber, senior vice president of government affairs at the Environmental Working Group, said the FDA’s proposal “sends an important signal to farmers and baby food companies to get to work.” He added, “more progress must be made, including changes in where and how we grow rice, potatoes, carrots and other ingredients in baby foods.”
Cleveland: FDA proposes new steps for reducing lead in food for babies, young children
“This is really important progress for babies,” Scott Faber, vice president of public affairs for the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit organization that had urged the agency to take action to remove metals from foods. Reprinted by MSN
Daily Beast: FDA Proposes Limits on Lead in Baby Food
The Food and Drug administration is proposing limits on how much lead can be in baby food, leaving advocates divided. A spokesperson for the Environmental Working Group told The New York Times that the new maximums are “important progress for babies
Daily Caller: FDA Wants ‘Limits’ On Lead In Baby Food, Claims We Can’t Remove It All
Lead in the system of developing lives can lead to a slew of issues, including brain damage, lowered IQ, and even death in extreme cases, according to the Environmental Working Group.
Motherly: The FDA is finally taking steps to reduce lead in baby food
Some experts applaud the agency’s actions. “This is really important progress for babies,” said Scott Faber, vice president of public affairs for the Environmental Working Group, to The New York Times. “We were grateful that F.D.A. and the Biden administration has made reducing toxic metals in baby food a priority.”
Scary Mommy: The FDA Just Released New Guidelines Limiting The Amount Of Lead In Baby Food
“This is really important progress for babies,” Scott Faber, vice president of public affairs for the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit organization working to have metals removed from foods, told New York Times. “We were grateful that F.D.A. has and the Biden administration has made reducing toxic metals in baby food a priority.” Reprinted by MSN
NRC refuses Diablo Canyon nuclear plant extension
Nonprofit groups San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace, Environmental Working Group and Friends of the Earth filed a petition with the NRC on Jan. 10, arguing that it would be unlawful for federal regulators to allow PG&E to keep Diablo Canyon operating while the agency reviews its license renewal application. Reprinted by The Lawton Constitution; Union Bulletin; Arca Max; MSN
Breitbart: California’s Last Nuclear Plant Could be Forced to Close, Despite Newsom’s Extension
Environmental groups were elated by the NRC’s decision, with Environmental Working Group (EWG) attorney Caroline Leary declaring in a statement: “It’s not too late for the California Legislature to re-direct the billion dollars slated for revival of these unsafe and uneconomical reactors to the support of safe and renewable alternative energy sources such as solar and wind power, energy efficiency and load management.”
The Epoch Times: Feds Reject California’s Last Nuclear Power Plant’s Request to Stay Open
Environmental organizations also protested the company’s latest application, sending a letter to the regulatory commission “putting them on notice that the agency would violate federal law if it accepted PG&E’s proposal,” according to the organization Environmental Working Group based in Washington, D.C.
The Staff’s decision affirmed recent arguments in the petition by San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace (SLOMFP), Friends of the Earth (FoE), and Environmental Working Group (EWG) that resuming review of PG&E’s withdrawn license renewal application would be unlawful. Reprinted by Cal Coast News; Yuba Net
PFAS in freshwater fish
Scripps News: Study finds high levels of 'forever chemicals' in freshwater fish
A new study from Environmental Working Group scientists found that eating just one freshwater fish could be the equivalent of drinking a month’s worth of water contaminated with PFOS. That's a set of "forever chemicals" in the same family as PFAS. Reprinted by WCPO Cincinnati News; KXXV News (Texas); Fox 4 News (Fla.); 23ABC News (Bakersfield, Calif.); Fox 17 News (Mich.) 40 additional media outlets
The Dallas Express: Chemical Contamination Found in Fish
“Food has always been kind of the hypothesis of how most people are exposed to PFAS compounds,” corresponding author David Andrews, a senior scientist at the Environmental Working Group, told The Hill.
Field & Stream: Does a New Study Mean You Should Stop Eating Freshwater Fish Forever?
The study was conducted by the Environmental Working Group, a non-profit organization with a mission statement that reads: To empower you with breakthrough research to make informed choices and live a healthy life in a healthy environment. Reprinted by News Break
The scientists from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) EWG warn that eating one freshwater fish once every month for a year is equivalent to consuming water with PFOS at 48 parts per trillion (ppt) for a month.
Food Poisoning Bulletin: EWG Study: Eating One Freshwater Fish a Month Problematic
A new study from Environmental Working Group (EWG) says that eating one freshwater fish a month is equivalent to a month of drinking water contaminated with forever chemicals, or PFOS, at levels that might be harmful to your health. PFOS, or perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, is one of the so-called “forever chemicals” because they do not break down in the environment.
The new freshwater fish study, by scientists at Washington based Environmental Working Group (EWG), a nonprofit, non-partisan organization empowering people to live healthier lives, used testing data from the Environmental Protection Agency and Food and Drug Administration.
Maine Public: New research shows dangers of consuming freshwater fish laced with PFAS
Consuming just one serving of freshwater fish a year is equal to drinking PFAS-laced water for a month, according to a recent study by scientists at the Environmental Working Group. The EWG analyzed more than 500 fish samples from bodies of water across the country, including from seven Maine rivers. Reprinted by Bangor Daily News; WDCTV News
Maps Mania: Forever Chemicals in Freshwater Fish
A new study by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) has found harmful levels of PFAS in freshwater fish throughout the United States. The study measured the harmful levels of 'forever chemicals' in freshwater fish collected across the United States.
Midland Daily News: New study shows high amount of harmful PFAS substances in fresh water fish
A new study by the Environmental Working Group found that high levels of harmful PFAS substances have been found in fish across the country and Michigan.
One Green Planet: Dangerous Chemicals Are Lurking in Caught Fish
“The levels of PFOS found in freshwater fish often exceeded an astounding 8,000 parts per trillion,” said study coauthor David Andrews, a senior scientist at Environmental Working Group. This nonprofit environmental health organization analyzed the data.
PFAS Project: EWG: ‘Urgency’ lacking from EPA plan to address ‘forever chemicals’ discharges
‘Polluters have gotten a free pass for far too long to contaminate thousands of communities. Now they need aggressive action from the EPA to stop PFAS at the source,’ said Melanie Benesh, Environmental Working Group vice president of government affairs. ‘But the EPA’s plan lacks the urgency those communities rightfully expect.’
Popular Mechanics: What Are Forever Chemicals? Behind the Plastic Villains That Refuse to Die
Eating freshwater fish is also a risk. An Environmental Working Group (EWG) study found that eating one freshwater fish equals a month of drinking “forever chemicals” water.
Scientists from the activist organization Environmental Working Group (EWG) studied more than 500 fish fillets obtained throughout the United States between 2013 and 2015. They found that eating just one fish from America's rivers and lakes in a single year was equivalent to regularly ingesting water with PFOS at 48 parts per trillion (ppt) over the course of an entire month. Reprinted by MSN; VN Explorer
The dangers of PFAS have been known since the 1950s, according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a Washington DC-based environmental advocacy group. EWG combed decades of internal memos, studies and other company documents of two companies responsible for a majority of PFAS pollution, 3M and DuPont, noting that they had also hidden their findings from employees.
VT Digger: Marguerite Adelman: We need to ban PFAS and toxins now
new study by researchers at Duke University and the Environmental Working Group looked at PFAS levels found in freshwater-caught fish in the U.S. between 2013 and 2015. Their conclusion: Eating one fish from U.S. lakes or rivers is equivalent to drinking a month’s worth of contaminated water.
WKBW Buffalo: Toxins found in fish in Lake Erie, highest in the country
A recent study by the Environmental Working Group found if you eat a toxin-filled fish, it is equal to drinking contaminated water for a month.
Zenger News: Eating Portion Of Fresh Fish Could Contain Harmful Toxic Chemicals
Environmental Working Group (EWG) scientists found the median amounts of PFAS in freshwater fish in the U.S. were an astonishing 280 times greater than forever chemicals detected in some commercially caught and sold fish.
H2O Radio: Three Reasons to Be Optimistic About the Climate
Eating freshwater fish like trout or bass may expose a person to high levels of toxic “forever” chemicals. A new study from the Environmental Working Group shows that consuming just one fish could be the equivalent of drinking water laced with the PFAS chemicals for a month.
WGME (Portland): Research shows dangers of eating fish contaminated by PFAS
A recent study from scientists at the Environmental Working Group says eating one serving of freshwater fish laced with PFAS per year is equal to a month of drinking water contaminated by the forever chemicals. Reprinted by MSN
Alternative protein
Roll Call: Hunger plan builds on federal role in getting food to millions
The Environmental Working Group, a member of the coalition, said a survey it did of 521 federal dining facilities found less than half of them offered vegetarian alternatives. Reprinted by Speed Hub
California solar net metering
Inside EPA: Environmentalists Seek CPUC Rehearing Of New Rooftop Solar NEM Rules
“California is drowning in climate-driven deluges, and we have to make it easier for communities to embrace rooftop solar to survive the climate emergency,” said Roger Lin, an attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD), in a Jan. 18 press release announcing the petition for rehearing filed by CBD, Protect Our Communities Foundation and Environmental Working Group (EWG).
CAFOs
Most hog CAFOs are located in Iowa, where the numbers of such operations has increased from about 500 in 1990 to 3,500 in 2020, according to a report from the Environmental Working Group.
Skin Deep™ cosmetics database
The Seattle Times: WA could ban use of cancer-causing chemicals in makeup, hair care
The Environmental Working Group created the Skin Deep Database for individuals to analysis the security of their cosmetics. Reprinted by Beauty News; ArcaMax; Union Bulletin; The Columbian; Yakima Herald
TreeHugger: The 6 Best Non-Toxic Nail Polish Removers of 2023
But in this case, the nail polish removers that have the best ratings from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) all contain the same two ingredients: acetone and a bittering agent called denatonium benzoate.
Beauty Matter: Cheekbone Beauty: Championing Indigenous Culture Through Color Cosmetics
Products are developed according to the clean standards set forth by Credo, Sephora, and EWG, with vegan and fair-trade formulations in compostable, recyclable, and recycled, as well as biodegradable packaging.
Chemicals News: The price of beauty: Many “clean” products may STILL contain toxins
To protect yourself, Ohri recommends checking the respective percentages of natural extracts and chemicals in a product. The Environmental Working Group’s Skindeep Cosmetics Database also lists more than 75,000 products rated for safety on a scale of 0 to 10.
Earth 911: AG Care Making Progress Toward Sustainable Hair Care
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) Skin Deep Database is a consumer database that assesses the safety of personal care products. Some AG Care products are in this database, including the rinse-out shampoo and conditioner, but they were last updated a few years ago. Since then, some ingredients may have changed, so these ratings might not be completely accurate. Reprinted by Only One
Eluxe Magazine: The Best Organic & Natural Hair Dyes For 2023
The Environmental Working Group found that 69% of hair dye products they tested for their Skin Deep database may pose cancer risks.
Inspired Edibles: Avoiding Harmful Ingredients In Personal Care Products
The Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) Skin Deep Cosmetic Database provides ingredient information and online hazard assessments for over 85,000 personal care products (nearly three thousand brands) — you can search the Skin Deep database by ingredient, brand or product to get a breakdown of ingredients of concern and hazard score assessments.
Premium Beauty News: Clean beauty: A nebulous concept in search of a definition
On the model of "Clean Eating", the concept tended to refer to cosmetics free from harmful or controversial ingredients, at a time when many American consumers – driven by public action groups such as the Environmental Working Group (EWG) – were wondering whether certain ingredients banned in Europe could be used in the United States.
Tech Sling: The Benefits Of Nail Polish Packaging: Everything You Need To Know
Nail polish packaging has a significant impact on the environment. According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), using a traditional bottle that can take up to 1,500 years to decompose is more environmentally harmful than using a nontoxic, recyclable bottle. Reprinted by Blogarama
You go to EWG, which gives you a list of what ingredients are safe and not safe based on subjective reasoning.
DOD PFAS health study
Task & Purpose: The Air Force is looking into a possible link between cancer and missile crew duty
“The Defense Department may be underestimating by hundreds of thousands the number of people at military installations drinking water contaminated with the “forever chemicals” known as PFAS,” wrote the Environmental Working Group in its response to the Defense Department report.
Energy
Kaieteur News: International activists slam ExxonMobil and others for fighting windfall tax
The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a community of 30 million stakeholders working for the protection of the environment has called on citizens of the world to not let up on their demands from oil companies.
Red Green and Blue: By NEXT YEAR, 25% of US electricity will come from renewable
“The steady growth of renewables in the U.S. electricity mix underscores the rapid increase in demand for solar and wind projects across the country,” said Alex Formuzis, a spokesperson for the Environmental Working Group.
PV Magazine: Solar total installed capacity to grow 84% in two years
“I wouldn’t be surprised if the percentage of solar- and wind-generated electricity exceeds the EIA’s projections over the next two years, as the hundreds of billions of dollars from the Inflation Reduction Act pour into clean energy initiatives,” said Alex Formuzis, spokesperson for the Environmental Working Group.