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PFAS Chemicals

DuPont’s Teflon changed our lives, but also polluted our bodies. Today, Teflon-like compounds called PFAS are found in the blood of almost all Americans. These “forever chemicals” pollute water, don’t break down, and remain in the environment and people for decades.
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We work closely with subject matter experts to bring you breakthrough research that you can count on. Explore our data-driven publications and reports.

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Water

PFAS Chemicals

Getting ‘forever chemicals’ out of drinking water: EWG’s guide to PFAS water filters

Taking ‘forever chemicals’ out of drinking water: EWG’s guide to PFAS water filters. Discover the most effective water filters for reducing PFAS contamination in your water. EWG's extensive tests...

July 11, 2023

EWG investigation: Dangerous agricultural chemical chlormequat found in popular oat-based products

A new EWG investigation finds for the first time troubling concentrations of the toxic agricultural chemical chlormequat in oat-based products sold in the U.S., including everyday brands marketed to...

January 31, 2023

Federal & State Energy Policy

Power and profit: How PG&E fails California ratepayers and what to do about it

EWG’s utility business model would create a more balanced policy and regulatory regime for PG&E customers. It is designed to hold the company responsible for its investment patterns and shift...

June 16, 2022

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Displaying 1 - 24 of 36

PFAS Chemicals

Water

Defense Communities

Federal PFAS Report Card

December 14, 2023

EWG has researched actions the federal government is committed to taking, or for which it faces congressionally mandated deadlines, to tackle the “forever chemicals” known as PFAS.

Water

PFAS Chemicals

‘Forever chemicals’ found in water coast to coast builds case for strict EPA limits

July 18, 2023

The findings are just a small sample of what to expect when the Environmental Protection Agency releases first-time data from thousands of public water systems across the U.S. that is likely to show...

Water

PFAS Chemicals

Getting ‘forever chemicals’ out of drinking water: EWG’s guide to PFAS water filters

July 11, 2023

PFAS Chemicals

Wildlife warning: More than 330 species contaminated with ‘forever chemicals’

February 22, 2023

Polar bears have a PFAS problem: Pollution from the “forever chemicals” known as PFAS contaminates polar bears, tigers, monkeys, pandas, dolphins and fish and has been documented in more than 330...

PFAS Chemicals

Defense Communities

For decades, the department of defense knew firefighting foams with ‘forever chemicals’ were dangerous but continued their use

March 6, 2022

As far back as the 1970s, studies conducted by the Department of Defense showed that the firefighting foam used on military bases and ships known as aqueous film-forming foam, or AFFF, that contain...

Water

PFAS Chemicals

For decades, the FDA knew toxic 'forever chemicals' were dangerous but continued to allow their use

February 10, 2022

As far back as the 1960s, animal studies showed the chemicals caused harm even months after exposure ended and industry studies showed they could migrate from paper and paperboard food packaging into...

PFAS Chemicals

Water

Mapping the PFAS contamination crisis: New data show 2,858 sites in 50 states and two territories

October 4, 2021

The number of U.S. communities confirmed to be contaminated with the highly toxic fluorinated compounds known as PFAS continues to grow at an alarming rate. As of June 2022, 2,858 locations in 50...

PFAS Chemicals

Water

Is Northern Virginia a D.C.-Area Hot Spot for ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Tap Water?

March 10, 2021

Tap water samples from throughout Northern Virginia were contaminated with the “forever chemicals” known as PFAS at levels significantly higher than those previously reported for other parts of the...

PFAS Chemicals

Timeline: ‘Forever chemicals’ and firefighters

November 20, 2020

For decades, firefighters have been exposed to the “forever chemicals” chemicals known as PFAS, through PFAS-based firefighting foams and firefighting gear coated with PFAS as a water repellant. Foam...

PFAS Chemicals

Water

The PFAS and the Furious

September 17, 2020

Rob Bilott's Exposure is a real-life whodunit, a page-turning courtroom drama, a David-and-Goliath story of one man against an industrial colossus and a shocking exposé of America's utterly broken...

Children’s Health

PFAS Chemicals

Toxic ‘Forever Chemicals’ Likely Discharged Near Schools in 18 States

September 10, 2020

Suspected industrial dischargers of the toxic fluorinated chemicals known as PFAS are located less than a mile of 27 schools or childcare facilities that maintain their own water systems, an EWG...

COVID-19

Water

PFAS Chemicals

U.S. drinking water infrastructure needs large federal investment

April 13, 2020

Congress may soon spend billions to upgrade our aging drinking water infrastructure, which would significantly improve the safety of our drinking water and create tens of thousands of jobs. The...

Water

PFAS Chemicals

Lead

How Investing $75 Billion on Infrastructure Will Make Drinking Water Safer

April 13, 2020

For the next COVID-19 stimulus bill, House leaders have proposed spending $75.9 billion over five years on water infrastructure. This urgent and long-overdue investment would enable community water...

PFAS Chemicals

Water

PFAS Contamination of Drinking Water Far More Prevalent Than Previously Reported

January 23, 2020

New laboratory tests commissioned by EWG have for the first time found the toxic fluorinated chemicals known as PFAS in the drinking water of dozens of U.S. cities, including major metropolitan areas...

PFAS Chemicals

For 20-plus years, EPA has failed to regulate ‘forever chemicals’

January 9, 2020

The Environmental Protection Agency was first alerted to the health hazards of toxic fluorinated chemicals, known as PFAS, in 1998. In the decades since, the agency has failed to set enforceable...

PFAS Chemicals

Water

California

Toxic ‘Forever Chemicals’ Detected in Drinking Water Supplies Across California

September 25, 2019

Drinking water sources for 74 community water systems serving 7.5 million Californians are contaminated with the highly toxic fluorinated chemicals called PFAS, according to an Environmental Working...

PFAS Chemicals

For decades, polluters knew PFAS chemicals were dangerous but hid risks from public

August 29, 2019

As far back as 1950, studies conducted by 3M showed that the family of toxic fluorinated chemicals now known as PFAS could build up in our blood. By the 1960s, animal studies conducted by 3M and...

PFAS Chemicals

For 50 Years, Polluters Knew PFAS Chemicals Were Dangerous But Hid Risks From Public

August 28, 2019

As far back as 1950, studies conducted by 3M showed that the family of toxic fluorinated chemicals now known as PFAS could build up in our blood. By the 1960s, animal studies conducted by 3M and...

PFAS Chemicals

Water

EWG Proposes PFAS Standards That Fully Protect Children’s Health

May 6, 2019

In the almost 20 years since water pollution with toxic fluorinated chemicals, or PFAS, erupted as a public health issue, research has found impacts from exposure to ever-lower levels. Yet there are...

Children’s Health

PFAS Chemicals

Mapping PFAS Chemical Contamination at 206 U.S. Military Sites

March 6, 2019

The Environmental Working Group has identified and mapped 206 military sites in the U.S. where drinking water or groundwater is contaminated with fluorinated chemicals, known as PFAS, at levels that...

PFAS Chemicals

Update: Mapping the Expanding PFAS Crisis

April 18, 2018

The latest update of an interactive map by EWG and the Social Science Environmental Health Research Institute at Northeastern University documents publicly known PFAS pollution from 94 sites in 22...

PFAS Chemicals

Mapping a Contamination Crisis

June 8, 2017

The known extent of the contamination of U.S. communities with PFCs – highly fluorinated toxic chemicals, also known as PFASs, that have been linked to cancer, thyroid disease, weakened immunity and...

PFAS Chemicals

Cookware & Food Containers

Poisoned Legacy

May 1, 2015

In 2005 the Environmental Protection Agency fined chemical giant DuPont a record $16.5 million over its decades-long cover-up of the health hazards of C8, also known as PFOA. One of a family of...

Cookware & Food Containers

Pollution in Minority Newborns

November 23, 2009

Laboratory tests commissioned by EWG have detected as many as 232 toxic chemicals in cord blood samples collected from 10 minority newborns. Notably these tests show, for the first time, bisphenol A...

Expert Spotlight

Chemical companies provide quarterly reports on production and sales figures to shareholders. Why shouldn’t the public and EPA receive similar reports every year about commonly used chemicals, some of which could pose a serious health risk?”

David Andrews, Ph.D.

Senior Scientist, Chemical Research: Chemistry and Toxicology

All Experts

News & Insights

Farm Subsidies

As farm income returns to normal levels, gaps continue to grow

February 8, 2024

While farm income is expected to return to normal levels in 2024, the gap between the largest, most successful farmers and their poorer neighbors continues to grow. Increasing farm subsidies, as some...

Climate & Agriculture

Conservation

Farm Subsidies

Increasing crop reference prices would hurt young farmers

February 7, 2024

Increasing price guarantees for major crops, as some farm groups and legislators are proposing, would make it harder for young farmers – those aged 35 or younger – to compete against larger, legacy...

Food Chemicals

Protein predicament: Health concerns about protein bars

February 7, 2024

Protein bars might not immediately come to mind when you think of unhealthy foods, but some aren’t as beneficial as they seem. Many bars sold today contain large amounts of ultra-processed ingredients...

How to buy a mattress without toxic chemicals

February 7, 2024

How hard can it be to buy a mattress? The answer: There’s more to consider with this big ticket consumer item than you might suspect – including your health.

A mattress is a purchase you may make o...

Key Issues

Research

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Articles by David Andrews, Ph.D.