• Health

EPA to Regulate and Restrict Toxic “Forever” PFAS Chemicals

• EPA
• fracking
• oil and gas companies
• PFAS

By Ashira Morris, ODP Staff Writer The EPA announced Monday that it will move toward regulating perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) — manmade “forever chemicals” — that don’t naturally break down and can contaminate both air and water. These chemicals, found in various household products, from dental floss to nonstick pans, can also be harmful […]

• Health

EPA Announces New PFAS Limits, But Environmental Advocates Say More Action is Needed

• drinking water
• EPA
• health
• PFAS

By Amy Lupica, ODP Daily Editor The EPA has announced that it will propose the first-ever limits on the discharge of polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, in wastewater. The class of chemicals, often called “forever chemicals,” can accumulate in the environment and the human body and contribute to health problems. However, public health and environmental […]

• Health

EPA Approved Use of Forever Chemicals in Fracking Despite Knowledge of Health Risks

• EPA
• Forever Chemicals
• PFAS

by Amy Lupica, ODP Staff Writer An investigation by The New York Times has found that in 2011, the Environmental Protection Agency (E.P.A.) approved the use of PFAS in fracking despite its concerns of their toxicity. The records, which NYT acquired through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), reveal that the E.P.A.’s scientists raised concern about the “forever chemicals,” saying that they could […]

• Health

Study Finds Half of all U.S. and Canadian Cosmetics Contain PFAS

• Chemicals
• Forever Chemicals
• PFAS

by Amy Lupica, ODP Staff Writer You may have thought the days of lead, mercury, and even radioactive makeup were long gone, but a new study from the University of Notre Dame has found that over half the cosmetics sold in the U.S. contain PFAS, a class of chemicals linked to health conditions like cancer and reduced birth weights. […]

• Water

MA Towns Plagued with PFAS in Drinking Water

• drinking water
• Massachusetts
• PFAS

by Amy Lupica, ODP Staff Writer Several Massachusetts towns are looking for new water sources after discovering dangerously high levels of PFAS in their water. PFAS, chemicals primarily used to waterproof plastics, are known as “forever chemicals” and have been found to increase the risk of cancer and severe COVID-19. Now, advocates are urging federal and state governments to take […]

• Health

Court Ruling Could Result in EPA Finally Banning Chlorpyrifos

• brain damage
• Chlorypforos
• EPA
• farmworkers
• pesticide
• PFAS
• toxic

A long battle over the use of a bug-killing pesticide linked to brain damage in children may be coming to an end. In a ruling last week, a federal appeals court gave the Environmental Protection Agency 60 days to ban the pesticide chlorpyrifos, commonly used on oranges, almonds, and other crops — or prove there’s a safe use of the chemical. 

Why This Matters: The pesticide industry used the same playbook as with PFAS, tobacco, and oil: raise doubt about the clear science and prevent immediate action from being taken, to the harm of everyone else.