• 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.

• Sustainability

Researchers Find Dangerous “Forever Chemicals” on Mount Everest

• Forever Chemicals
• Mount Everest
• PFAS
• plastic

For years, scientists have known that there is no valley low enough or river wide enough to avoid contamination by forever chemicals, but now they know for sure that there is no mountain high enough either. Researchers have found high levels of PFAS, dangerous chemicals used in the production of plastics and waterproof materials, on Mount Everest. 

Why This Matters: PFAS and other chemicals don’t just disappear over time. Instead, they collect in people and environments and can cause harm not only to those exposed first-hand but also generations later.

• Water

Toxins from Decades of Manufacturing Contaminate Orange County’s Water

• drinking water
• groundwater
• PFAS
• safe drinking water
• Superfund
• water wells

By Natasha Lasky, ODP Staff Writer Over 70% of the drinking water in Orange County, California comes from groundwater. But historic manufacturing nearby has polluted it due to the improper discarding of toxic chemicals. The LA Times reports that there are three major cleanup projects involving groundwater beneath 22 Californian cities, including Anaheim, Santa Ana, […]