TNL managing editor Brian Bienkowski spoke with Susan Kaplan, author of “A Healthy Union: How States Can Lead on Environmental Health,” about how states are leading the way on environmental health.
Despite promises made to limit PFAS, the Trump administration’s regulatory rollbacks and approval of new types of PFAS signal what observers see as a sharp contradiction: commitments to reduce exposure to the so-called “forever chemicals,” followed by policies that increase the risks of exposure for millions of Americans.
Several major US lobby firms that are working for chemical industry interest groups to fight against strict regulation of harmful “forever chemicals” in drinking water are also representing local governments wrestling with health and water quality issues stemming from the contamination, according to a new report.
New research suggests that even air pollution levels considered “safe” by current regulations may still increase health risks. Scientists reviewed dozens of studies and found links between low-level PM2.5 exposure and cardiovascular disease.
Two recent EPA actions received far less attention than they deserve. First, the agency proposed to roll back drinking water standards for several PFAS. And, second, the agency extended the timeline for chemical safety reporting requirements, which critics say could slow health risk assessments.
Vermont on Tuesday became the first US state to ban the weed-killing pesticide paraquat, backed by lawmakers who cited concerns about research showing the chemical may cause Parkinson’s disease.
Hundreds of organizations, individuals, and states are taking sides in a landmark Supreme Court pesticide case. Monsanto’s supporters say a ruling against them could trigger food shortages and leave the US vulnerable to foreign threats. Opponents say a win for Monsanto strips everyday people of their right to sue when dangerous chemicals make them sick.
From pesticide labels to a new report out of Iowa, there’s been a lot of news in the past week on how industrial farming may contribute to cancer in the US.
US and European regulators should take urgent action to more tightly regulate glyphosate, the world’s most widely used weed killer, in light of strong scientific evidence that the pesticide can cause cancer and other health problems, a group of international scientists said last week at a symposium in Seattle.
Cancer rates are rising in Iowa, even as the national rate declines. A new report from the Iowa Environmental Council and the Harkin Institute links elevated rates of more than a dozen cancers to farm chemicals. Researchers say pesticide exposure alone may pose risks comparable to smoking.