A federal judge recently ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency need not require producers to disclose inactive ingredients in pesticides, even when the products are known to be dangerous to public health. Read more »
1 comment(s)

PSR-Chesapeake, environmental advocates and community groups in Baltimore successfully pressured the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) to declare invalid the permit for a trash-to-energy incinerator proposed for construction in Baltimore. Read more »

Last October, I was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma, a form of breast cancer. Fortunately, the cancer was diagnosed in the earlier stages and my long-term prognosis is good. Read more »
3 comment(s)

The multiple tragedies that have attended the knowledge that large amounts of lead contaminates the water supply for Flint, Michigan, have refocused national attention on the toxin that was forgotten, but not gone. Read more »

Twenty states asked Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts to stay the Mercury and Air Toxics rule, whose goal is to cut toxic mercury emissions from power plants. Read more »

PSR’s writing and advocacy on coal ash brought us before the U.S. Civil Rights Commission, where Environment & Health Director Barbara Gottlieb and PSR member Yolanda Whyte, MD of Georgia were asked to provide testimony. Read more »
1 comment(s)

Right before the holidays, the U.S. Senate passed legislation seeking to reform the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) of 1976. The House passed a different version of reform in June 2015. Unfortunately, both have major flaws that could prevent the public health community from supporting any final legislation. Read more »

As the science continues to evolve on the ways our health is impacted by harmful environmental chemicals it is crucial that any reform of our federal chemical policy empower the EPA to move quickly on the worst chemicals and utilize the best available science to assess chemical hazards. Read more »
1 comment(s)

What could be more important to our health and the health of our communities than clean water? The Clean Water Rule recently released by the EPA protects the drinking water sources for one in three people living in the U.S. Read more »

The U.S. House Committee on Energy & Commerce recently passed the "TSCA Modernization Act of 2015," which seeks to update how we regulate toxic chemicals in the U.S. The bill was introduced by Reps. John Shimkus (R-IL), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Fred Upton and Frank Pallone (D-NJ). Read more »
2 comment(s)

A favorite saying my dad would tell us when we were small was that close only counts in horseshoes and with cigars. The current debate over the Vitter-Udall chemical bill brings my dad's words to mind. Read more »

I recently attended a hearing before the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee on Senate bill 697, also known as the Udall-Vitter bill after its two sponsors. The bill aims to overhaul how we regulate and manage chemicals in the U.S. Read more »
1 comment(s)

All communities deserve effective protection from environmental exposures to hazardous chemicals. If the U.S. is to improve health nationally, we need a regulatory system that reduces and prevents toxic exposures. Read more »
2 comment(s)

Flu and cold season is upon us. For parents of young children, this time of year can be trying- endless colds, fevers, and sleepless nights. Products espousing to kill cold and flu germs can be particularly tantalizing. Read more »
4 comment(s)

Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) have been in use for more than 60 years. These chemicals are applied as water-, soil- and stain-resistant coatings for clothing and other textiles and grease-resistant coatings for food wrapping materials. They have been linked to cancer, immunotoxicity and birth defects. Read more »
1 comment(s)

Chemical fragrances are added to a wide range of products including shampoos, soaps, makeup, candles and toys. Read more »
1 comment(s)

Fish can play an important part in a healthy diet. But certain fish are safer to eat than others, due to toxic pollutants such as mercury. Read more »
2 comment(s)

Recently the U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on Science, Space, and Technology subcommittee on Oversight and the Environment held a joint hearing to discuss the status of reforms to EPA's Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS). What is IRIS and how is the public’s health impacted by this program? Read more »

Dr. Susan Katz, Oregon PSR board President, provided the medical voice at a recent press conference announcing a new bill to phase out the worst of the worst toxic chemicals. Read more »

Just about every week, a new study shows the connection between toxic chemicals and adverse health outcomes. Read more »
4 comment(s)