Research

Report: 32 million pounds of toxic pesticides sprayed on Ventura County fields from 2015 to 2020

Today, from Oxnard to Ojai, people in Ventura County live, work and go to school next to farm fields sprayed with some of the most toxic pesticides used in agriculture.

February 3, 2022

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

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...

February 10, 2022

All Research

Displaying 49 - 72 of 142

EWG Investigates: Mr. Pay to Spray, Michael Dourson

September 14, 2017

President Trump has nominated Michael Dourson to oversee chemical safety for the EPA, even though Dourson has repeatedly sought to weaken chemical safety standards on behalf of polluters for a price.

Hidden Carcinogen Taints Tap Water, Consumer Products Nationwide

September 6, 2017

An industrial solvent classified as a likely carcinogen, which is also a common impurity in cosmetics and household cleaners, was detected in samples of drinking water supplies for nearly 90 million...

Children’s Health

Drinking Water and Children’s Health

July 26, 2017

Toxic pollutants in drinking water are particularly hazardous for children. Compared to adults, children drink more water per pound of body weight, resulting in greater exposure and greater risk. They...

Introducing EWG Standards

July 26, 2017

When it comes to drinking water, getting a passing grade from the government does not mean water is safe.

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...

Organic Within Reach

May 1, 2017

With a little planning, cooking organic food can save money and time, help you eat better, cut down on waste and help protect the environment.

Cancer-Causing Pesticide ‘Garbage’ Taints Tap Water for Millions in California

April 11, 2017

TCP is just one example of the widespread contamination of drinking water from agriculture chemicals.

Trump Plan to Gut Stream Protections Imperils Tap Water of 117 Million Americans

March 1, 2017

Trump signed an executive order requiring the Army Corps of Engineers and the EPA to overhaul the Waters of the United States rule – also known as the Clean Water Rule. In 2015, President Obama signed...

Factory Farms

Meat and Dairy Alternatives

Regional Issues

North Carolina

Exposing Fields of Filth

November 4, 2016

When high water breaches animal barns, waste lagoons or fields with applied manure, the nearby surface water becomes toxic.

Federal & State Energy Policy

Energy

California

Regional Issues

Toxic Chemicals May Contaminate Oil Field Wastewater Used to Grow Calif. Crops

October 26, 2016

In the last three years, farmers have irrigated 95,000 acres of food crops with billions of gallons of oil field wastewater possibly tainted with toxic chemicals.

Midwest

Feeding The World

October 5, 2016

The key to ending world hunger while protecting the environment is to help small farmers in the developing world increase their productivity and income.

Chromium-6

'Erin Brockovich' Carcinogen in Tap Water of More than 200 Million Americans

September 20, 2016

In the film "Erin Brockovich," the environmental crusader confronts the lawyer of a power company that polluted the tap water of Hinkley, Calif., with a carcinogenic chemical called chromium-6. When...

BPA Bombshell

June 17, 2016

Exposure to BPA has been linked to cancer, infertility, brain, nervous system and cardiovascular abnormalities, diabetes, obesity and other serious disorders.

Mercury in Seafood

March 16, 2016

In 2014, federal agencies issued draft recommendations that women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or might become pregnant and young children eat more fish that is lower in mercury. Their advice is...

Food Lobby Spends $101 Million in 2015 to Avert GMO Labeling

February 25, 2016

Big food and biotechnology companies and trade associations seeking to block labeling of food with genetically modified organisms through a rider in the end-of-the year federal spending bill have...

Potassium Bromate

October 14, 2015

Few foods evoke an image of wholesomeness like fresh-baked bread. But the flour used in many commercial baked goods may include an additive that's been linked to cancer.

Teflon Chemical Harmful at Smallest Doses

August 20, 2015

Every time they drink a glass of tap water, people in the mid-Ohio River Valley of West Virginia and Ohio may be consuming unsafe amounts of an industrial chemical linked to cancer, birth defects...

Big Food Companies Spend Millions to Defeat GMO Labeling

August 4, 2015

Big food and biotechnology companies and trade associations have reported spending $51.6 million over the first half of this year, some or all of which went to lobby for legislation that would block...

EWG Exposes Hidden Trans Fat

June 16, 2015

Did you know that artificial trans fat is an artery-clogging synthetic blamed for 20,000 heart attacks and 7,000 deaths yearly? Even worse, did you know that you could be eating it without even...

Household & Consumer Products

BPA

Cookware & Food Containers

Food Chemicals

BPA in Canned Food

June 3, 2015

You may know that bisphenol A, a synthetic estrogen found in the epoxy coatings of food cans, has been linked to many health problems. Many companies have publicly pledged to stop using BPA in their...

Food Chemicals

Hidden In Plain Sight

May 22, 2015

A new EWG analysis estimates that at least 27 percent of more than 84,000 foods in EWG's interactive Food Scores database, contain artificial trans fat, a manmade, artery-clogging, industrially...

Corporate spending to fight GMO labeling skyrockets

April 23, 2015

Food and biotechnology companies opposed to mandatory labeling of foods that contain genetically modified food ingredients have disclosed expenditures of $63.6 million in 2014 to lobby for legislation...

Propyl Paraben

April 8, 2015

The pastry you're thinking about buying may contain the preservative propyl paraben, linked to disruptions in hormone signaling.

Feeding the world

March 31, 2015

Growing food takes a major toll on the environment, one that will grow worse in the coming decades as humanity faces the challenge of feeding a burgeoning population.

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

News & Insights

Quibble with Kibbles: ‘Forever chemicals’ in pet food packaging add to perils at home

November 3, 2022

The toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS create health hazards at home, since they’re used in everyday items like cookware and cosmetics – and new EWG research finds some popular pet food packaging...

New baby textile product tests show concerning levels of toxic ‘forever chemicals’

November 3, 2022

You may have noticed an uptick in media reports detailing new discoveries in various consumer products of the “forever chemicals” known as PFAS. They’re highly toxic and pervasive – and found in...

Personal Care Products

Sunscreen