News & Commentary

Michigan Proposes Strong, Yet Incomplete PFAS Protections

June 28, 2019 Expert BlogDr. Anna Reade, Cyndi Roper

Michigan is proposing some of the most health-protective standards in the nation for several PFAS, a group of chemicals of great environmental and health concern, yet could be missing out on the opportunity to protect its citizens in the long-term.

Key New York Bills to Reduce Toxic Chemicals

June 12, 2019 Expert BlogAvinash Kar

Campaign Pushes for Fresh, Local Food at Dollar General

June 12, 2019 Expert BlogAlbuquerque, New MexicoSara Imperiale, Margaret Brown

A delegation from the Campaign for Healthier Solutions attended the 2019 Dollar General shareholder meeting to insist that Dollar General phase out toxic chemicals from its consumer products and source locally grown, fresh produce to better protect the health of…

These Texans Are Sick of Chemical Fires and Toxic Spills in Their Backyard

June 11, 2019 DispatchTexasTim Vanderpool

A community along the Houston Ship Channel ramps up its fight against heavy industry and lax oversight after another petrochemical factory blaze closes local schools and causes a spike in respiratory illness.

After Children Began Getting Sick by the Dozens, Parents Took a Hard Look at Their Town’s Toxic Legacy

May 30, 2019 DispatchIndiana, Massachusetts, North CarolinaSusan Cosier

The carcinogen TCE has been lurking in the ground beneath Franklin, Indiana, for decades. Now families are demanding answers.

No More Poisons on Pets: The EPA Must Act

May 29, 2019 Expert BlogUnited StatesMiriam Rotkin-Ellman

The science shows that TCVP flea control products harm developing brains—yet the EPA is allowing them to stay on the market. So NRDC is taking the agency back to court.

EPA’s Proposal for Limiting Rocket Fuel in Drinking Water Is Dangerous to Public Health

May 24, 2019 Expert BlogNRDC

The toxic chemical perchlorate has already been detected in drinking water systems that serve millions of Americans.

Organic Farming Keeps Toxic Pesticides Off Our Plates

May 22, 2019 Expert BlogAllison Johnson

It’s not unusual for residues of toxic pesticides to be found on our food. Organic offers a safer option.

California to Ban Pesticide Toxic to Kids

May 8, 2019 Expert BlogMiriam Rotkin-Ellman

In a groundbreaking win for children in California—and across the United States—Governor Newsom’s administration started the process to ban the pesticide chlorpyrifos.

EPA Backs Industry, Defending Carcinogenic Herbicide Glyphosate

April 30, 2019 Expert BlogNRDC

But the toxic chemical, more commonly known as Roundup, was just found by the administration’s own science advisors to threaten public health.

EPA Yet Again Fails to Set Health-Protective Levels for PFAS

April 26, 2019 Expert BlogDr. Anna Reade

Yesterday the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released draft interim recommendations for addressing groundwater contaminated with PFOA and PFOS. EPA’s proposal would leave Americans across the country who live near contaminated sites unprotected from potentially dangerous levels of these toxic…

Fenceline Communities Demand Protections from Toxic Industry

April 26, 2019 Expert BlogGina Ramirez

There are more than 12,000 high-risk chemical facilities across the country and 40 percent of the country’s population live within three miles of one or more of them.

Trump EPA’s Toxic Chemical Policies Draw Another Lawsuit

April 23, 2019 Expert BlogDaniel Rosenberg

NRDC and our allies have filed a lawsuit challenging EPA's illegal failure to protect the public from the toxic chemical methylene chloride.

Could These Country Roads Be Toxic to Kids?

April 9, 2019 DispatchIowaSusan Cosier

A county in eastern Iowa has been replacing gravel with slag, a steel industry byproduct. It’s hard, sharp, and potentially a public health concern.

Michigan Should Set Precedent-Setting PFAS Water Standards

April 1, 2019 Expert BlogDr. Anna Reade, Erik D. Olson

Today the Natural Resources Defense Council filed an extensive scientific report making a detailed case for the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) to establish strict drinking water standards for five chemicals within the PFAS class. We also requested that…

A New Bill Proposes to Ban Chlorpyrifos Nationwide

March 28, 2019 Expert BlogNRDC

The move comes in response to the EPA’s longtime refusal to act, even while knowing the pesticide is particularly harmful to children.

NRDC and Partners Sue to Force Overdue Protections Against Chemical Spills

March 21, 2019 Expert BlogNRDC

While the EPA continues to drag its feet, extreme storms and flooding are putting the health of our most vulnerable communities at risk.

EPA Announces 20 Toxic Chemicals It Won’t Protect Us From

March 20, 2019 Expert BlogDaniel Rosenberg

EPA just announced the next 20 "high priority" chemicals—including formaldehyde—that it will review under TSCA. Given the Trump EPA's record, there is every reason to believe that the Agency won't protect us from these chemicals, and will limit the ability…

Trump EPA Back in Court to Defend Pesticide Toxic to Kids

March 20, 2019 Expert BlogMiriam Rotkin-Ellman

Next week the Trump Administration will show us, once again, how far it will go to protect polluters at the expense of children’s health.

States and Retailers: The Chemical Industry Is Lying to You

March 15, 2019 Expert BlogDaniel Rosenberg

The chemical industry wants to convince states, retailers and the public that the Trump EPA is regulating toxic chemicals and protecting health: they're lying.