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Deep Dive: Read our Deep Dives blog for an in-depth analysis on the data that drove the 2023 allocation of federal funding for lead service line replacements. What’s New: EPA recently estimated there are 9.2 million lead service lines (LSLs) in the nation’s drinking water infrastructure based on information reported by states and water utilities. This …

An estimated 9.2 million homes and buildings in the nation get their drinking water through a lead pipe, according to EPA’s April 2023 report. The agency estimated the number of lead service lines (LSLs) in each state to arrive at the country’s total.[1] Based on these estimates, each state was allocated a share of the …

Maricel Maffini, consultant, and Tom Neltner, Senior Director, Safer Chemicals What Happened A recent peer-reviewed publication criticized FDA’s criteria for identifying adverse health effects associated with exposure to pathogens, chemicals, or allergens in foods. The authors gave two recent examples of the agency dismissing health concerns: a toxin created in spoiled fish that caused temporary,

Maricel Maffini, consultant, and Tom Neltner, Senior Director, Safer Chemicals What Happened? On June 2, the European Commission, the executive body of the European Union (EU) responsible for proposing legislation and implementing decisions, announced it is preparing an initiative that “will impose a ban on the use of BPA [bisphenol A] in food contact materials …

On May 19, Reps. Katie Porter, Steve Cohen, Nanette Diaz Barragán, Earl Blumenauer, and Raúl Grijalva issued a letter to FDA Commissioner Robert Califf calling on FDA to “act expeditiously to protect the public from the health risks posed …

EDF identified 10 cities in the U.S. with the most lead service lines (LSLs) based on numbers reported in 2021. These cities collectively have over one million LSLs, representing 12% of the 9.2 million EPA estimates are in the country.

Tom Neltner, Senior Director, Safer Chemicals Initiative, and Roya Alkafaji, Manager, Healthy Communities What Happened: The Ohio Department of Health published an interactive map showing almost 1,200 properties whose owners have refused to comply with an order to correct known lead-based paint hazards. As a result, the Department has declared these properties are unsafe to …

DF has identified chemicals in food packaging and food handling equipment where the potential health impacts from their migration into food raises serious concerns.

Statement from Dr. Elena Craft, Associate Vice President, Climate and Health, Environmental Defense Fund

Tom Neltner, Senior Director, Safer Chemicals Initiative and Roya Alkafaji, Manager, Healthy Communities What Happened: The State of New Jersey published an interactive map showing potential sources of lead exposure for any given address in the state. Currently, the map specifically looks at lead-based paint in housing, though the State has plans to expand this …

Lindsay McCormick, Senior Manager, Safer Chemicals, Tom Neltner, Senior Director, Safer Chemicals and Roya Alkafaji, Manager, Healthy Communities What Happened? Earlier this month, EPA announced an updated formula it will use to allocate federal funds for lead service line (LSL) replacements. This new formula will be based on each state’s expected needs, as determined by a …

EDF welcomes news that the Biden EPA will finally be banning many uses of the toxic chemical methylene chloride.

What Happened? FDA estimates that, each year, food companies designate 82 new food chemicals as “GRAS” (Generally Recognized as Safe) for use in food. On average, FDA reviews only 64 of those new chemicals for safety. For the remaining 18 chemicals in FDA’s estimate, the companies making and marketing them for use in food or …

In its annual justification of budget estimates to Congress, FDA describes its activities and tracks its performance. One of those performance measures is the percentage of food- and color-additive petitions (FAPs/CAPs) the agency has reviewed and completed within 360 days of receipt.[1] We analyzed FDA’s reports to Congress published from 2016 to 2023 and found …

What’s National Teflon Day? According to National Day Calendar, yesterday (April 6th) was “National Teflon Day”—a day to “celebrate” the accidental discovery in 1938 of a chemical called polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE for short)—better known by the product it became associated with, Teflon™. Teflon™ is PFAS Wrapped in a Bow PTFE, the main component of Teflon™, is …

Learn about the dangers of forever chemicals in drinking water, how to protect your family, and what steps the EPA is taking to ensure your safety. Stay informed and stay healthy with expert Tom Neltner.

What’s New? Yesterday, (March 27), EDF—together with the National Wildlife Federation—filed a “friend of the court” brief in the case of Vinyl Institute v. EPA. We expressed our support for EPA’s authority to order companies to 1) Conduct health and safety studies for their chemicals and 2) Turn over those test data to EPA when the agency …

The EPA is poised to strengthen mercury regulations from power plants.

By Maria Doa, PhD, Senior Director, Chemicals Policy, and Lauren Ellis, MPH, Research Analyst What Happened:  We recently expressed concern to EPA about its conclusion that “distribution in commerce” (including the transportation of chemicals) does not contribute to the unreasonable risk for any of the first 10 chemicals evaluated under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).  In …

By Maria Doa, PhD, Senior Director, Chemicals Policy, and Lauren Ellis, MPH, Research Analyst SUMMARY: We explore the connection between the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the risks of toxic chemicals from transportation accidents, and the pathway to better protect communities. Last month, a Norfolk Southern freight train hauling several railcars carrying toxic chemicals derailed …

Tom Neltner, Senior Director, Safer Chemicals Initiative Note: This is the third of three blogs in this series. Click here for Blog 1 or Blog 2. On January 24, 2023, FDA released draft action levels for lead in foods intended for babies and young toddlers.1 For most of these foods, the limit would be 10 …

Tom Neltner, Senior Director, Safer Chemicals What Happened: FDA recently released draft action levels for lead in foods intended for babies and young toddlers.1 Action levels represent the point above which FDA is likely to regard food as adulterated – essentially unsafe – and seek a recall. This is a key step in implementing FDA’s …

Tom Neltner, Senior Director, Safer Chemicals Initiative Note: This is the first of three blogs in this series. Click here for Blog 2 or Blog 3. On January 24, 2023, FDA released draft action levels1 for lead in foods intended for babies and young toddlers.2 This proposal is a key step in implementing the agency’s …

EDF’s Clean Beauty Justice Roadmap is a step-by-step guide that companies can use to develop chemical policies that ensure that everybody has access to safer products.

1. A new law paves the way for policy advancements and there’s more work to be done  For over 80 years, the cosmetic industry has been deeply underregulated. FDA has historically depended on voluntary compliance and guidance, even for product recalls. Late last year, Congress passed the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022, the first …