Articles by Melanie Benesh

PFAS Exposure May Increase Risk of Breast Cancer

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month – as you may have noticed from the annual explosion of pink products claiming to fund breast cancer research.

EWG Testimony for the Record on PFAS and the Clean Water Act

Below and attached is EWG’s testimony to the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for their hearing pertaining to the Administration...

10 Ways Trump Has Undermined Chemical Safety

President Trump toured a Shell chemical plant in Pennsylvania Tuesday, supposedly to promote his economic agenda. According to reports, he went off script quite a bit – but one thing he definitely...

It’s Time To Designate PFAS a “Hazardous Substance”

Per-and polyfluorinated substances, known as PFAS, are often characterized as “emerging contaminants.” However, ask the residents living in the communities polluted by decades of unregulated...

Will Trump’s EPA Protect Americans from Toxic PFAS Chemicals?

The toxic chemicals known as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a national crisis demanding action.

How the EPA Should Act To Protect Americans From Toxic PFAS Chemicals

The toxic chemicals known as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a national crisis demanding national action.

EWG Comments on EPA’s White Paper on a Working Approach to Chemical Prioritization

EWG comments on the Environmental Protection Agency’s white paper on a working approach to chemical prioritization.

Dangerous Levels of Mercury Found in Skin Creams Purchased on Amazon, eBay

Today, 51 environmental and public health groups, including EWG, called on Amazon and eBay to remove illegal skin care products containing dangerous levels of mercury.

Will Brett Kavanaugh Keep Asbestos Legal?

Will a vote for Brett Kavanaugh for the critical swing seat on the Supreme Court be a vote to keep asbestos legal? Photo courtesy of Alex Brandon via AP Photo

EWG Comments on EPA's Problem Formulation for the Risk Evaluation for Asbestos

Attached are EWG's comments on EPA’s problem formulation for the risk evaluation of asbestos.

How Trump’s EPA is Keeping Asbestos Legal

A Russian asbestos company is lavishing praise on Donald Trump and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

EWG Comments to USDA on Proposed GMO Labeling Rule

EWG wrote comments to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, urging increased transparency as the agency implements its proposed labeling rule for genetically engineered foods.

2 Years After Reformed TSCA, Pruitt’s EPA Has Failed to Protect Us from Toxic Chemicals

On June 22, 2016, President Obama signed into law a significant overhaul of the Toxic Substances Control Act, or TSCA, the nation's primary chemical safety law. It was the first update to the law...

At Industry’s Behest, EPA Caves on Banning ‘A Civil Action’ Carcinogen, Lays Ground to Downplay Potential Birth Defects

After intense lobbying by the chemical industry, last week the Environmental Protection Agency signaled plans to delay or scrap proposed bans on some uses of the drinking water contaminant made...

13 Ways Pruitt’s EPA Has Made Your Life More Toxic

Today is the first day of an Environmental Protection Agency summit on perfluorinated substances, or PFAS. The group of chemicals is linked to a host of health issues, including cancer, thyroid...

EPA May Ban Deadly Paint Stripper Chemical

WASHINGTON – Today the Environmental Protection Agency signaled it would move forward with a proposed ban of the highly toxic paint stripping chemical methylene chloride, which was initially proposed...

House Farm Bill Increases Pesticide Risks to Children, Farmworkers

The House farm bill includes several proposals that would roll back key pesticide protections, putting children, farmworkers, communities and even endangered species at risk.

EWG’s Comments to EPA on Chemical Review Prioritization

With these comments, EWG advises the Environmental Protection Agency to not focus its limited time and resources protecting the bottom lines of chemical companies by creating long lists of “low...

EWG’s Comments to EPA on The Agency’s New Chemical Assessment System

With these comments, EWG advises the Environmental Protection Agency to focus on establishing a new chemicals assessment system that would put public health first and especially prioritize the...