Lansing, Michigan -- Yesterday, Michigan adopted the proposed PFAS Maximum Contaminant Load (MCL), which will help limit toxic PFAS chemicals in the state’s drinking water. More than two million Michiganders currently have detectable PFAS chemicals in their drinking water supply.
Lansing, MI-- Yesterday, the Michigan Environmental Rules Review Committee (ERRC) voted to allow the rule-making process to move forward on cleaning up per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the drinking water of over one million Michiganders. PFAS chemicals are commonly referred to as “forever chemicals” because of how long they linger in the environment. They do not break down in the human body, and are linked to several health dangers like cancer, reproductive and immune system failures, and developmental harm in children.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Yesterday, Senator Udall and Representative Lowenthal, joined by Senator Merkley and Representative Clark, released the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act of 2020, a landmark bill aimed at addressing the growing problem of plastic pollution and protecting public health by phasing out single-use plastic, holding corporate polluters accountable for the plastic waste they produce, reducing plastic packaging, and updating the current plastic recycling system. The bill would also halt the production of new plastics plants, while the EPA reexamines the impacts of plastics to…
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the PFAS Action Act (H.R. 535) with bipartisan support. The PFAS Action Act, introduced by Rep. Debbie Dingell and cosponsored by Reps. Fred Upton and Dan Kildee, will require the EPA to protect military families and our nation’s drinking water by designating all per- and poly-fluoroalkl substances (PFAS) as hazardous within one year of the bill becoming law, add the chemicals to the Clean Air Act, and authorize millions of dollars for research and water treatment.
Washington, DC-- Today, President Trump signed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which included several important provisions to that address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) pollution. The new bill requires the military to stop using PFAS in firefighting by 2024, funds research into the extent of PFAS water contamination, and will study PFAS exposures among military firefighters, among other provisions.
San Jose, CA-- Today, the Sierra Club, Zero Mercury Working Group and The Beautywell Project called on eBay to permanently remove the skin lightening products on their website that contain illegal levels of mercury.
Washington, DC-- Today, Congress released conference text for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which included several important provisions to that address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) pollution in American communities, drinking water and military bases. The final language omits four core safeguards from PFAS.
Geneva, Switzerland-- Today, during the third convention on the Minamata Treaty on Mercury, the Zero Mercury Working Group, The Beautywell Project and Sierra Club released results from their tests of mercury levels in Amazon and eBay skin-lightening products-- revealing that 60% of the tested products contained illegal levels of the chemical. The groups assessed 158 products from 12 countries. They found that of those, 60% all exceeded the one part per million limit adopted as U.S law, and the soon-to-be-implemented global limit for the 128 countries who signed the UN Minamata treaty on…
Minneapolis, MN— Today, The Beautywell Project and the Sierra Club’s Gender, Equity & Environment Program launched a media campaign targeting major online retailer Amazon to stop selling skin lightening creams that contain illegal levels of mercury.
Washington, DC-- Today, eighty two public health and environmental organizations sent a letter to Sen. Inhofe, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, signaling concern about proposals to remove critical provisions related to per- and poly- fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).