Tag: Defend Our Health
New study reveals toxic chemicals in both recycled and virgin PET
A new study published in the journal Environmental Science: Processes and Impacts examines the occurrence of hazardous chemicals in the common plastic PET and recycled PET. Defend Our Health participated in the study’s design and collection process — managed by our partners at Ecology Center —to learn more about the differences between hazardous chemicals commonly used as PET additives and those… Read more »
PFAS Collaboration with Massachusetts Stakeholders
Defend Our Health is an organization rooted in grassroots environmental policy change at home, here in Maine. We work with Maine communities impacted by pollution to imagine a cleaner future, engage in the political process, and ultimately pass groundbreaking protections that make Maine a safer, healthier place to live. Recent successes include our first-in-the-nation legislation that… Read more »
Massachusetts Delegation Visits Maine
Defend Our Health hosted a visit from a delegation of Massachusetts legislators, department staff, as well as environmental and farm advocates on Tuesday, August 12th, for a day-long event. The event strengthened regional working relationships, garnered significant media interest, and laid the groundwork for Defend to support a bill introduced by Massachusetts Senator Jo Comerford… Read more »
Fashion Scorecard 2025
Have you ever noticed how a lot more of our clothes are made of polyester these days? Or wondered if the clothes your kids wear are free from potentially harmful chemicals? We’ve been curious about these things ourselves, and this motivated us to analyze the policies and practices of ten leading kids’ clothing brands. The… Read more »
EPA Termination of Environmental Justice for New England Program
We are proud to be one of 36 organizations to receive a grant from Environmental Justice for New England (EJforNE), but unfortunately, the EPA terminated the program. Last week, Earth Justice, Southern Environmental Law Center, Public Rights Project, and Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG) filed a class action lawsuit against the EPA for unlawfully terminating the Environment… Read more »
Upcoming Event
You’re invited to join Defend Our Health and Island Press for our webinar Defend Our Health: Authors & Friends on Wednesday, July 15th, at 1 PM ET. Our second conversation will feature reporter Kristina Marusic, author of A New War on Cancer: The Unlikely Heroes Revolutionizing Prevention. An award-winning journalist, Marusic, shows that, collectively, we have the power to… Read more »
Authors & Friends Recap
We were thrilled to be joined by author Sharon Udasin last week for a conversation on PFAS in the context of her book Poisoning the Well: How Forever Chemicals Contaminated America. She was joined by Adam Nordell, our farmland contamination campaign manager, who joined our organization as a PFAS-impacted farmer. If you missed the webinar or… Read more »
Microplastics are disrupting photosynthesis and threatening our food supply
Summary An alarming new study published last month in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science revealed that microplastics disrupt photosynthesis, the process plants use to make energy. This disruption could reduce the global food supply by up to 14% and put millions more people at risk of starvation. BackgroundMicroplastics are tiny pieces of plastic, even as small as… Read more »
Toxic-Free Tips: Reusables
Our food system is riddled with plastic, which is nowhere more prevalent than in food packaging. The FDA should rein in plastics and phthalates in the packaging that touches our food. That’s why we’re urging Health and Human Services Secretary Kennedy to do just that in his role as the head of the department that… Read more »
Farewell to Foam Act
Defend Our Health has joined forces with dozens of organizations supporting the Farewell to Foam Act. This national legislation was introduced by U.S. Representative Llyod Doggett (D-Texas) and U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland). The Act would phase out polystyrene single-use food service products, loose fill (such as packing peanuts), and non-medical disposable coolers. It would prohibit… Read more »