In The News
Defend and Partners Submit Comments to USEPA on Microplastics in Drinking Water
Defend Our Health, along with 29 peer organizations across the country, applaud EPA for identifying microplastics as a drinking water priority. EPA is taking this
Maine was warned about toxins in sludge decades before PFAS crisis began
Lori Valigra reports, as part of a collaboration between The Maine Monitor and Maine Focus, the investigative team of the Bangor Daily News, to provide
States work to protect residents from PFAS as EPA backs down
The Nation’s Health, the official publication of the American Public Health Association, highlighted Defend’s work in their June 2026 edition. With the federal government walking
Environmental Organizations Unveil Policy Guide for Maine’s Next Leaders
In partnership with Natural Resources Council of Maine, Defend Our Health is excited to announce a new Policy Guide for Maine’s elected officials. Meeting the
Maine nonprofit seeks volunteers to check for PFAS in cookware and other products
News Center Maine’s Vivien Leigh spoke with Defend Our Health about the implementation of Maine’s broad phase out of PFAS in consumer products. View the
The $85 test that could change Maine’s PFAS fight
Defend Our Health’s team provided extensive background to Penelope Overton of the Portland Press Herald on affordable and effective options for testing drinking water for
USDA has “sufficient opportunities” to respond to PFAS crisis on farmland, report finds
Shannon Kelleher of The New Lede spoke with Defend Our Health about a new report published Feb. 13, 2026 by the National Academies of Science,
Watchdog: Major retailers are violating Maine’s PFAS products law
Maine Public’s Peter McGuire reports that as the majority of Maine’s PFAS product category bans went into effect on January 1, 2026, Defend Our Health
Watchdog searching for stores selling now banned products with PFAS in Maine
WGME staff reported on Defend Our Health’s work in the role of watchdog to make sure companies and stores are not selling products that are
- Portland City Council adopts citizen proposal to mitigate coal dust pollution (Maine Morning Star)
- Maine holds public hearing on CUU determinations (National Law Review)
- Manufacturers seek product exemptions from Maine PFAS ban (Portland Press Herald)
- Sen. Comerford pushes PFAS ban after Maine visit (Daily Hampshire Gazette)
- Maine legislators join Defend Our Health and Massachusetts lawmakers to share nation-leading efforts to combat PFAS (Maine House Democrats)
- Maine farmers, lawmakers share PFAS lessons as Massachusetts eyes stricter regulations (Maine Public)
- Mass. lawmakers visit Maine to learn about how to stem forever chemical contamination (Maine Morning Star)
- Lawmakers push forward on controversial bill banning common hotel amenity: ‘This is a small step we can take’ (The Cool Down)
- Amid PFAS fallout, a Maine doctor navigates medical risks with her patients (KFF Health News & Washington Post)
- Maine high court upholds wording for referendum to require voter ID, change absentee rules (Spectrum News)
- Breakthrough PFAS study focuses on dust risks for Maine farmers (News Center Maine)
- State lawmakers considering a bill to ban mini toiletry bottles in Maine hotels (WMTW)
- Lawmaker seeks to refine ‘overly broad’ PFAS definition to allow for some pesticide use (Maine Morning Star)
- Manufacturers prepare for Maine’s sweeping PFAS restrictions (Manufacturing Dive)
- Trump administration says it will combat forever chemicals, Maine scientists are skeptical (Bangor Daily News)
- Lawmakers consider $10M bailout for Fairfield PFAS crisis (Portland Press Herald)
- Should Maine ban synthetic turf while studying safety? (Portland Press Herald)
- Lawmakers contemplate pause on artificial turf to study potential health, environmental hazards (Yahoo)
- Maine Legislature to discuss three-year halt on artificial turf installation (Central Maine)
- Amid EPA upheaval, states fear losing strong federal limits on PFAS in drinking water (The New Lede)
- First-of-its-kind comprehensive database highlights dangers of plastic production from start to finish (Big Easy)
- EPA warns of forever chemicals in sewage sludge used on farmland (Chicago Tribune)
- South Portland hosts meeting on future of high school athletic facility (Portland Press Herald)
- Maine lawmakers consider bill to set PFAS limits for food grown by local farmers (News Center Maine)
- Farmers and lawmakers hope to secure future of Maine’s PFAS support program (Maine Morning Star)
- Maine lawmaker wants insurance to cover PFAS blood tests for exposed communities (Maine Morning Star)
- States take urgent action as concerns grow over drinking water safety: ‘The science is clear’ (The Cool Down)
- What federal environmental rollbacks could mean for Maine’s air (Bangor Daily News)
- Forever chemicals in sludge fertilizer pose cancer risk (Portland Press Herald)
- Health advocates sue FDA to remove phthalates from food (FNB News)
- Maine red snapper will not disappear despite FDA ban on Red 3 dye (WMTW)
