News & Press
Defend Our Health’s response to EPA weakening rules on PFAS in drinking water
Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it is significantly weakening the first-ever National PFAS in Drinking Water Standard. The rule set health-protective limits for six PFAS and would have required public water utilities to remove the toxic ‘forever chemicals’ if they tested above the standards. With the announcement, the EPA jettisoned drinking water protections… Read more »
Defend Our Health Responds to US EPA’s Lack of Concern About Toxic Chemicals
This week, we learned that the US EPA is planning to cancel funding for essential research into the environmental hazards that children, especially those in rural areas of our nation, face. What’s in the line of fire? Studies on how to protect children from PFAS ‘forever chemicals,’ wildfire smoke, pesticides, and other toxic chemicals that pose immediate… Read more »
First-of-Its-Kind Comprehensive Database Highlights Dangers of Plastic Production from Start to Finish
Defend Our Health education web tool is now available as a resource for frontline activists and advocates to gain a deeper understanding of the lifecycle of plastics production Portland, ME — Defend Our Health (Defend) has just released a new Plastic Production Database that offers a comprehensive overview of the production process for the six most common plastics. The web… Read more »
The public wants clean air and water, not silly straw wars
On Monday, February 10th, President Trump issued an executive order to end the procurement of paper straws in government. The order directs the federal government to stop purchasing paper straws and remove them from federal buildings. Additionally, it dictates the formation of a national strategy to “End the Use of Paper Straws in 45 Days” nationwide. In… Read more »
Defend Our Health Statement on EPA’s Draft Risk Assessment for PFAS in Sludge
On Tuesday, January 14th, the US Environmental Protection Agency released a draft risk assessment for PFAS in sewage sludge applied to farmland as a fertilizer. The risk assessment highlights the numerous ways people can be exposed to PFAS when sludge is spread on farms and proposes a threshold for two common PFAS to protect people living on… Read more »
Defend Our Health Statement on Maine CDC Response to Release of Sludge in Lisbon Drinking Water
Today, the Maine CDC rapidly responded to the release of sludge and arsenic contamination in the Lisbon Public Drinking Water System. In response, Defend Our Health’s President and CEO, Emily Carey Perez de Alejo, stated: “While Mainers may be familiar with wastewater sludge (“biosolids”) contaminated with PFAS that were historically spread on Maine’s farmland and have caused… Read more »
Defend Our Health Statement on Chevron Deference
On Friday, June 28th, the United States Supreme Court overturned the 40-year-old legal doctrine referred to as the Chevron deference. The doctrine gave latitude to federal agencies in wide-ranging technical matters left ambiguous by Congressional legislation. In response, Defend Our Health’s Director of Campaigns and Programs, Maya Rommwatt, stated: “The gutting of the Chevron deference… Read more »
Popular Digital Tool Helps Consumers Avoid Products with Toxic Chemicals with Environmental Health Nonprofit Partner
Defend Our Health data on PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ is now available to consumers via Clearya tool Portland, ME—As leaders in the national fight against toxic PFAS “forever chemical” contamination, Defend Our Health, an environmental health advocacy organization, is proud to announce a significant collaboration and partnership with Clearya. This free, innovative digital tool now alerts consumers to undisclosed PFAS in products… Read more »
Defend Our Health Statement on Governor Mill’s Veto of LD 2135
On April 23rd, Governor Janet Mills vetoed LD 2135, a bill designed to carefully manage Maine’s limited landfill capacity and protect Mainers from ongoing PFAS exposure. The bill, titled “Resolve, Regarding the Operation and Future Capacity of State-owned Landfills,” would have allowed for a competitive bidding process to select the next manager of the Juniper Ridge… Read more »
Defend Our Health Applauds EPA’s Designation of PFOA and PFOS as Hazardous Substances Under the Federal Superfund Law
Washington D.C – Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized rules under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), more commonly known as the Superfund law, to help ensure that companies that are responsible for contamination will be responsible for the costs of cleaning up contamination of dangerous PFAS chemicals. The EPA’s designation of… Read more »