News & Press
“Everywhere chemicals” in organic products, conventional products, baby formula – unsafe supply chain
Chemicals known to harm pregnant women and children were found in cheese powders, formula, milk and cooking oils What happened to Annie’s former commitment to eliminate phthalates that may be present in food packaging materials and food processing equipment? Portland, ME — A new scientific report co-authored by Defend Our Health and published in the Journal of Exposure Science and… Read more »
Federal government concludes that common plastic endangers human health
U.S. EPA finds that the production of PET plastic poses an “unreasonable risk” to workers and fenceline communities from release of cancer-causing 1,4-dioxane PET plastic use for beverage bottles and polyester clothing must be phased out This week a panel of independent scientists began review of a draft supplemental risk evaluation prepared by the U.S.… Read more »
More than 350 farms potentially contaminated by PFAS identified by Department of Defense
The Department of Defense just announced that it has informed 367 new farms about potential forever chemical contamination in the last year. The farms are located near military bases where PFAS-laden firefighting foam has accumulated in the soil and groundwater after decades of use on military bases. The contaminated groundwater poses a severe exposure risk for… Read more »
Toxic Chemicals Found in Some Plastic Beverage Bottles
Non-profit identifies beverage brand owners using chemical catalyst that may increase risk of cancers, heart disease, and other organ toxicity used in the production of PET plastic Portland, ME — New “Detox the Bottle” beverage pledge challenged beverage brands with two simple questions: Are they willing to learn more about safer alternatives to antimony and cobalt as catalysts… Read more »
Defend Our Health Celebrates Maine’s PFAS Fund Administration Plan
Defend Our Health is applauding the approval of Maine’s plan to provide crucial services to people dealing with ‘forever chemical’ exposure near historic sludge spreading sites. PFAS chemicals bioaccumulate in the human body, where they can linger for decades. They have been linked to a host of illnesses including liver disease and kidney cancer. The new administration… Read more »
Defend Our Health Condemns LD 2004 Veto Override Failure in Maine
Defend Our Health is profoundly disappointed with the Maine legislature’s failure to override Governor Janet Mills’ veto of LD 2004, “An Act to Restore Access to Federal laws Beneficial to the Wabanaki Nations,” which would have put the Wabanaki Tribes in Maine on the same footing as other federally recognized Tribes. Defend Our Health’s vice… Read more »
First-Ever Study Reveals the Hard Truths Behind Soft Drinks’ Plastic Bottles: Beverage Industry Supply Chain Riddled with Carcinogens, Emissions and Contamination
New report from Defend Our Health and Beyond Petrochemicals shows how PET plastic bottles are threatening public health, environmental justice, and climate progress in the U.S. Portland, ME and New York, NY (May 23, 2023) – Today – ahead of the global plastics treaty negotiations in Paris – Defend our Health and the Beyond Petrochemicals… Read more »
Defend Our Health Supports Amendments to the PFAS Products Law in Maine
Defend Our Health is working closely with the legislature and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to make sure that Maine’s landmark legislation that requires the disclosure of intentionally added PFAS and bans all non-essential uses of PFAS by 2030. Defend’s vice president of programs and policy, Chris Chavis, responds to the amendments that were… Read more »
Investors holding more than ten trillion raise alarm on runaway plastic use
Last week, a coalition of 185 investors that manages over $10tn in combined assets signed a statement directed at fast moving consumer goods and grocery companies, urging a reduction in plastics usage. The statement is directed at all brands, and names nearly forty companies including The Coca-Cola Company, Keurig Dr Pepper, and PepsiCo. The investors seek action… Read more »
Biden EPA Proposes Partial Crackdown on Toxic Air Emissions from the Chemical Industry
Serious cancer risks would still threaten more than 5 million, mostly Black and Brown people Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed to revise a 17-year-old rule under the Clean Air Act to finally reduce toxic air emissions from about 200 chemical manufacturing plants in the United States, many of them located in Texas… Read more »