News & Press
Presque Isle Residents Demand Action after Town Contaminates Drinking Water with Toxic ‘Forever Chemicals’
Decades of the town spreading PFAS-contaminated sewage sludge polluted Presque Isle families’ drinking water with high levels of dangerous chemicals PRESQUE ISLE, February 5, 2020—A group of Presque Isle families sent a public letter to the Presque Isle Utilities District and state government officials today demanding urgent action to protect the families from dangerous PFAS… Read more »
Despite Toxic ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Trenton School’s Drinking Water, State Failing to Require Action
High levels of toxic PFAS in school drinking water would be illegal in Vermont and New Hampshire, pointing to need for health-protective standard in Maine TRENTON—School district officials confirmed this week that they have not taken action to reduce high levels of dangerous “forever chemicals” in Trenton Elementary School’s drinking water, because the state of… Read more »
Mainers Urge Legislature to Prioritize Clean-Up of ‘Forever Chemicals’
Public health experts, environmentalists, members of religious community testified in support of state legislation to address toxic PFAS pollution in Maine AUGUSTA—Maine children, families, and farmers urgently need new state legislation to address toxic PFAS (per- and polyfluroalkyl substances) pollution, according to doctors, environmentalists, public health advocates and other Mainers who spoke on Friday at… Read more »
Doctors, Scientists, Advocates Call on Legislators to Protect Mainers from Arsenic in Well Water
“Arsenic is the sleeping giant that must be addressed” AUGUSTA—Maine children and families are being exposed to dangerous levels of arsenic in their well water and require legislation to protect their health and future, doctors and public health experts told Maine lawmakers at an impactful public hearing on Monday before the Maine Legislature’s Health and… Read more »
PFAS Task Force Recommendations Too Weak to Protect Mainers’ Health from ‘Forever Chemicals’
Advocates call on Maine Governor and Legislature to support adoption of health-protective drinking water standard AUGUSTA—Governor Janet Mills’ PFAS Task Force’s final recommendations, published today, are too weak to adequately protect public health and the environment from toxic PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) pollution in Maine, say health advocates. “The Governor’s Task Force recommends strong… Read more »
New Report Reveals Top Retailers Making Major Chemical Safety Advances
Largest-ever analysis finds dramatic improvements among retailers between 2016 and 2019 In major consumer health win, retailers phasing out PFAS, the ‘forever chemicals,’ in products and food packaging WASHINGTON, D.C. — A new report reveals that many of North America’s largest retail companies are embracing chemical safety policies to help protect consumers from toxic chemicals in products. In the largest-ever analysis of its kind,… Read more »
December 17 in Portland: Dark Waters Film Screening and Panel Discussion to Address Toxic Chemical Pollution in Maine and Nationwide
Starring Mark Ruffalo and Anne Hathaway, the David-and-Goliath story about toxic PFAS contamination is all-too-familiar story for some in Maine PORTLAND—Health advocates and experts will convene at Portland’s Nickelodeon Theater on Tuesday, December 17 for a 6:30pm panel discussion and film screening of Dark Waters, the Hollywood adaptation of the true David-and-Goliath story of a… Read more »
PFAS Task Force Recommendations Not Strong Enough: Statement
AUGUSTA – Governor Janet Mill’s PFAS Task Force on Tuesday released draft recommendations for tackling toxic PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) contaminating food, water, and farmland in Maine. The draft recommendations mark a good first step toward addressing this emerging public health crisis, but fall short of what is needed to protect public health and… Read more »
Staples launches new policy to drive toxic chemicals out of office supplies, electronics, textiles, and other products
New commitment targets PFAS, organohalogen flame retardants, phthalates, bisphenols, and other dangerous chemicals for safe substitution WASHINGTON, D.C. — Answering consumer demand for products free from toxic chemicals as a result of the national Mind the Store campaign in which the Portland, Maine-based Environmental Health Strategy Center is a key leader, Staples today launched a… Read more »
Maine Discovers New Toxic PFAS Contamination in Drinking Water
‘Forever Chemicals’ Found in Water Supplies Serving Towns, Schools and Mobile Home Parks in Arundel, Fayette, Georgetown, Lisbon Falls, Livermore Falls, Mexico, Sanford, and Topsham AUGUSTA–The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) presented a new report to the Governor’s PFAS Task Force on Tuesday that showed 9 out of 19 public water supplies… Read more »