States Push Congress, EPA To End Toxic Trade Secrets

03/10/2010 – Do commercial products we have body contact with contain toxic chemicals? In too many cases, states and environmentalists are saying, the federal government forbids consumers from knowing.

OSHA Sampling Data Still Unavailable

02/24/2010 – A former Occupational Safety and Health Administration official requested the data under the Freedom of Information Act in 2005, but was denied. He sued, won in 2007, and now has the data, but OSHA has still not released the data to the public.

Enviros Seek Disclosure of Household Cleaning Product Ingredients

02/10/2010 – A court case involving a 1971 NY law may force manufacturers to make public unlisted toxic chemicals in products like stain remover, dish soap and laundry detergent. The cleanser industry says the action is "unwarranted, and that fears about health risks are misinformed," according to the AP.

Radon Action Month a Chance To Save Lives

01/20/2010 – Every year, an estimated 20,000 Americans die of lung cancer caused by exposure to radon — a naturally occurring radioactive gas that often finds its way into indoor air. So now's a good time to look at the ways radon impacts your audience and how people can protect themselves.

20% of Chemicals in Commerce Claim To Be 'Trade Secrets'

01/13/2010 – Washington Post reporter Lyndsey Layton writes about the thousands of chemicals exempted from EPA screening for potential harm to the environment and public health — and the three-decades-old Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) that renders it possible, in the interest of protecting manufacturers' bottom lines.

Industrial Chemical Found in Many Waters and Lands

12/09/2009 – The synthetic compound dinitrotoluene, contaminating military sites, industrial settings, and other areas, is used primarily to make polyurethane products found in goods such as bedding and furniture, as well as in explosives, ammunition, dyes, and air bags.

Journal Publishes Series on Health Effects of Climate Change

12/09/2009 – A consortium of US and British agencies, universities, and organizations published a series of studies in The Lancet that analyzed a number of specific situations involving climate change and health impacts, in countries rich and poor. Concurrently, a group of doctors from around the world launched the International Climate and Health Council.

Watchdog Groups Call for Improvements in Contractor Misconduct Database

11/18/2009 – The Project on Government Oversight (POGO) and OMB Watch want the federal government to tighten the accountability of federal contractors by fixing problems with the database — a potentially valuable tool for environmental reporters.

Health Care Journalists Seek End to Press Office Restrictions at FDA

11/04/2009 – The Association of Health Care Journalists and other journalism groups have co-signed a letter to the Food and Drug Administration's Transparency Task Force, calling for FDA to "end these harmful practices and restore the free flow of information."

Older Buildings May Pose Sizable Risk of PCB Exposure

09/30/2009 – EPA is warning about possible risks from PCBs in the caulking at some schools and older buildings. Are there some in your community?