Chemicals

"Trump EPA Seeks To Weaken Scrutiny For Some Of US’s Most Toxic Chemicals"

"New rule would prohibit states from banning dangerous chemicals, and could invalidate hundreds of protections"

"A new rule proposed by the Trump administration would dramatically weaken safety reviews for some of the nation’s most toxic chemicals that are already on the market, public health advocates and an EPA employee warn.

Source: Guardian, 10/22/2025

Drinking Water Database Opens Spigot on Local Stories

Drinking water may be ubiquitous in the United States, but that doesn’t mean it’s always safe. To report the answer in your community, the latest Reporter’s Toolbox suggests exploring the Safe Drinking Water Information System, a federal government database mandated by the Safe Drinking Water Act. Here’s how to use it to identify whether your local systems meet its standards.

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Toxic Fashion — A ‘Between the Lines’ Author Q&A

A simple query about harmful chemicals in airline attendant uniforms started sustainable fashion writer Alden Wicker down a reporting path that uncovered a long history of toxic fashion, took her to India and ultimately inspired her award-winning book, “To Dye For.” In this BookShelf interview, Wicker talks about the challenges, the surprises and the choices made in telling this little-known story.

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"Oil and Gas Companies Used Banned Toxic Chemicals Near the Rocky Mountains"

"Colorado oil and gas companies used toxic chemicals prohibited under state law in operations involving dozens of wells on either side of the Rocky Mountains over at least the last 18 months, a Capital & Main investigation found."

Source: Capital & Main, 10/20/2025

Philadelphia Takes On Companies Over Deceptive Plastic Recycling Claims

"When Philadelphia filed a lawsuit last month alleging two prominent companies were engaged in a “coordinated campaign of deception” regarding the recyclability of their plastic film products, the city joined a growing group of state and local governments hoping litigation can help stem a rising tide of plastic waste."

Source: The New Lede, 10/17/2025

UN Warns Colombia Over Mercury In Atrato River As Human Rights Emergency

"The United Nations warned that mercury contamination from illegal gold mining in Colombia’s Atrato River basin has created a “serious and ongoing human rights crisis,” threatening the health and survival of Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities who depend on the river for food, water and culture."

Source: AP, 10/16/2025

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