Chemicals

UN Adds 9 New Chemicals to Global Ban [1]

Nine dangerous chemicals used in farming and industry will be added to a list of banned substances whose presence in the environment causes serious health risks, more than 160 government agreed on Saturday."

Chemicals [2]

Public [3]

International [4]

Source: Reuters [5], 05/10/2009

Read more about UN Adds 9 New Chemicals to Global Ban [1]

Bayer Knew MIC Monitors Were Broken [6]

"INSTITUTE, W.Va. -- Bayer CropScience managers knew methyl isocyanate monitors were broken last August when they restarted a pesticide unit where up to 37,000 pounds of the deadly chemical are stored, company officials have confirmed."

Chemicals [2]

Public [3]

Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [7]

Source: Charleston Gazette [8], 05/10/2009

Read more about Bayer Knew MIC Monitors Were Broken [6]

Bhopal Victims Lobby Congress [9]

"Victims of the 1984 gas leak that killed thousands of people in Bhopal, India took their battle Thursday to the US Congress, seeking pressure on Dow Chemicals."

Chemicals [2]

Public [3]

International [4]

Source: AFP [10], 05/08/2009

Read more about Bhopal Victims Lobby Congress [9]

RTK NET Relaunches Chemical Risk Data Site [11]

RTK NET's powerful tools make it easy to see which cities face the worst chemical risks, and what chemicals are involved.

SEJ Publication Types:

WatchDog TipSheet [12]

Topics on the Beat:

Chemicals [2]

Disasters [13]

Region:

National (U.S.) [14]

Visibility:

Public [3]

Read more about RTK NET Relaunches Chemical Risk Data Site [11]

Congress Chiefs Want Probe into Secret Bayer Poison Gas [15]

House Energy Chair Waxman and Senate Commerce Chair Rockefeller call for investigation of whether Bayer could use safer chemicals at its Institute WV plant.

SEJ Publication Types:

WatchDog TipSheet [12]

Topics on the Beat:

Chemicals [2]

Disasters [13]

Region:

National (U.S.) [14]

Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [7]

Visibility:

Public [3]

Read more about Congress Chiefs Want Probe into Secret Bayer Poison Gas [15]

Toolbox: EPA's Pesticide Emergency Exemptions Database [16]

There could be a story breeding behind the emergency pesticide exemptions — which could number in the hundreds — in your state.

SEJ Publication Types:

WatchDog TipSheet [12]

Topics on the Beat:

Chemicals [2]

Laws & Regulations [17]

Government [18]

Region:

National (U.S.) [14]

Visibility:

Public [3]

Read more about Toolbox: EPA's Pesticide Emergency Exemptions Database [16]

After Secrecy Claims, Bayer's Own Lapses Revealed as Biggest Threat [19]

A U.S. Chemical Safety Board public hearing, delayed for a month due to Bayer's pleas for secrecy, finds lack of safety to be contributing factors to the 'accident' that killed two at an Institute, WV, plant in August 2008.

SEJ Publication Types:

WatchDog TipSheet [12]

Topics on the Beat:

Chemicals [2]

Disasters [13]

Environmental Politics [20]

Region:

National (U.S.) [14]

Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [7]

Visibility:

Public [3]

Read more about After Secrecy Claims, Bayer's Own Lapses Revealed as Biggest Threat [19]

"Trade Secrets" — Largely Untested Grounds for Toxic Secrecy [21]

Witnesses at a House Energy Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection hearing in February said excessive and unjustified claims of "confidential business information" dampen EPA's efforts to regulate commonly used chemicals.

SEJ Publication Types:

WatchDog TipSheet [12]

Topics on the Beat:

Economy & Business [22]

Chemicals [2]

Laws & Regulations [17]

Government [18]

Region:

National (U.S.) [14]

Visibility:

Public [3]

Read more about "Trade Secrets" — Largely Untested Grounds for Toxic Secrecy [21]

EPA Reverses Bush-Era Toxics Release Inventory Blackout [23]

A new rule signed by EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson restores cuts in how much data communities can get about nearby industrial releases of toxic substances.

SEJ Publication Types:

WatchDog TipSheet [12]

Topics on the Beat:

Chemicals [2]

Laws & Regulations [17]

Government [18]

Policy [24]

Region:

National (U.S.) [14]

Visibility:

Public [3]

Read more about EPA Reverses Bush-Era Toxics Release Inventory Blackout [23]

Lung Association To Release Air Quality Report [25]

The ALA's annual State of the Air report can provide a useful hook for reporting on air quality in your community, but for the big picture, do go beyond the sound-bite information emphasized in the report.

SEJ Publication Types:

TipSheet [26]

Topics on the Beat:

Air [27]

Chemicals [2]

Region:

National (U.S.) [14]

Visibility:

Public [3]

Read more about Lung Association To Release Air Quality Report [25]

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