Laura Spark – Page 2 – Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow

Guardian: EPA releases water testing results for 2000 drinking water suppliers

August 17, 2023

On August 17, 2023, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released initial reports from the 5th Unregulated Contaminated Monitoring Rule for 29 PFAS and lithium. EPA tested approximately 2,000 water systems. It found one or more PFAS in 431 water systems and PFOA and PFOS in 220 water systems. This first round of testing affects just 7% of drinking water systems that the EPA will test between 2023-5, with final results available in 2026. See https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/aug/17/pfas-us-drinking-water-contaminated-forever-chemicals-epa for more details.

CNN: USGS study finds 45% of US drinking water has PFAS

August 16, 2023

Laura Spark

PFAS, Toxic Chemicals, Uncategorized

On July 6, 2023, CNN reported on a recent US Geological (USGS) Survey study that found almost half of tap water in the United States is contaminated by per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). USGS scientists indicated that the study might actually underestimate the nation’s water contamination problem, because the agency analyzed water for just 32 of the over 12,000 known PFAS. The USGS study is the most comprehensive analysis to date of PFAS in the nation’s water supply. From 2016-2021, USGS…

Possible PFAS settlements of over 10 billion may not be enough, say 22 AGs

June 9, 2023

Laura Spark

PFAS, Toxic Chemicals, Uncategorized

Across the county, states and municipalities are suing major manufacturers of PFAS and PFAS-containing firefighting foam. On June 3, 2023, Bloomberg Law reported that 3M company had reached a tentative settlement of $10 billion to settle legal claims from a multi-district case. Separately, Dupont de Nemours Inc., Chemours Company and Corteva Inc announced a proposed $1.19 billion settlement. While the proposed settlements would be the largest ever in a case against PFAS manufacturers, the funds may not be enough to…

New York Times: Three “Forever Chemicals” Manufacturers Settle Public Water Lawsuits

June 9, 2023

Laura Spark

PFAS, Toxic Chemicals

On June 2, 2023, the New York Times reported that Chemours, DuPont and Corteva had tentatively reached an agreement to pay $1.9 billion to settle claims agains the companies for contaminating drinking water. The monies would be put into clean up fund Separately, Bloomberg News also reported on Friday that 3M had a tentative settlement of over $10 billion with states and cities that have sued the company for its role in contaminating water. Both of these settlements must be…

Fall River and Nantucket firefighters among those being honored for work against toxic chemicals

June 9, 2023

Laura Spark

PFAS

Clean Water Action held its annual celebration on May 23, 2023. Among those feted were: Ayesha Khan Barber, Co-Founder of the Nantucket PFAS Action Group; Captain Nate Barber andFire Deputy Chief Sean Mitchell, both from the Nantucket Fire Department; and Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts District 8 Vice President, Jason Burns of Fall River. They were given the John O’Connor Grassroots Organizing Award for helping to launch a nationwide effort to eliminate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from the fire service. …

WBUR: Massachusetts Firefighters and their families are on the front lines of a battle with “forever chemicals”

April 19, 2023

Laura Spark

PFAS

First Diane Cotter in Maine, then Nate Khan in Nantucket, and Jason Burns in Fall River. Firefighters and their partners are fighting to get toxic PFAS out of firefighter personal protective equipment and out of firefighting foam. PFAS are in lots of products, and all of us are exposed. But, firefighters are particularly at risk. The levels of PFAS in firefighting gear are extraordinarily high. And firefighters have used PFAS-containing firefighting foam for decades. Firefighters are also exposed to toxic…

WBUR: “Report by BC researchers calls for plastic regulation to protect people’s health”

March 27, 2023

Laura Spark

Toxic Chemicals, Uncategorized

On March 21, 2023 WBUR reported on a major new report by the Minderoo-Monaco Commission on Plastics and Human Health. Formed by the United Nations, the Commission states that plastics harm human health during production, use, and disposal. Single-use plastics make up 1/3 of plastics in use today. WBUR quotes Dr. Philip Landrigan of Boston College, Commission Chair, who said: “I’m a pediatrician, and I trained at Boston Children’s [Hospital], and I’ve always thought that we have a responsibility to…

Major Mount Sinai study links PFAS to reduced fertility

March 27, 2023

Laura Spark

PFAS, Toxic Chemicals

Researchers at New York’s Mount Sinai Hospital have found that exposure to PFAS reduces female fertility by 30-40%, significantly lessening the chances of pregnancy and birth among women of child-bearing age. Mount Sinai study was published in Science of the Toal Environment and showed a link between higher blood concentrations of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and reduced fertility. See full study here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36801327/Press release here : https://www.mountsinai.org/about/newsroom/2023/exposure-to-chemicals-found-in-everyday-products-is-linked-to-significantly-reduced-fertility

New York Times: Many personal care products contain harmful chemicals

February 17, 2023

Laura Spark

General, Personal Care Products, PFAS

On February 16, 2023, the New York Times reported on the increasing body of evidence linking chemicals in personal care products to serious health concerns. The NYT provides a great breakdown of steps consumers can to take to avoid problematic chemicals in personal care products: “Understand which chemicals are worrisome… Consider how you’re using your products… Consult a database… Look for third-party certifications… Ask for more transparency and stronger policies.” Read the full story here.