Chemicals

"EPA Approves Another Pesticide Highly Toxic to Bees"

"Flying in the face of recent science demonstrating that pollinator populations are declining, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has made the decision to unconditionally register another pesticide that is known to be highly toxic to bees—almost one year after the EPA registered sulfoxaflor, disregarding concerns from beekeepers and environmental groups."

Source: EcoWatch, 02/11/2014

Health Advocates Find Flame Retardant Fight Follows Familiar Formula

"When chemical companies hired Grant Gillham in 2007 to manage a campaign in defense of flame retardants in couches and other consumer goods, Gillham recalled being "assured that the scientific information they had supporting the safety and effectiveness of their products was valid."

Source: Huffington Post, 02/10/2014

A Month After Toxic Spill, West Virginians Face ‘Crisis of Confidence’

"Weeks after health authorities had told West Virginians that their water was safe to drink again following a toxic spill, schools in Charleston sent students home abruptly last week when students and staff members detected the telltale licorice odor of the leaked chemical."

Source: NY Times, 02/10/2014

"Toxics Pervade Kids’ Products, Washington Disclosure Law Shows"

"SEATTLE -- Makers of children’s products report that they are using toxic chemicals in children’s toys, clothing, safety products and bedding. The reports were filed with the State of Washington in 2013 under the state’s new disclosure law, the Children’s Safe Products Act, the country’s only such law."

Source: ENS, 02/07/2014

Chem Safety Board Makes Embargo Watch Honor Roll

Journalist Ivan Oransky posted on his blog a critical assessment on January 30, 2014, of a new embargo policy set by the CSB. He found requirements not to seek comment or confirmation of material in an embargoed report "alarming." Unlike many government agencies, the CSB took another look at its policy, and revised it.

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"Undermanned And Limited, Chemical Safety Board Confronts A Crisis"

"The lead federal agency investigating the West Virginia chemical leak is one that most Americans have probably never heard of. The Chemical Safety Board is an independent body, modeled after the National Transportation Safety Board, which investigates plane crashes and the like. But critics say that the Chemical Safety Board is understaffed, underfunded and takes too long to finish its investigations, and that its non-binding recommendations are often ignored anyway."

Source: NPR, 02/04/2014

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