Totally Toxic
The main chemical safety law in the U.S. – the Toxic Substances Control Act – was massively overhauled in what fateful year?
2016
The lead pipes that connect a water main under the street to a building’s internal plumbing.
Lead service lines
This loop hole in federal food policy allows companies to secretly decide on the safety of chemicals in our food — without FDA’s review or the public’s knowledge.
GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) rule
Best known for its use in cans and plastic bottles, growing evidence shows that alternatives to this chemical also pose a risk to human health.
BPA
True or false: Air pollution is responsible for more than the number of deaths from AIDs, malaria, and tuberculosis combined.
True
This failed EPA toxics office nominee once said “Jesus hung out with prostitutes and tax collectors” to defend his work downplaying second hand smoke concerns for tobacco companies.
Michael Dourson
This Midwestern state has the most lead service lines of any state in the country.
Illinois
EDF released a report two years ago revealing that baby food is widely contaminated with this heavy metal.
Lead
It’s the nation’s main chemical safety law – recently overhauled, it’s come under fire from chemical industry insiders now entrenched at the EPA.
TSCA
When this is high up in the atmosphere, it can protect us from ultraviolet radiation. But when it's at ground level (where it is part of what is commonly called smog), it is a well-established respiratory irritant.
Ozone
EDF has worked to get the toxic chemical methylene chloride banned from use in these household/ DIY products.
Name a health impact of lead exposure
Children: Reduced IQ; learning, development, and other neurological effects issues
Pregnant women: Problems during pregnancy (including pre-eclampsia)
Adults: Cardiovascular problems; effects on blood pressure, hypertension, renal function
The chemical perchlorate is allowed for use in our food. It's also a key ingredient in this fourth of July staple.
fireworks
Best known for its historical use in Teflon, one chemical in this class is “PFOA.” This stuff sticks around forever.
PFAS
After this hurricane, rapid response air monitoring from EDF revealed unsafe levels of benzene in the air.
Hurricane Harvey
EPA is in the process of reviewing the risk of 10 priority chemicals under the Toxic Substances Control Act. Name one of these chemicals.
- 1,4-dioxane
- 1-bromopropane
- Asbestos
- Carbon tetrachloride
- Cyclic aliphatic bromides cluster (HBCD)
- Methylene chloride (DCM)
- N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP)
- Pigment violet 29
- Tetrachloroethylene (Perc)
- Trichloroethylene (TCE)
Mounting evidence shows that this is the only safe level of lead exposure.
ZERO
This class of chemicals is common in many consumer and personal care products – like shampoos and lotions – but several are also approved for use in food packaging.
phthalates
While we don’t always get all the information we want from the government, this type of request can really free things up.
FOIA
To measure air pollution at the hyperlocal level in Oakland, Houston, and other cities, EDF mounted sensors on what types of vehicles?
Google Street View Cars
(Also would accept fleet vehicles)
Take it to the courts: EDF currently has how many lawsuits against the government on the Toxic Substances Control Act?
2
Children are most vulnerable to the impacts of lead exposure. That’s why EDF published a report on lead in drinking water in these types of facilities – where the youngest kids are cared for.
child care facilities/ day care centers
EDF won a lawsuit this year to ban 7 cancer-causing chemicals – used to simulate flavors like mint, cinnamon, citrus - from food.
These chemicals wouldn't appear on the label by name, though. They would only be called this.
artificial flavors
The chemical industry’s main trade association. Several former employees here are now happily in positions in the EPA’s toxics office.
ACC
What is EDF’s air pollution initiative in London called?
Breathe London.