Know your environment. Protect your health.

Creators of Skin Deep Database Tapwater Database EWG Verified^® The New Lede EWG Podcast Search

Search

Who We Are
Who We Are

Our Mission

Our Impact

Our Team

Our Board

Funding & Reports

For Partners

Support Our Work

Contact Us

Careers
Areas of Focus
Areas of Focus

Food & Water

Farming & Agriculture

Personal Care Products

Household & Consumer Products

Energy

Family Health

Toxic Chemicals

Regional Issues
Key Issues

Women's Health

Women’s health is deeply influenced by the environment in which they live, the products they use, and the food they consume.

Food Chemicals

More than 10,000 additives are allowed for use in food sold in the U.S. Many food chemicals have not been thoroughly reviewed for safety or have not been re-reviewed for decades with the newest science in mind.
Consumer Guides
Research
News & Insights
News & Insights

News

News Releases

The New Lede

Testimonies

Official Correspondence

Statements

Transcripts

For Media

Our Experts

Research

We work closely with subject matter experts to bring you breakthrough research that you can count on. Explore our data-driven publications and reports.

Featured

Woman with curly hair checking her phone while holding a skincare product.

Cosmetics

Higher hazards persist in personal care products marketed to Black women, report reveals

Out of 4,011 personal care products marketed to Black women, only 21 percent rate as low hazard in EWG’s Skin Deep® cosmetics database according to this newly updated EWG analysis co-authored with BLK...

February 11, 2025

Water

PFAS Chemicals

Getting ‘forever chemicals’ out of drinking water: EWG’s guide to PFAS water filters

Taking ‘forever chemicals’ out of drinking water: EWG’s guide to PFAS water filters. Discover the most effective water filters for reducing PFAS contamination in your water. EWG's extensive tests...

July 11, 2023

Food

Children’s Health

Pesticides

Chlormequat

EWG investigation: Dangerous agricultural chemical chlormequat found in popular oat-based products

A new EWG investigation finds for the first time troubling concentrations of the toxic agricultural chemical chlormequat in oat-based products sold in the U.S., including everyday brands marketed to...

January 31, 2023

All Research

Displaying 1 - 24 of 40

Water

PFAS Chemicals

California

Nearly 19M Californians could lose protection from toxic ‘forever chemicals’ in tap water

May 7, 2025

Eliminating federal limits in drinking water on the toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS could end a vital safeguard against continued pollution for 18.9 million Californians.

Water

PFAS Chemicals

More than 40M could lose PFAS drinking water protections

September 19, 2024

At least 40 million Americans served by more than 700 water utilities would lose drinking water protections if the next administration or a court rolls back new federal drinking water standards for...

Food

Water

PFAS Chemicals

Prioritizing PFAS: The next government-wide plan to tackle ‘forever chemicals’

August 15, 2024

The contamination crisis from the “forever chemicals” known as PFAS is far from over, despite the Biden-Harris administration’s strides implementing its government-wide plan to combat PFAS pollution...

Water

PFAS Chemicals

North Carolina

State ‘forever chemicals’ spotlight: North Carolina’s drinking water contamination

June 5, 2024

Drinking water for at least 2.5 million North Carolinians is contaminated with the toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS at levels exceeding new federal standards, according to an EWG analysis.

PFAS Chemicals

Water

Defense Communities

Federal PFAS Report Card

April 25, 2024

EWG has researched actions the federal government is committed to taking, or for which it faces congressionally mandated deadlines, to tackle the “forever chemicals” known as PFAS.

Water

PFAS Chemicals

‘Forever chemicals’ found in water coast to coast builds case for strict EPA limits

July 18, 2023

The findings are just a small sample of what to expect when the Environmental Protection Agency releases first-time data from thousands of public water systems across the U.S. that is likely to show...

Water

PFAS Chemicals

Getting ‘forever chemicals’ out of drinking water: EWG’s guide to PFAS water filters

July 11, 2023

PFAS Chemicals

Wildlife warning: More than 330 species contaminated with ‘forever chemicals’

February 22, 2023

Polar bears have a PFAS problem: Pollution from the “forever chemicals” known as PFAS contaminates polar bears, tigers, monkeys, pandas, dolphins and fish and has been documented in more than 330...

PFAS Chemicals

Defense Communities

For decades, the department of defense knew firefighting foams with ‘forever chemicals’ were dangerous but continued their use

March 6, 2022

As far back as the 1970s, studies conducted by the Department of Defense showed that the firefighting foam used on military bases and ships known as aqueous film-forming foam, or AFFF, that contain...

Water

PFAS Chemicals

For decades, the FDA knew toxic 'forever chemicals' were dangerous but continued to allow their use

February 10, 2022

As far back as the 1960s, animal studies showed the chemicals caused harm even months after exposure ended and industry studies showed they could migrate from paper and paperboard food packaging into...

PFAS Chemicals

Water

Mapping the PFAS contamination crisis: New data show 2,858 sites in 50 states and two territories

October 4, 2021

The number of U.S. communities confirmed to be contaminated with the highly toxic fluorinated compounds known as PFAS continues to grow at an alarming rate. As of June 2022, 2,858 locations in 50...

PFAS Chemicals

Water

Is Northern Virginia a D.C.-Area Hot Spot for ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Tap Water?

March 10, 2021

Tap water samples from throughout Northern Virginia were contaminated with the “forever chemicals” known as PFAS at levels significantly higher than those previously reported for other parts of the...

PFAS Chemicals

Timeline: ‘Forever chemicals’ and firefighters

November 20, 2020

For decades, firefighters have been exposed to the “forever chemicals” chemicals known as PFAS, through PFAS-based firefighting foams and firefighting gear coated with PFAS as a water repellant. Foam...

PFAS Chemicals

Water

The PFAS and the Furious

September 17, 2020

Rob Bilott's Exposure is a real-life whodunit, a page-turning courtroom drama, a David-and-Goliath story of one man against an industrial colossus and a shocking exposé of America's utterly broken...

Children’s Health

PFAS Chemicals

Toxic ‘Forever Chemicals’ Likely Discharged Near Schools in 18 States

September 10, 2020

Suspected industrial dischargers of the toxic fluorinated chemicals known as PFAS are located less than a mile of 27 schools or childcare facilities that maintain their own water systems, an EWG...

COVID-19

Water

PFAS Chemicals

U.S. drinking water infrastructure needs large federal investment

April 13, 2020

Congress may soon spend billions to upgrade our aging drinking water infrastructure, which would significantly improve the safety of our drinking water and create tens of thousands of jobs. The...

Water

PFAS Chemicals

Lead

How Investing $75 Billion on Infrastructure Will Make Drinking Water Safer

April 13, 2020

For the next COVID-19 stimulus bill, House leaders have proposed spending $75.9 billion over five years on water infrastructure. This urgent and long-overdue investment would enable community water...

PFAS Chemicals

Water

PFAS Contamination of Drinking Water Far More Prevalent Than Previously Reported

January 23, 2020

New laboratory tests commissioned by EWG have for the first time found the toxic fluorinated chemicals known as PFAS in the drinking water of dozens of U.S. cities, including major metropolitan areas...

PFAS Chemicals

For 20-plus years, EPA has failed to regulate ‘forever chemicals’

January 9, 2020

The Environmental Protection Agency was first alerted to the health hazards of toxic fluorinated chemicals, known as PFAS, in 1998. In the decades since, the agency has failed to set enforceable...

PFAS Chemicals

Water

California

Toxic ‘Forever Chemicals’ Detected in Drinking Water Supplies Across California

September 25, 2019

Drinking water sources for 74 community water systems serving 7.5 million Californians are contaminated with the highly toxic fluorinated chemicals called PFAS, according to an Environmental Working...

PFAS Chemicals

For decades, polluters knew PFAS chemicals were dangerous but hid risks from public

August 29, 2019

As far back as 1950s, studies conducted by 3M studied the toxic doses of PFAS in mice and researchers at Stanford found fluorinated chemicals could build up in our blood. By the 1960s, animal studies...

PFAS Chemicals

For 50 Years, Polluters Knew PFAS Chemicals Were Dangerous But Hid Risks From Public

August 28, 2019

As far back as 1950, studies conducted by 3M showed that the family of toxic fluorinated chemicals now known as PFAS could build up in our blood. By the 1960s, animal studies conducted by 3M and...

PFAS Chemicals

Water

EWG Proposes PFAS Standards That Fully Protect Children’s Health

May 6, 2019

In the almost 20 years since water pollution with toxic fluorinated chemicals, or PFAS, erupted as a public health issue, research has found impacts from exposure to ever-lower levels. Yet there are...

Children’s Health

PFAS Chemicals

Mapping PFAS Chemical Contamination at 206 U.S. Military Sites

March 6, 2019

The Environmental Working Group has identified and mapped 206 military sites in the U.S. where drinking water or groundwater is contaminated with fluorinated chemicals, known as PFAS, at levels that...

Expert Spotlight

Chemical companies provide quarterly reports on production and sales figures to shareholders. Why shouldn’t the public and EPA receive similar reports every year about commonly used chemicals, some of which could pose a serious health risk?”

David Andrews, Ph.D.

Acting Chief Science Officer

All Experts

News & Insights

Food

Food Chemicals

California

Interactive map: Tracking state food chemical regulation in the U.S.

June 13, 2025

Thousands of chemicals are allowed for use in food sold in this country. And while most of these are likely safe to eat, some have been linked to serious health harms.

Food

Pesticides

Learn about the methodology behind EWG’s Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce™

June 11, 2025

Background

EWG’s Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce™ ranks popular fresh fruits and vegetables based on levels of pesticide contamination and toxicity. EWG has released the Shopper’s Guide...

Food

Children’s Health

Food Chemicals

Study finds drop in nutritional value of new cereals marketed to kids, prompting health concerns

June 9, 2025

Cereal – the top breakfast choice for kids – may be getting less healthy, according to a new study. It found a significant decrease in nutritional quality of cereals marketed to children that were...

Cosmetics

Sunscreen

How sunscreen ingredients are regulated in the U.S.

June 5, 2025

Wearing sunscreen is one of the simplest and most important ways to protect your health. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, and it’s on the rise, with one in five...

Key Issues

Research

Areas of Focus

Related Articles

Articles by David Andrews, Ph.D.

Background