http://www.ewg.org/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_Working_Group
Environmental Working Group
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"EWG" redirects here. For other uses, see Eurowings.
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| Founded | 1992 |
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| Type | 501(c)(3) |
| Focus | Environmentalism |
| Location |
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| Website | www.ewg.org |
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The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is an American environmental organization that specializes in research and advocacy in the areas of toxic chemicals, agricultural subsidies, public lands, and corporate accountability. EWG is a non-profit organization (501(c)(3)) whose mission, according to its website, is "to use the power of public information to protect public health and the environment."[1]
Founded in 1993 by Ken Cook and Richard Wiles, EWG is headquartered in Washington, D.C. in the United States. A sister organization, the EWG Action Fund, is the lobbying arm (501(c)(4)) of the organization and was founded in 2002.[1]
Contents
- 1 Issue areas and projects
- 2 Healthy Child Healthy World
- 3 Current projects
- 4 Finances and funding
- 5 References
- 6 External links
Issue areas and projects
EWG works on three main policy or issue areas: toxic chemicals and human health; farming and agricultural subsidies; and public lands and natural resources.
Toxic chemicals and human health
EWG has created a cosmetics safety database[2] which indexes and scores products based on their ingredients. Their Guide to Pesticides in Produce[3] lists 44 fruits and vegetables based on the number of pesticides that they were found to contain according to United States Department of Agriculture data. A series of studies testing for the presence of chemicals in people‘s bodies is known as body burden. The organization has also constructed a national database of tap water testing results from public water utilities.[4][5] Their work has extended to a variety of other chemicals, including bisphenol A, perchlorate, mercury, flame retardants, and arsenic in treated wood.
Agricultural policy
In July 2016 they supported the anti-labelling GMO bill known as the DARK act. EWG publishes a database of agricultural subsidies and their recipients.[6] The EWG Action Fund advocates for farm bill reform in the form of decreased disaster payments and subsidies for commodity crops, and increased funding for nutrition programs, conservation, specialty crops (i.e. fruits and vegetables), and organic agriculture.
Natural resources
The organization investigates and publishes information regarding oil and gas drilling and mining projects that may pose a threat to human health and the environment.[7]
Healthy Child Healthy World
Healthy Child Healthy World (HCHW), a group that "empowers parents to take action and protect children from harmful chemicals", merged with EWG in October 2014.[8]
Current projects
Dirty Dozen
The EWG publishes a "Dirty Dozen" list of foods with the highest pesticide residue, and recommends that consumers look for organically produced varieties of these products; the annual release of this list attracts widespread media coverage, and is thought to have a significant effect on the produce choices of many Americans.[citation needed] Currently, agroindustrially produced strawberries are heading the list.[9] Critics of the list have suggested that it significantly overstates the risk to consumers of the listed items, and that the methodology employed in constructing the list "lacks scientific credibility".[10]
See also: Pesticides_in_the_United_States § "Dirty_Dozen"
Cell phone radiation report
Main article: Mobile phone radiation and health
EWG launched a cell phone radiation report in September 2009 that stated while the long-term effects of cell phone radiation are still being studied, there is sufficient research that shows higher risk for brain and salivary gland tumors among heavy cell phone users. EWG encouraged consumers to look up their cell phone‘s radiation level, and to wear a headset when talking on the phone to limit their exposure.[11][medical citation needed] In August 2013, EWG released a web page ("Cell Phone Radiation Damages Sperm, Studies Show") which reviews and tabulates studies showing relationships between mobile phone use and low sperm count and sperm quality. The relationships shown are not argued to be due to ionisation of atoms or damage to DNA, but some other biological mechanism - relationships are demonstrated in population surveys, in studies on individuals, and on sperm in vitro in the laboratory environment [12][medical citation needed] Contradicting the alarmism of EWG on this issue are physicists who argue that the microwave radiation used by cell phones would merely warm your head slightly (less than a hat), in contrast to high frequency radiation (not used by cell phones), such as x-rays, which can ionize atoms and damage DNA.[13]
Skin Deep
See also: Environmental impact of pharmaceuticals and personal care products
Skin Deep is a cosmetics safety database which pairs ingredients in over 79,000 products against 50 toxicity and regulatory databases.[citation needed] The database is intended as a resource for consumers, who can search by ingredient or product when choosing personal care products. This database, however, has had criticism directed towards it for its questionable validity and reliability, accusations of synthesis of information, and the classification of the non-existent compound polyparaben[14][15]
Sunscreens
In July 2008, the EWG first published an analysis of over 900 sunscreens. The report concluded that only 15% of the sunscreens met the group‘s criteria for safety and effectiveness.[16]
Industry representatives called the 2008 report inaccurate.[16] Personal Care Products Council general counsel Farah Ahmed said that "It is very clear to me that they have a very low level of understanding of the way sunscreens work and the way they are regulated by the FDA and tested by the industry." She expressed further concern saying "I would hate to think that there are parents out there not using sunscreen on their kids because of a report like this that is not based on real science." Representatives from Schering-Plough (Coppertone), Johnson & Johnson (Neutrogena), and Sun Pharmaceuticals Corp. (Banana Boat) also reiterated their products‘ safety and efficacy.[17]
Dr. Zoe Draelos, a professor at Duke University and spokesperson for the American Academy of Dermatology, said the group made unfair "sweeping generalizations" in its report and their recommendations were based on "very old technology."[18]
In 2009, EWG updated Skin Deep with a report on chemicals in sunscreen,
lip balm and SPF lotions. The report states that 3 out of 5 sunscreen
products offer inadequate protection from the sun, or contain
ingredients with significant safety concerns. The report identifies only
17% of the products on the market as both safe and effective, blocking
both UVA and UVB radiation, remaining stable in sunlight, and containing
few if any ingredients with significant known or suspected health
hazards.[19][20][medical citation needed] Oxybenzone
is among the list that blocks both forms of radiation but has been
deemed unsafe by the EWG due to controversy over its potential
estrogenic and anti-androgenic effects.[21][22][medical citation needed]
In its fourth annual "Sunscreen Guide", issued in May 2010,
Environmental Working Group gave generally low marks to currently
available sunscreen products. EWG researchers recommended only 39 out of
500 sunscreens available at the time.[23]
2007 Farm Bill
EWG operates the farm subsidy
database, an online searchable database of recipients of taxpayer
funded agriculture subsidy payments. The information is obtained
directly from the United States Department of Agriculture via Freedom of
Information Act requests.
In the 2007 Farm Bill, EWG is advocating for:
- Cutting wasteful spending to profitable large farm operations, absentee landlords, ‘hobby’ farmers.
- Increased support for organic agriculture,
the fastest growing sector of the agriculture industry. In August 2007,
EWG president Ken Cook delivered a petition of 30,000 names gathered
online to Congressman Ron Kind (D-WI). - Increasing funding for nutrition.
- Increasing funding for conservation.
During the fall 2007 debate over the farm bill EWG produced computer
generated Google maps of cities across the country identifying the
number of federal farm subsidy checks sent to that area.
Acting-Secretary of Agriculture Chuck Conner used the maps during
speeches and with the media as he advocated for fundamental reforms to
the farm subsidy programs.[citation needed]
Who owns the West?
EWG has used computer mapping tools[24] to demonstrate the surge in mining claims near the Grand Canyon, Yosemite and other national parks.[25] The House of Representatives passed the first update of the nation’s hardrock mining law
since 1872 in 2007. The bill, which bans mining claims around national
parks and wilderness and imposes the first-ever royalties on minerals
taken from public lands, awaits action in the Senate.[26] EWG staff testified before both the House and Senate during consideration of mining reform.[27]
Involvement in reprimand of John Stossel by ABC
A February 2000 story about organic vegetables on 20/20 included a comment by John Stossel
that ABC News tests had shown that neither organic nor conventional
produce samples contained any pesticide residue, and that organic food
was more likely to be contaminated by E. coli
bacteria. The Environmental Working Group took exception to his report,
mainly questioning his statements about bacteria, but also found that
the produce had never been tested for pesticides. EWG communicated this
to Stossel but the story was rebroadcast months later not only with the
allegedly inaccurate statement uncorrected, but with a postscript in
which Stossel reiterated his error. After the New York Times
took note of the error, ABC News suspended the producer of the segment
for a month and reprimanded Stossel, who issued an apology over the
incident, saying that he had thought the tests had been conducted as
reported, but that he had been wrong. He asserted, however, that the
gist of his report had been accurate.[28][29][30][31][32]
Benzene in soft drinks
Main article: Benzene in soft drinks
In 2006 EWG sent a letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration contending that the agency knew about the presence of benzene in soft drinks and suppressed the information from the public.[33][medical citation needed] EWG described the finding of benzene in soft drinks as a "clear health threat." A second letter in April 2006 [34] reported that 80% of diet sodas tested from 1996 to 2001 in FDA‘s Total Diet Study[35] had benzene levels above the 5 ppb, including one at 55ppb and a regular cola at 138 ppb.
Other projects
The EWG issues various red alerts for products or other safety
warnings. In 2004, the EFG raised concern over the approval by the Environmental Protection Agency
of the herbicide under the trade name Enlist Duo, claiming that schools
within the vicinity of farm fields may have children exposed to the
herbicide. This is claim has been dismissed by scientists as fear
mongering and misleading, with little evidence to support the claims
made by the EWG.[36][37]
Finances and funding
For Fiscal Year ending December 2006, EWG raised nearly $3.6 million and spent $3.2 million.[38] Over 84 cents out of every dollar go toward EWG‘s actual programs.[38] As of March 2008, EWG reports 30 staff members[39] with its president Ken Cook earning $192K per year in 2006.[38]
Most of the funding comes from foundations, and a partial list of major funders is available on the organization‘s website.[40]
Another large portion of the budget comes from individuals, with the
rest stemming from interest, small sales, and consulting for other
organizations.
随着世界生存环境的不断恶化，在民间有一种针对人类所使用的生活用品进行评级监测的机构，美国环境工作组(Environmental Working Group)是设在华盛顿的一个非营利、非党派的民间环保组织，成立于1993年，致力于产品检测和评级。
十几年来，EWG在保护美国人免受有害有毒物质侵害方面立下了赫赫战功，它推动美国国会通过了全美第一部保护儿童免受有毒农药侵害的联邦法律。它成功地敦促美国联邦食品与药物管理局关注长期被忽视的金枪鱼含汞问题。
它促使美国环保署严格禁止在木头器械的加工过程中进行砷处理。它迫使美国政府取消了在内华达州建立核废料填埋场的秘密计划。它大胆揭露孟山都化学公司在亚拉巴马州的工厂排放有毒化学物质多氯联苯，导致该公司被判罚7亿美元。
它迫使美国四大化妆品公司不得不提前淘汰含有有毒可塑剂的化妆品生产线。它重视环保，而且其资金主要来源于私人基金会，所以它敢于直言、披露危害环境和人类健康的行为。
美国EWG评级是从产品的成分构成出发反映了潜在的健康危害，指标体现的是该产品成分构成的关注相对水平，而不针对产品本身，该评级但不考虑曝光或个体易感性的决定因素实际的健康风险。