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Heinz Awards Honor Scientists Opposed by Chemical Industry

Bill Walsh | September 30, 2010 | Policies

The assault by the petro-chemical industry on scientific integrity -- and scientists with integrity -- has been well documented.[1] This year, three winners of the 16th Annual Heinz Awards are scientists who are distinguished "by their courageous willingness to communicate the implications of their work, often in the face of determined opposit...


Heinz Awards Honor Scientists Opposed By Chemical Industry

Bill Walsh | September 29, 2010 | Policies

The assault by the petro-chemical industry on scientific integrity – and scientists with integrity – has been well documented.[1] This year, three winners of the 16th Annual Heinz Awards are scientists who are distinguished "by their courageous willingness to communicate the implications of their work, often in the face of determin...


Trends in Transparency

Bill Walsh | July 14, 2010 | Policies

Think "transparency" is an established, maturing theme? You ain't seen nothing yet. Trendwatching.com

The news this summer provides more insight into why the assortment of eco-labels and certifications that define green products today is a transitional stage, soon to be eclipsed by an unprecedented convergence of better information a...


Healthy Paints Part 2: Beyond VOC Content – Getting the Toxics Out

Tom Lent | June 24, 2010 | Policies

Last week we described the major reductions in VOC content we are seeing in paints (Paint Industry Drives Toward Zero VOCs -- Will Certifications Catch Up?). But does a low-VOC content number mean these paints are actually safe from the perspective of environmental health? Not necessarily.

As we described in an earlier blog (Sorting Out The VOCs),...


Congress passes CA-based formaldehyde limits for composite wood

Tom Lent | June 24, 2010 | Policies

The US Congress has approved legislation[1] to limit allowable emissions of formaldehyde from composite wood products, specifically hardwood plywood, particleboard and medium-density fiberboard sold in the United States. The new limits in are based on the levels established for the State of California in 2007 by the California Air Resources Board (...


Mossville, at the Crossroads of Environmental Justice and Green Building

Paul Bogart | June 02, 2010 | Policies

As I spend my days within a world of data, certifications, lunch and learns, and labels, I often remind myself why I do this for a living. I think of people living on the front lines of industrial production that I hope will one day benefit from my work. People that I have met in communities struggling for the basic right to clean air and uncontami...


"LEED Standards Insufficient to Protect Human Health," Finds New Report

Bill Walsh | June 02, 2010 | Policies

A new report released last week concludes, "[LEED] 'platinum,' 'gold,' and 'silver' status conveys the false impression of a healthy and safe building environment, even when well-recognized hazardous chemicals exist in building products," and, "LEED standards are insufficient to protect human health." The...


Pharos Today, TSCA reform tomorrow

Paul Bogart | April 15, 2010 | Policies

While many consumers are increasingly worried about the safety of products from baby bottles to building materials, most are unaware that only a few hundred of the approximately 80,000 chemicals in commerce have been tested for safety.

With the declaration that "America's system for regulating industrial chemicals is broken," Sen. Fr...