Often living with inadequate healthcare, farmers are at risk for acute and chronic illness. 5Īdditionally, farmers live and work in conditions that can expose them to harmful substances. Nitrate can trigger potentially toxic algal blooms in bodies of water, making them unsafe for recreation and drinking. These chemicals run off the fields and contaminate rivers and lakes. Industrial farming depends on large amounts of fertilizer and manure that can contain nitrate and other harmful agents. It is currently beckoning consumers to sign its petition demanding that General Mills remove glyphosate from its food.

It maintains a Guide to Safe Drinking Water and also a Tap Water Database. 3 Additionally, while 91 pollutants are regulated by the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that more than 60,000 chemicals are still used within the United States. There are more than 1,000 pesticides used around the world with different toxicological effects. Pesticides and other chemicals used on the food we eat and in the water we drink have led to widespread health issues. EWG’s Areas of FocusĮWG maintains six key areas of focus and research: Food and Water, Farming and Agriculture, Personal Care Products, Household and Consumer Products, Energy, and Toxic Chemicals. The organization employs a team of scientists, policy experts, lawyers, and data experts to help reform broken chemical safety systems and agriculture laws in hopes to create a safer environment.

Since 2003, EWG has worked to address outdated legislation, harmful agricultural practices, and industry loopholes that pose risks to human health and the health of the environment. 1 According to EWG’s website, its mission is to “empower you with breakthrough research to make informed choices and live a healthy life in a healthy environment.” 2 About EWGĮWG was founded in 1993 by Ken Cook and Richard Wiles and is headquartered in Washington, D.C. Though criticized for scare-mongering, EWG does strive to educate on ingredient research and product safety with the intent to help consumers make informed and healthy purchasing choices. If you’re into clean beauty, you’ve probably spotted a small green circle with the saying ‘EWG Verified’, but do you know what it means? EWG stands for Environmental Working Group, a non-profit organization that supports environmental legislation and reviews personal care products against a variety of international standards to assess their human and environmental health risks.

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