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Environmental Working Group


New peer-reviewed EWG study finds eating some produce hikes pesticide levels in people

A new study by Environmental Working Group found that consuming certain fruits and vegetables can increase pesticide levels in people's bodies. The study suggests that everyday food choices can drive significant pesticide exposure and highlights the need for safer food systems.

SourceEnvironmental Working Group·JournalInternational Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 24, 2025

Reducing multiple tap water contaminants may prevent over 50,000 cancer cases

A new peer-reviewed study by the Environmental Working Group analyzed data from over 17,000 community water systems and found that treating multiple contaminants simultaneously can prevent tens of thousands of cancer cases. The study highlights the benefits of a multi-contaminant approach to drinking water treatment.

SourceEnvironmental Working Group·JournalEnvironmental Research·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 8, 2025

New study finds alarming rise in persistent ‘forever chemicals’ in pesticides

A comprehensive study reveals that per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are increasingly added to US pesticide products, contaminating waterways and posing potential threats to human health. The study found that pesticides containing PFAS are widely used in staple foods, flea treatments for pets, and insect-killing sprays.

SourceEnvironmental Working Group·JournalEnvironmental Health Perspectives·TypeContent analysis·DateJul 24, 2024

New peer-reviewed EWG study finds little-known toxic crop chemical in four out of five people tested

A new EWG study has found chlormequat, a little-known pesticide, in 77% of urine samples from people tested between 2017 and 2023. The chemical is linked to reproductive and developmental problems in animal studies, suggesting potential harm to humans. EWG calls for increased research and regulation on chlormequat.

SourceEnvironmental Working Group·JournalJournal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 15, 2024

EWG study: Eating one freshwater fish equals a month of drinking ‘forever chemicals’ water

A new study by Environmental Working Group scientists reveals that consuming one serving of freshwater fish per year is equivalent to ingesting water with high levels of the toxic chemical PFOS for a month. The study analyzed data from over 500 fish samples and found median amounts of PFAS in freshwater fish to be 280 times greater tha...

SourceEnvironmental Working Group·JournalEnvironmental Research·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 17, 2023

Study: Communities of color at greatest risk of pesticide exposure in Ventura County, Calif.

A new study by Environmental Working Group finds that communities of color in Ventura County are disproportionately exposed to pesticides, threatening their health and well-being. The study analyzed over 340,000 pesticide application records and found that farmworkers and their families face the greatest risk of pesticide exposure.

SourceEnvironmental Working Group·JournalScience of The Total Environment·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 15, 2022

EWG scientists create new framework for using demographic data to evaluate cumulative cancer risk from tap water contamination

The study provides a new framework for policymakers to consider drinking water quality data when analyzing environmental justice issues. Communities with higher ratios of Hispanic and/or Black populations were found to have statistically significant increases in cancer risk due to exposure to tap water contamination.

SourceEnvironmental Working Group·JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 6, 2021

Preservative used in hundreds of popular foods may harm the immune system

A new peer-reviewed study by Environmental Working Group found that the preservative tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) may harm the immune system, as shown in animal tests and high-throughput in vitro toxicology testing. The FDA should test all food chemicals for safety, according to the study's lead author.

SourceEnvironmental Working Group·JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·DateMar 25, 2021