Toxics & Environmental Health

New studies show concerning link between PFAS and COVID-19

As our State continues to grapple with the impacts of Covid-19, our elected leaders have been rightly focused on how to adequately respond to the crisis at hand. However, many do not recognize the urgent connection between toxic chemical exposure and the pandemic. For example, exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is known to …

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ANR to let CSWD off the hook for illegal glass dumping

In April 2018, Vermont’s Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) sent Chittenden Solid Waste District (CSWD) a Notice of Alleged Violation for dumping glass that Vermont residents and haulers had paid them to recycle. Records indicate that in 2017, huge quantities of glass that citizens put into bins and paid to be recycled were instead dumped in three different locations in Williston by Chittenden …

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McDonald’s Week of Action

PFAS chemicals pose a danger to human health unlike any other. For the past several years, our state has been focused on how Vermonters might be exposed to PFAS pollution through drinking water – and rightfully so. This concern stemmed from the now well-known 2016 discovery of high levels of PFAS in hundreds of drinking water wells in Bennington County. As of August 2020, nine public water systems in Vermont have tested above the …

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Toxic chemicals used in take-out food packaging from popular food chains

A new report released today by the Vermont Public Interest Research and Education Fund (VPIREF), Vermont Conservation Voters, the Mind the Store campaign, Toxic-Free Future, and other partners found that nearly half of all take-out food packaging tested from multiple popular food chains contains potentially toxic chemicals. The new investigation shows that all six food …

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Let’s Talk About Environmental Justice

According to the EPA, environmental justice is “the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.” A goal which will be achieved “when everyone enjoys (1) the same degree of protection from environmental …

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VT Single-Use Plastics Ban Takes Effect

Great news – Vermont’s Single-Use Plastics Ban goes into effect today! Last year, VPIRG worked hard to advocate for the passage of this best-in-the-nation legislation, and we couldn’t have done it without support from our members, supporters, and allies across the state. As you well know, we face a real and growing plastic pollution crisis. …

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PFAS Ban Bill Passes Senate in Unanimous Vote

In a huge win for the health of Vermont’s people and environment, the Vermont Senate unanimously passed S.295 today, a bill banning PFAS in certain products including firefighting foam, carpets/rugs, and food packaging. The term ‘PFAS’ refers to a very large (and ever growing, with more research being done all the time) class of chemicals …

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Tell VT Officials: Keep Recycling in Vermont!

During this crisis, we need to do everything we can to protect frontline workers who are making it possible for life to go on for the rest of us. At the same time, we need to guard against corporate interests trying to use the crisis as leverage to win policies that could harm public health …

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VT Leaders Must Oppose Trump EPA’s Free Pass to Polluters Amid Crisis

It’s hard to be shocked these days by something the Trump administration does to harm the environment and public health. But several days ago, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) made a truly shocking announcement. Now headed by Andrew Wheeler, a Trump appointee and former coal industry lobbyist, the …

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Bill to Ban Toxic Chemicals from Consumer Products Advances

In a strong showing of support to ban toxic PFAS chemicals from our consumer products, the Senate Health and Welfare Committee unanimously voted S.295— an act relating to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances—out of committee Friday, March 13th. This move comes after several weeks of testimony taken by the committee, including supportive testimony by Conservation Law Foundation, the Professional Firefighters of Vermont, Seventh Generation, Vermont …

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