Chemical Industry Rewrites Environmental Textbooks

Staff / Truthdig Aug 27, 2011 Evidence shows that California school officials yielded to complaints made by a trade group representing U.S. chemical companies and altered environmental textbooks to include industry-supplied messages promoting plastic bags. (more) Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Getting High on Bath Salts

Staff / Truthdig Jan 25, 2011 Apparently America's latest drug craze is a chemical powder that is marketed as bath salt. AP reports the horrific story of one man who abused the substance and then attacked himself with a skinning knife. A quick Google search tells us this might not be the widespread phenomenon AP suggests, but we'll keep our ears open. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Don’t Let the Bed Bugs Bite (Update)

Staff / Truthdig Aug 31, 2010 Bed bug infestations are way up, thanks in part to stricter health standards for chemicals and the critters' mounting resistance to pesticides. The problem is so out of control, reports the AP, that desperate Americans are dousing their possessions in toxic chemicals, despite warnings from the EPA. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

From Bhopal to BP

T.L. Caswell / Truthdig Jun 22, 2010 The “massacre” sentences were far too light, but at least India put executives on trial. Let’s hope the U.S. has the will to fully investigate and, if warranted, try BP executives. Dig deeper ( 10 Min. Read )

Toxins ’R’ Us

Amy Goodman / Truthdig Feb 25, 2009 The American Chemistry Council assures us that "we make the products that help keep you safe and healthy." But U.S. consumers are actually exposed to a vast array of harmful chemicals and additives embedded in toys, cosmetics, plastic water bottles and countless other products. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

FDA Plastic Decision ‘Creates a False Sense of Security’

Staff / Truthdig Oct 29, 2008 The chemical BPA is common in plastic products such as baby bottles and food containers, despite concerns among scientists and environmentalists about its safety. The FDA has defended BPA use and recently turned to an outside panel for backup. That group of scientists, however, ended up criticizing the agency's guidelines. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Victims of Military Chemical Tests Demand Answers

Staff / Truthdig Jun 12, 2008 According to the Pentagon, the U.S. military carried out tests of chemical and biological agents on 6,440 of its own personnel between 1962 and 1973. One Navy veteran who participated in some of those tests is now pushing for recognition and benefits, having learned that more than half of his fellow seamen are either dead or stricken with cancer or other illnesses. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Depleted Uranium to Blame for Iraq’s Cancer Problem?

Staff / Truthdig Aug 28, 2007 Is it just a coincidence that an unusually large number of American troops and Iraqi civilians are suffering from what appears to be a cancer epidemic? Iraq's environment minister and a growing number of victims, scientists and even politicians say the widespread use of depleted uranium in U.S. munitions is to blame. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

GAO: U.S. Vulnerable to WMD Attack

Staff / Truthdig Feb 28, 2007 Despite spending billions of dollars, the United States is woefully unprepared for an attack involving either chemical or biological weapons, according to a report recently declassified by the Government Accountability Office. The strain of the Iraq war has contributed to problems with staffing, equipping and training the military units expected to respond in the event of such a crisis. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Board: Teflon Chemical a Likely Carcinogen

Staff / Truthdig Feb 16, 2006 An EPA advisory group votes unanimously to recommend that a chemical used in Teflon and other nonstick products be considered a likely cause of cancer. Truthdig had a report two weeks ago about the greedy politicos who stymied the phaseout of Teflon. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Teflon Chemical Called a Likely Carcinogen

Staff / Truthdig Jan 31, 2006 The no-stick material will have a hard time sliding this one off: "likely contributor to cancer." | story Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )