Charles Margulis, Author at Center for Environmental Health

Danger at Disneyland: Lead Poisoning

Oct 20, 2011Charles MargulisChildren's Health

The “happiest place on Earth” just became a little less happy. Today, the Center for Environmental Health (CEH), the Mateel Environmental Justice Foundation (Mateel), and the Ecological Rights Foundation (ERF) reported on high levels of lead found at Disney’s...

There’s Something Fishy About Failures to Label GMO Food

Oct 6, 2011Charles MargulisFood

While FDA has not yet approved sale of genetically engineered (GMO) salmon, a new “harmoniously raised” salmon just marketed last month is making GMO waves. Sold by AquaChile, the Verlasso-brand salmon claims environmental cred by reducing the use of fish feed used to...

Laying Down the Evidence: Toxic Flame Retardants in Mattress Pads

Oct 3, 2011Charles MargulisChildren's Health, Flame Retardants, Laws & Regulations

Flame retardant chemicals are a $4 billion a year industry, and the companies that produce these often harmful compounds want to keep it that way, regardless of the health and environmental consequences of their products. This makes it even more important to review...

Moneyball: Hollywood (and Artificial Turf) Comes to Oakland

Sep 20, 2011Charles MargulisChildren's Health, General Insights

Last night the stars were out at Oakland’s historic Paramount Theater for the premier of Moneyball, the Brad Pitt vehicle (from the fabulous Michael Lewis book of the same name) about Oakland A’s manager Billy Beane. The stars and guests were welcomed to...

Justice Begins with (Non-GMO) Seeds

Sep 15, 2011Charles MargulisEnvironmental Justice, Food, Tips

As the Justice Begins with Seeds conference kicks-off in San Francisco, it’s a good time for a reminder about some of the reasons that we are concerned about genetically engineered (GMO) food. For example, there is increasing concern that allergies may occur...

Glyme Time is Long Overdue at EPA

Aug 16, 2011Charles MargulisLaws & Regulations

A recent Environmental Health News (EHN) report notes that the EPA has proposed new rules on a class of highly toxic chemicals, more than a decade after studies demonstrated harmful health effects following exposure to the compounds. Glycol ethers, also called glymes,...

A Pesticide in Every Bite: Monsanto’s New GMO Corn

Aug 11, 2011Charles MargulisChildren's Health, Food

Last week, the biotech food giant Monsanto announced it is marketing a new variety of genetically engineered (GE or GMO) food: a sweet corn intended for sale as frozen and/or canned food. Unlike most previous GMO crops, which are primarily used for animal feed or...

Don’t Be Fooled: Voluntary EPA Program Fails Our Children

Aug 1, 2011Charles MargulisChildren's Health, Environmental Justice, General Insights, Laws & Regulations, Uncategorized

Thirteen years after initiating a program to protect children from the most harmful chemical hazards, a new report from the EPA’s Inspector General found that the agency’s “Voluntary Children’s Chemical Evaluation Program” has utterly and completely failed to achieve...

Greenwash of the Month: Does My Hair Look “Organic”? Mislabeled Organic Personal Care Products

Jun 16, 2011Charles MargulisChildren's Health, Environmental Justice, Legal Action, Tips

When you buy shampoo, lotions, toothpastes or other personal care items and you see the word “organic” on the package, you probably expect the product is made with mostly organic ingredients. After all, that’s why you buy these products, which are safer for you, your...

Flaming Mad About Risky Chemicals in Baby Products

Jun 2, 2011Charles MargulisChildren's Health, Flame Retardants, Laws & Regulations

In a paper published last month, Duke University researcher Heather Stapleton and colleagues collected and tested foam from 101 baby products, including changing table pads, nursing pillows, car seats, and others. The research for the first time analyzed baby products...