Charles Margulis, Author at Center for Environmental Health

Oil Cleanup? Dispersing the Myths

Jun 21, 2010Charles MargulisChildren's Health, Energy, General Insights, Uncategorized

There has been much recent attention to BP’s use of so-called dispersants in the Gulf oil disaster. Dispersants are chemicals intended to break up the spilled oil, presumably to speed degradation and thus lessen some of the havoc the oil would otherwise wreak. But...

Where’s Wal-Mart? Still Selling Lead-Tainted Purses, That’s Where!

Jun 3, 2010Charles MargulisChildren's Health, Legal Action

Last year, the Center for Environmental Health found high levels of lead in hundreds of handbags, purses, wallets and other accessories purchased from dozens of leading retailers. This week, we announced our legal settlement with more than forty major companies,...

Walmart Knew About Cadmium In Its Jewelry

May 20, 2010Charles MargulisChildren's Health, General Insights, Legal Action

The Center for Environmental Health has filed legal notice against Wal-Mart for selling cadmium-tainted jewelry. Independent testing commissioned by the nonprofit found that a pendant on a Miley Cyrus/Max Azria necklace contained high levels of cadmium, in violation...

Take Action Against GMO Food Contamination

May 17, 2010Charles MargulisFood

It’s been a rough few weeks for those concerned about threats from genetically manipulated (GMO) foods. First, in a recess appointment, President Obama gave the role of chief agricultural trade negotiator to a long-time lobbyist for the GMO crop industry. Next, news...

For Health Care, Purchasing Safer Electronics Means Never Having to Say You’re Sorry

May 17, 2010Charles MargulisEnvironmental Justice, General Insights, Laws & Regulations

Most of us use multiple kinds of electronic devices on a daily basis, and many of us scarf up the newest gadgets even before the old one’s warranty runs out (which as you know, doesn’t take very long to do!). But most of us rarely think about the health consequences...

Energy Star Ratings, For More Efficient Greenwashing

May 3, 2010Charles MargulisEnergy, General Insights, Laws & Regulations, Uncategorized

A recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report has exposed fatal flaws in the government’s Energy Star ratings program. Jointly managed by the EPA and Department of Energy (DOE), Energy Star ratings since 1993 have been granted to products presumably based on...

For Corporate Polluters’ Front Groups, Every Day is Defraud the Earth Day

Apr 22, 2010Charles MargulisChemical Industry, Children's Health, Flame Retardants

If you heard of a great, health-protective advocacy group called Citizens for Fire Safety (CFFS), you might want to learn more before joining their efforts to protect children from fire hazards. So it might really annoy, disappoint, even enrage you to learn that they...

An Appetizing End to E-Waste

Apr 1, 2010Charles MargulisEnvironmental Justice, Food

Working with Cargill, a leader in bio-based green packaging, and with Ferran Adria, chef of Spain’s three-star Michelin restaurant elBulli, in 2011 electronics industry giant Sony will unveil a new PlayStation made from completely edible materials. Recent reports have...

Perdue’s Chicken Labels — For the Birds

Mar 24, 2010Charles MargulisFood

In a February press release, poultry giant Perdue announced its latest breakthrough in corporate doublespeak: the company’s birds will now carry a US Department of Agriculture (USDA) “process verified” seal of approval, spending your hard-earned tax dollars to certify...

Why the Enviropig is Full of Shit

Mar 16, 2010Charles MargulisFood

The best friend a polluting factory hog farm ever knew is back in the news. The so-called “Enviropig” is a genetically manipulated (GMO) hog that a Canadian team has been trying to develop for more than a decade, in response to the pork industry’s need to evade...