Latest news with #pesticides
Forbes
a day ago
- Business
- Forbes
The Cannabis Industry Tries To Police Itself In California
A laboratory worker tests cannabis for harmful contaminants. (Photo by Robert ATANASOVSKI / AFP) ... More (Photo by ROBERT ATANASOVSKI/AFP via Getty Images) No one likes dirty weed. Or unclean air or polluted water. Most citizens are too busy to keep track of what's clean and what's not, so they depend on the government to do that work for them. They expect their hard-earned tax dollars will be used for basic services like clean water and air. When these basic services are not done properly, scandal erupts as whistleblowers or journalists uncover the truth. Contaminated drinking water in Flint, Michigan, is one example that captured the nation's attention. In my home state of California, a giant scandal erupted in June 2024 when the Los Angeles Times and Weed Week reported that many cannabis brands were contaminated with pesticides and heavy metals despite lab testing being a big part of the regulatory framework for legalization. In fact, a majority of legal brands and illicit products that the Times and Weed Week independently lab tested failed. Further examination of these press reports finds one scary pesticide after another was found in the legal supply chain. Consumer confidence may have taken a big hit as a result. The reports also indicate that the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC), the regulating body of legal weed in the state, failed to do its job by properly regulating the labs that do the testing. As a result, the Times found that many labs falsify reports to give their clients a clean bill of health or higher potency results, or both. This corruption should, in theory, be easy to detect by the DCC within their own lab-testing facility but no such facility currently exists or is operational as of this writing. It's no secret that legal weed is heavily regulated and taxed in California but surprisingly, the commercial lab-testing facilities were largely left alone with no state lab to verify results and hold actors accountable. Given the existential nature of the scandal on consumer confidence, the legal cannabis industry has taken action to step into this regulatory void with a nonprofit organization called the Environmental and Consumer Protection Organization (ECCO) launched in December 2024. The intent is to give consumers more confidence that cannabis products sold in the licensed market are clean. The ECCO certification logo allows consumers to quickly identify clean products in California ... More dispensaries. ECCO has developed its own set of lab-testing standards for cannabis covering 138 harmful contaminants, far more than what the state DCC requires. Brands can sign up and pay a monthly fee to become members and enter into the lab-testing protocols that ECCO has developed. If a brand passes the tests, it can be certified by ECCO with a ECCO certification logo on products allowing consumers to quickly identify compliant products. "We built ECCO because the industry was operating on broken trust,' said Ford Smith, ECCO founding member and CEO of Ultranative. 'When lab results are manipulated, when contaminants are overlooked, it's not just bad business — it's a public health failure.' Smith was mindful not to throw regulators under the bus when I spoke to him. 'We're not here to play gotcha,' he said. 'We're here to give consumers, patients, and responsible operators a way to rebuild confidence with real transparency and science-backed standards.' When I emailed the DCC for comment, they pointed me to their own data and a report prepared by a third-party economic organization indicating growth in the legal market in 2024. The DCC didn't address the LA Times reporting or the industry forming ECCO in response to that reporting. 'The Department of Cannabis Control's data, and ERA's California Cannabis Market Report, shows an increase in the licensed market through the end of 2024, which belies a lack of consumer trust,' said David Hafner, media relations manager for the DCC. 'To this end, the Department is closely monitoring its licensees as evidenced by the 117 actions taken against licensees and 52 recalls issued in 2025. The Department has no opinion regarding ECCO's claims, its business model, or its motivations.' ECCO is currently working with two lab-testing facilities that have the necessary equipment to complete the rigorous testing panel they've developed. The labs were chosen for their track record of resisting 'THC inflation' and for having transparent ownership willing to share data and undergo the ECCO protocols. This includes blind testing and third-party audits conducted by ECCO. Testing labs Infinite and Anresco are currently doing the testing for ECCO but the organization hopes to bring more labs on in the future. ECCO recently released their first blind-testing audit that's at the core of their attempt to hold the industry accountable. ECCO purchases two SKUs from random licensed cannabis dispensaries and sends them off to the labs. This is essentially what the LA Times did when they dropped their investigative reporting last June. ECCO audits both member brands and non-member brands. The nine member brands all passed the first audit and several non-member brands failed. ECCO has not published the brands that failed yet but that may be due to sharing information and data with the DCC, which is the enforcement agency for any violations. ECCO has described the relationship with the DCC as 'cautiously collaborative' while maintaining their complete independence from the DCC. The collective goal is to get dirty products off the shelf in California as quickly as possible. Citizens may be comforted to see the cannabis industry in California doing the hard work of holding itself accountable especially after the LA Times story dropped. It took about a year for the industry to respond by forming ECCO, developing the lab-testing panel, and conducting the first audit. In my experience, getting this far in one year is laudable and ECCO has other initiatives to build trust with consumers. In the near future, ECCO plans to create displays at retailers like Catalyst, one of the largest in the state, to further inform consumers. Elliot Lewis, CEO of Catalyst, has been a big champion of ECCO on social media. There's still a big challenge ahead to scale ECCO. It's a big state with hundreds of brands and operators. ECCO will need more than the current dozen members to become viable. More large operators like Catalyst will need to embrace ECCO to give it more traction in the market and inform consumers that ECCO exists. There are also other certification organizations like Clean Green and Sun and Earth, which mainly deal with farm certifications not manufacturers. Yet certificate fragmentation may be a concern when funding is limited (as it always is) and consumers may already be confused. The future of ECCO will depend on the willingness of the industry to undergo more scrutiny, buy into the lab-testing protocols, be willing to be held accountable publicly, and tell the story to consumers with transparency and trust. Whether or not the industry is both willing and able to scale ECCO may determine its fate with consumers. Media outlets like the LA Times and Weed Week will no doubt investigate the supply chain again. As the old saying goes, the whole world is watching. If ECCO reaches its potential, then future investigations by the media should be more positive. At that point, the industry may be able to take a bow instead of hanging its head.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Toxic pesticide levels in tampons 40 times higher than allowed in drinking water
A toxic pesticide linked to cancer has been found in tampons at levels 40 times higher than the legal limit for drinking water. Researchers found traces of glyphosate at high levels in menstrual products, according to a report by the Pesticide Action Network UK (Pan UK), the Women's Environmental Network and the Pesticide Collaboration. It is the world's most commonly used herbicide and in 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified it 'probably carcinogenic'. Researchers have also linked glyphosate to other serious health conditions such as Parkinson's. High levels of the pesticide in tampons is concerning because these chemicals can be absorbed through the vagina directly into the bloodstream. In 2024, Pan UK tested 15 boxes of tampons from UK shops and supermarkets across a range of different brands for traces of pesticides. Despite testing on a small scale, glyphosate was found in one of the boxes, at 0.004 mg/kg - 40 times higher than permitted levels of glyphosate in drinking water. It is thought the toxic pesticide ends up in tampons due to the weedkillers used to grow cotton. About 300 pesticides are used in cotton production globally and roughly a third of these are classified as Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs), such as glyphosate. Researchers at Pan UK say these pesticides used in cotton production pose a major risk to the environment, harming pollinators and other wildlife or contaminating water and soil. Josie Cohen, the interim director at Pan UK, told The Guardian: 'We urgently need to reduce our overall toxic load and shouldn't have to worry about glyphosate and other highly hazardous pesticides in our period products. 'This is a blatant gap in health and safety regulation that the government urgently needs to address.' Previous studies have shown period products can contain a variety of other chemicals including phthalates, dioxins, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (known as 'PFAS' or 'forever chemicals'), and heavy metals such as lead and arsenic. These chemicals have been linked to increased risks of reproductive and hormonal diseases such as endometriosis, infertility and cancer researchers warn. Currently there is no specific regulations for period products in the UK, making it the responsibility of the manufacturers to ensure the product is safe. Pan UK has suggested a regulation scheme and testing should be implemented to ensure they are free of chemical residues. It added that manufacturers should also disclose all the ingredients and additives found in period products so that customers can make informed decisions.
The Guardian
4 days ago
- Health
- The Guardian
Toxic pesticide levels found in tampons 40 times higher than legal limit for water
Toxic pesticide levels have been found in tampons at levels 40 times higher than the legal limit for drinking water. Traces of glyphosate, a pesticide linked to cancer, has been found at very high levels in menstrual products, according to a report by the Pesticide Action Network UK (Pan UK), the Women's Environmental Network and the Pesticide Collaboration. This is concerning, according to the authors, because chemicals absorbed through the vagina directly enter the bloodstream, bypassing the body's detoxification systems. This means even small traces of chemicals in direct contact with the vagina could cause health risks. The researchers tested 15 boxes of tampons from UK retailers across a range of different popular brands. Glyphosate was found in tampons in one of the boxes, at 0.004 mg/kg. The UK and EU maximum residue level for drinking water is 0.0001 mg/kg, making this 40 times higher than permitted levels of glyphosate in drinking water. Glyphosate is the world's most widely used herbicide, but a review by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the World Health Organisation, classified the weedkiller as 'probably carcinogenic to humans'. It has also been linked to the development of Parkinson's, and emerging research is raising concerns about links to other serious health conditions. Amy Heley, from the Pesticide Collaboration, said: 'If this level of glyphosate is deemed to be unsafe in the water we drink, why is it allowed to appear in our period products? Our investigation reveals that women, girls and those who menstruate may not be protected from exposure to harmful chemicals. And yet, most people remain completely unaware that this is even an issue.' It is thought this pesticide could have ended up in the tampons because weedkillers are used to grow cotton, a key ingredient. The plant is one of the most chemical-dependent crops in the world, and up to 300 pesticides can be used in its global production. The UK government has no plans to tackle chemicals in period products, even though previous studies have found heavy metals such as lead and arsenic in tampons. Josie Cohen, the interim director at Pan UK, said: 'We were genuinely shocked to find glyphosate in tampons sitting on UK shelves. This harmful chemical is already impossible to avoid since it's sprayed by councils in streets and parks and contaminates much of our food and water due to its overuse in farming. 'We urgently need to reduce our overall toxic load and shouldn't have to worry about glyphosate and other highly hazardous pesticides in our period products. This is a blatant gap in health and safety regulation that the government urgently needs to address.' The report's authors have suggested a regulation scheme with a testing process in place to ensure period products are pesticide-free. Sign up to Down to Earth The planet's most important stories. Get all the week's environment news - the good, the bad and the essential after newsletter promotion In the UK, glyphosate is used to prepare fields for sowing crops by clearing all vegetation from the land. It kills weeds by inhibiting EPSP synthase, an enzyme involved in plant growth, while not damaging crops that have been genetically modified to be glyphosate-tolerant. Farmers argue that it is an important herbicide because it has 'high efficacy on non-resistant weeds and is a cost-effective weed control solution for farmers'. But beyond concerns about human health, red flags have also been raised over the weedkiller's impact on biodiversity: recent research has shown that it damages wild bee colonies, and this product also has adverse effects on aquatic organisms. There are calls to ban it from urban areas: at present many local councils continue to use it to kill weeds. However, 70 to 80 UK councils have turned to chemical-free options or now simply allow plants grow, from Bath & North East Somerset council, to Highland council in Scotland.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Urgent warning to British women as scientists discover toxic pesticides in UK TAMPONS at 40 times the drinking water limit
They're the product that many women religiously reach for at certain times of the month. But scientists have issued an urgent warning to British women after discovering toxic pesticides in tampons at 40 times the drinking water limit. Experts have tested 15 boxes of tampons from UK retailers across a range of popular brands including Tampax, Lil Lets, Superdrug, Tesco and Boots. Analysis revealed one sample, which has not been named, contained 0.004mg/kg of glyphosate – a toxic chemical that is the world's most popular weedkiller. While it may seem a small amount, the UK and EU maximum residue level for drinking water is 0.0001 mg/kg. The WHO has previously dubbed the chemical as 'probably carcinogenic to humans' – meaning it is likely linked to cancer. It has also been linked to the development of Parkinson's and other serious health conditions. Amy Heley, Public Affairs Manager at the Pesticide Collaboration, said: 'If this level of glyphosate is deemed to be unsafe in the water we drink, why is it allowed to appear in our period products?' 'Our investigation reveals that women, girls and those who menstruate may not be protected from exposure to harmful chemicals. 'And yet, most people remain completely unaware that this is even an issue.' Pesticides end up in period products after being used to grow cotton, which is the main ingredient in tampons. Unlike when ingested through food or water, chemicals absorbed via the vagina directly enter the bloodstream, bypassing the body's detoxification systems. Helen Lynn, Environmenstrual Campaign Manager at the Women's Environmental Network, said: 'Women, girls and people who menstruate deserve full transparency about what's in their period products. 'It is scandalous that pesticides linked to cancer, as well as other toxic chemicals linked to reproductive and hormonal diseases, can show up in period products. 'Consumers deserve robust regulation that guarantees the safety of these products.' In the US, the link between glyphosate and cancer has played out publicly in the courts, with thousands of lawsuits being taken against pesticide company Monsanto. They are the manufacturers of Roundup, of which the active ingredient is glyphosate, and thousands of plaintiffs across the US have been awarded damages for their diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma - a type of cancer. In 2020, Monsanto agreed to pay almost $11 billion to settle most Roundup cancer claims, and additional trials are expected to resume this year. Previous studies have also detected traces of heavy metals such as lead and arsenic in some tampons. Josie Cohen, Interim Director at Pesticide Action Network, said: 'We were genuinely shocked to find glyphosate in tampons sitting on UK shelves. 'This harmful chemical is already impossible to avoid since it's sprayed by councils in streets and parks and contaminates much of our food and water due to its overuse in farming. 'We urgently need to reduce our overall toxic load and shouldn't have to worry about glyphosate and other Highly Hazardous Pesticides in our period products. 'This is a blatant gap in health and safety regulation that the government urgently needs to address.' The report suggests a handful of recommendations for the UK Government, including the introduction of robust regulation for period products with a testing scheme in place to ensure that they are free of pesticide residues. THE SAGA SURROUNDING THE SAFETY OF GLYPHOSATE Glyphosate is an herbicide first registered for use in the US in 1974. It is marketed either as a salt or an amber-colored liquid with no smell. Monsanto markets glyphosate as part of the pesticide Roundup. Several studies found that high doses administered to laboratory animals caused cancer, although the evidence is 'limited' when it comes to humans. In March 2015, the World Health Organization ranked glyphosate a Group 2a carcinogen, a substance that probably causes cancer in people. In 2017, California added glyphosate to its proposition 65 list, which requires Roundup to carry a warning label if sold in California. Monsanto has vehemently denied that its product causes cancer and says and more than 800 studies that have established its safety. Yet more than 4,000 plaintiffs have filed lawsuits - 800 over the past year - claiming Monsanto made them or members of their family sick.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
This PFA is for you: Surprising amount of ‘forever chemicals' found in some American beers, study finds
Beer drinkers should pay attention the next time they imbibe, as they may be consuming more than just alcohol, according to a new study from the American Chemical Society. It reports that some U.S. beers contain higher than the Environmental Protection Agency's maximum safe levels of polyfluoroalkyl substances, which have come to be known as "forever chemicals" due to the fact that they don't naturally break down or pass through the body. Other recent reports have found PFAS are present in drinking water across the globe, and the study's author decided to see if those same chemicals were making their way into beer. "As an occasional beer drinker myself, I wondered whether PFAS in water supplies were making their way into our pints. I hope these findings inspire water treatment strategies and policies that help reduce the likelihood of PFAS in future pours," wrote lead researcher Jennifer Hoponick Redmon. Breweries do use water filtration and treatment systems to ensure only quality water is being used in their brews, but those systems don't typically block PFAS from entering into the system. Redmon and her team modified an EPA testing tool analyzing PFAS in drinking water and used it to test 23 U.S. beers. They selected beers from areas where water-system contamination has already been documented, as well as beers from areas with unknown water systems. According to the study's findings, some breweries in North Carolina, California, and Michigan had elevated levels of PFAS in their beers. In 95 percent of the beer tested, PFAS with perfluorooctanesulfonate and perfluorooctanoic acid — both forever chemicals — were present. Beers from outside the U.S. were also tested. One beer from Holland and two from Mexico were tested, and were found to be less likely to contain PFAS. "Our findings indicate a strong link between PFAS in drinking water and beer, with beers brewed in areas with higher PFAS in local drinking water translating to higher levels of PFAS in beer, showing that drinking water is a primary route of PFAS contamination in beer," the research team determined. Last fall, researchers from the University of Birmingham, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, and Hainan University, Haikou, published a study that found that forever chemicals were present in water across the world. PFAS can accumulate in the bodies of living organisms and have been linked to severe health conditions. They are used in different products like pesticides, non-stick cookware, food packaging and cosmetics, and can enter wastewater through many day-to-day activities. Government regulation has banned some, while the use of others is still widespread, with their toxic effects yet to be fully investigated. They also revealed a wide range of PFAS contamination for target PFAS, beginning at 63 percent of bottled waters tested.
