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EPA's School Indoor Air Quality Newsletter - Back-to-School Edition

noreply@blogger.com (denny iswanto) — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 08:03:45 -0700

EPA's School Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Newsletter

Back-to-School Edition

As teachers ready their classrooms for a new year and students return to school, it is also the perfect time to make sure your school is maintaining a strong indoor air quality management program to protect student health.

EPA recently published an interactive graphic – pictured above – that highlights common IAQ challenges in schools and offers practical solutions to address them. Take the school IAQ tour and share this resource with school staff and leadership to help introduce the importance of maintaining healthy indoor air.

Keep reading for the latest school IAQ resources from EPA and its partners.

EPA resources

EPA updates its Sensible Steps to Healthier School Environments

EPA recently published an update to its Sensible Steps to Healthier School Environments resource. This guidance addresses many of the most common environmental health concerns found in schools and outlines practical, low- or no-cost measures to help prevent, reduce, and resolve these hazards. The updated resource addresses issues such as:

IAQ, mold, and asthma triggers.
Lead in drinking water and lead-based paint.
Chemical and pesticide management.
Wildfire smoke and UV exposure.
Waste reduction, and more!

EPA Air Quality Outreach Program at Shinnecock Boys and Girls Club in Shinnecock Indian Nation Territory on May 7, 2026.

Air quality education for children in EPA Region 2

This May, staff in EPA’s Region 2 office visited children at the Shinnecock Boys and Girls Club and PS 596x elementary school in New York to teach them about indoor and outdoor air quality. The students explored “Why is Coco Orange?”, EPA’s children’s book about air quality and asthma. EPA then introduced the Air Quality Index chart, the tool used to communicate air quality levels of concern. Because children are more vulnerable to air pollution, they are classified as a “sensitive group” on the chart. EPA staff then demonstrated how to check the IAQ using an air sensor and how to check outdoor conditions using AirNow.gov. To reinforce the lesson, students created their own air quality index flags and discussed what each flag color represents.

EPA grantee resources

To learn more about EPA’s school IAQ grantees and how they can support your school, you can view the May 13 webinar recording, “Better Air, Better Schools: Programs, Resources, and Grants You Can Use.”

Learn more about the IAQ Tools for Schools guidance and access other valuable school environmental health resources at www.epa.gov/iaq-schools.

If you have questions about the IAQ Tools for Schools guidance, please contact iaqschools@epa.gov.

Learn more about Indoor Air Quality.

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EPA Releases Glyphosate Human Health Open Literature Search Document for Public Feedback

noreply@blogger.com (denny iswanto) — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 08:02:08 -0700

EPA has released for public comment the results of a comprehensive open literature search to inform a forthcoming glyphosate risk assessment

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Pesticide Update

EPA Releases Glyphosate Human Health Open Literature Search Document for Public Feedback

August 25, 2026

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released for public comment the results of a comprehensive open literature search to inform a forthcoming glyphosate human health risk assessment document.

As part of its pesticide reevaluation process, called registration review, EPA is reevaluating glyphosate to ensure that it continues to meet the statutory standard for registration as scientific data evolves. Because of the large and growing body of publicly available research, EPA routinely conducts open literature searches to identify, screen, assess, and incorporate relevant peer-reviewed studies. The agency also reviews open literature submitted during public comment periods.

This document describes the systematic review procedure and presents a comprehensive list of the studies EPA has identified, including the most recent search, which captures publications since EPA's last open literature review in 2017. EPA will use additional, relevant studies to inform the upcoming human health risk assessment which includes potential dietary risks associated with residues in food and water. The risk assessment is scheduled for completion in late 2026, which EPA will then release for public comment.

Because EPA relies on gold-standard science, the agency asks that commenters provide the complete study and its underlying data, or clear information on how to obtain them, so each study can be evaluated for quality, reproducibility, and other factors. When submitting a study, please include the full citation — author(s), date of publication, journal title, and article title.

This comment period is focused specifically on identifying peer-reviewed, gold-standard studies EPA may consider moving forward. When EPA releases the updated human health risk assessment, the public will have a further opportunity to comment on the agency's evaluation of the science and its conclusions. At this time, EPA encourages stakeholders to provide specific studies beyond those identified in the summary document for potential consideration.

The open literature review is available for a 30-day public comment period in docket EPA-HQ-OPP-2009-0361.Comments must be submitted at regulations.gov by September 24, 2026.

Learn more about EPA's review of glyphosate.

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EPA Releases New Guidance to Reduce Lead Exposure in Drinking Water, Protect American Children

noreply@blogger.com (denny iswanto) — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 09:01:22 -0700

Today, EPA released guidance to help drinking water systems that are working to keep their communities safe from lead.

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News Release

EPA Releases New Guidance to Reduce Lead Exposure in Drinking Water, Protect American Children

August 21, 2026 | Contact EPA's Press Office (press@epa.gov)

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released guidance to help drinking water systems that are working to keep their communities safe from lead. This guidance advances the agency’s commitment to clear and plain language communication while sharing information, definitions, and useful examples to help water systems comply with lead pipe replacement requirements of the Lead and Copper Rule. Reducing exposure to lead—a powerful neurotoxin that is especially dangerous to children—advances the Trump EPA’s commitment to Making America Healthy Again.

“The agency’s efforts to reduce lead in drinking water started under the first Trump Administration and continue today under Administrator Zeldin’s leadership,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Jess Kramer. “EPA is committed to supporting local water systems as they identify and remove lead pipes. Today, we are providing practical, clear, and plain language guidance clarifying existing federal requirements. This action complements federal funding and technical assistance in a holistic approach.”

EPA is releasing two documents, Access Tips and Service Line Inventory Tips, to provide practical information to help water systems and states implement the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI). In April 2026, EPA sought the public’s input on these two Tips documents and EPA considered the comments received in the development of these final resources.

EPA is taking on lead in drinking water holistically, including prioritizing collaboration, practical implementation, and communication. The agency recently published a revamped lead website, found at epa.gov/lead, including a new StoryMap about Lead and Children’s Health. The streamlined website allows parents and caregivers, contractors, health care professionals, and other users to quickly find critical information on how to prevent exposures from lead. This is one of many actions being undertaken by EPA under the government-wide Federal Lead Action Plan, which was launched in President Trump’s first term as a blueprint for reducing lead exposure through collaboration among federal agencies. 

Releasing this new resource is yet another example of the Trump EPA working to ensure that all Americans can rely on clean and safe drinking water. They complement the agency’s robust technical assistance effort – Real Water TA. Real Water TA focuses on hands on assistance for communities and water systems working to address water infrastructure challenges or funding needs. EPA also supports state and local efforts to upgrade and maintain water infrastructure with funding opportunities. This year, EPA announced nearly $3 billion in funding for lead pipe identification and removal.

Background

There is no safe level of lead. Lead pipes, when present, are the primary source of lead in drinking water. EPA is committed to using every tool available to protect all Americans from lead in drinking water. The 2024 Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) builds on the strong foundation of the first Trump Administration’s 2021 Lead and Copper Rule Revisions to achieve this goal. First promulgated in 1991, the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) regulates lead and copper in public drinking water systems. 

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EPA Seeks Comments on Nominations to FIFRA Scientific Advisory Panel

noreply@blogger.com (denny iswanto) — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 10:01:27 -0700

EPA is seeking public comments on experts nominated to serve on the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act Scientific Advisory

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Pesticide Update

EPA Seeks Comments on Nominations to FIFRA Scientific Advisory Panel

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking public comments on experts nominated to serve on the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act Scientific Advisory Panel (FIFRA SAP).

The FIFRA SAP provides independent scientific advice, information, and recommendations to the EPA Administrator on pesticides and pesticide related issues. Independent peer review helps ensure pesticide registration decisions are based on sound, unbiased science. Taking public input on potential committee reviewers remains vital to forming a balanced and robust peer review panel. This practice ensures the agency benefits from a wide array of scientific viewpoints and real-world perspectives, supporting review processes that are fair, rigorous, and reflective of the best available science.

The FIFRA SAP is composed of a permanent panel of seven scientists appointed by the EPA Administrator to serve staggered terms of three to six years. These experts are appointed from a pool of candidates provided by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF).

In April 2026, EPA requested nominations from NIH and NSF to fill vacancies on the FIFRA SAP due to expiring terms. Specifically, EPA requested nationally recognized experts with expertise in ecological and human exposure assessment, including environmental fate and transport of chemicals, and New Approach Methodologies (NAMs), including in vitro to in vivo extrapolation (IVIVE). Experts with specific experience in risk assessment, dose-response analysis, cheminformatics, bioinformatics, and genomics are preferred. NIH and NSF provided the agency with a total of 28 nominees, of which, 16 are interested and available to actively participate in FIFRA SAP meetings.

Consistent with this Administration’s commitment to transparency, biographies of the interested and available candidates will be available in docket EPA-HQ-OPP-2026-5679, and through the FIFRA SAP website. Public comments on these experts will be used to assist the agency in appointing two new FIFRA SAP members to fill vacancies by October 2026. All comments must be submitted to the docket within 21 days from the publication of the Federal Register Notice.

Prospective candidates for membership on the FIFRA SAP are asked to submit confidential financial information, and fully disclose, among other financial interests, the candidate's employment, stocks and bonds, and where applicable, sources of research support. EPA will evaluate the nominees’ financial disclosure forms to assess whether there are financial conflicts of interest or the appearance of a loss of impartiality. EPA will also review any prior involvement with the development of documents likely to be under consideration by the FIFRA SAP (including previous scientific peer reviews) before a nominee is considered for appointment.

EPA will consider public comments on the FIFRA SAP membership candidates and will then release a list of selected candidates after conducting ethics reviews and reviewing technical expertise and public feedback.

For additional information, please see the FIFRA SAP website, or contact Tamue L. Gibson, Designated Federal Officer, at gibson.tamue@epa.gov or 202-564-7642.

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EPA Seeks Nominations for Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee; Agency Reestablishes Committee to Strengthen Stakeholder Input

noreply@blogger.com (denny iswanto) — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 09:01:31 -0700

EPA Seeks Nominations for Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee; Agency Reestablishes Committee to Strengthen Stakeholder Input

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Pesticide Update

EPA Seeks Nominations for Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee; Agency Reestablishes Committee to Strengthen Stakeholder Input

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is requesting nominations for the Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee (PPDC), a federal advisory committee that advises the EPA Administrator on pesticide policy, science, and program implementation, with a focus on evaluating and reducing the real-world risks that pesticides pose to human health and the environment. Under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), EPA is reestablishing the PPDC for a two-year term and scheduling its next meeting.

EPA is committed to a committee that is genuinely balanced. Every nominee will be reviewed for conflicts of interest, and EPA will apply FACA's fair-balance requirement so that no single interest dominates the conversation. The work of this committee may focus on questions families are asking like: cumulative and combined exposures, effects on children's development, and how the agency can make its review process more transparent and better communicate the science‑based decisions that protect human health and the environment while supporting a fair and effective pesticide program.

EPA is seeking qualified nominees to serve two‑year terms. Consistent with the PPDC charter, nominees will be selected to represent a broad range of perspectives, including:

Pesticide industry and trade associations
Pesticide users, growers, and commodity groups
Federal, state, local, and tribal governments
Academia
Animal welfare and public health organizations
Environmental and public interest organizations
Farmworker organizations
The general public

EPA especially encourages nominations from public-health, children's-health, farmworker, and community organizations to ensure these perspectives are strongly represented.

Instructions for submitting nominations will be provided in the Federal Register notice. Upon publication in the Federal Register notice, nominations will be accepted until September 16, 2026. Vacancies are expected to be filled by November 2026.

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EPA Releases Draft TSCA Risk Evaluations for Two Chemicals Found in Household and Commercial Products

noreply@blogger.com (denny iswanto) — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 12:01:51 -0700

EPA Releases Draft TSCA Risk Evaluations for Two Chemicals Found in Household and Commercial Products

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News Release

EPA Releases Draft TSCA Risk Evaluations for Two Chemicals Found in Household and Commercial Products

August 6, 2026 | Contact EPA's Press Office (press@epa.gov)

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is advancing its review of o-dichlorobenzene (oDCB) and p-dichlorobenzene (pDCB) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) by releasing draft risk evaluations for public comment. Both chemicals are found in products used in homes and workplaces and can evaporate into the air. For pDCB, which is used in some air care and deodorizing products, indoor air can be a key exposure route for people who use those products. Evaluating each chemical across its conditions of use and exposure pathways is how EPA determines where new protections may be needed and where existing safeguards are sufficient.

EPA applied systematic review and weighed the reasonably available, peer-reviewed science alongside information submitted to the Agency. The complete draft evaluations, technical support documents, and underlying data will be available in the public dockets and on EPA's website. The draft evaluations preliminarily found:

oDCB contributes to unreasonable risk to workers from 14 conditions of use (inhalation, with dermal exposure from seven) and to consumers from one condition of use through inhalation. Non-cancer hazards evaluated include developmental, liver, and respiratory toxicity.
pDCB contributes to unreasonable risk to workers from 7 conditions of use through inhalation and dermal exposure, and to consumers via inhalation from air care products. Non-cancer hazards evaluated include developmental, liver, and respiratory toxicity.
For both chemicals, the draft preliminarily risk evaluations found no unreasonable risk to the general population through ambient outdoor air, including fenceline communities, or to the environment. This is separate from the consumer-use exposures above, where the drafts do identify some conditions of use as contributing to unreasonable risk.

Consistent with TSCA, EPA considered potentially exposed or susceptible subpopulations, including workers and groups that may be more susceptible, in characterizing risk. EPA's draft worker risk estimates do not assume the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) as the basis for the risk determination; the drafts separately discuss how PPE and other controls could reduce exposure. EPA welcomes comments and data on the occupational and consumer exposure scenarios, on potentially exposed or susceptible subpopulations, and on additional health endpoints.

For pDCB, EPA's draft determination is that it is not likely to be carcinogenic to humans, based on a non-mutagenic, threshold-dependent mode of action for the liver tumors observed in animals. EPA recognizes that IARC and the National Toxicology Program have classified pDCB differently and specifically invites comments and data on this evaluation.

These are draft findings, and EPA wants feedback. The 60-day comment period is how EPA hears from independent experts, workers, communities, and the public before finalizing the risk evaluations. All current protections and product label directions remain in place while EPA completes these reviews; releasing draft evaluations does not alter any existing safeguard. If EPA continues to find unreasonable risk, it will propose risk-management actions under TSCA section 6(a) to address those exposures. EPA is working toward the February 12, 2027, consent-decree deadline for the final evaluations.

Upon publication of the Federal Register notice, EPA will accept comments for 60 days at regulations.gov: oDCB via EPA-HQ-OPPT-2018-0444 and pDCB via EPA-HQ-OPPT-2018-0446.

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Last chance to register for tomorrow’s EPA webinar — From Vision to Action: How School District Leaders Drive Healthy Indoor Air Quality!

noreply@blogger.com (denny iswanto) — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 11:32:26 -0700

Don’t miss tomorrow’s webinar on school indoor air quality!

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Don’t miss tomorrow’s webinar on school indoor air quality!

From Vision to Action: How School District Leaders Drive Healthy Indoor Air Quality

Tomorrow, August 11, 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. ET

Register

Join the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency tomorrow for an informative session on how school boards, superintendents and district leaders can lead the way by setting policy, aligning budgets and priorities, and institutionalizing practices to integrate indoor air quality (IAQ) management into routine district operations.

During the webinar, hear from a panel of school board and district leaders from the 2026 National School Boards Association Magna Awards recognition program as they discuss their efforts to enhance student learning and academic success by improving IAQ:

Pamela Boozer-Strother, M.B.A., CAE, Board of Education Member, Prince George’s County Public Schools, Maryland
Sandi Brundage, M.S., M.S.Ed., Grant Administrator, Salamanca City Central School District, New York
Antaniece Carter, Ed.D., Director of Social Emotional Learning and Health Services, East St. Louis School District 189, Illinois
Sydney Stigge-Kaufman, M.S.W., Executive Director of Communications and Strategic Partnerships, East St. Louis School District 189, Illinois
Joseph Haskell, M.A., Director of Maintenance, Operations, and Risk Management, East St. Louis School District 189, Illinois
Sheila Stevens, Program Manager, Department of Sustainability and Resilience, Prince George’s County Public Schools, Maryland

These leaders will share how and why their school boards adopted EPA‑aligned IAQ management plans, linked IAQ with energy efficiency, mobilized cross‑department teams, and used training and simple metrics to drive results and program sustainability — even with ever‑tightening school budgets. The webinar will also highlight how to access and implement cost‑effective best practices and resources, including training, technical assistance and funding.

Spread the word! Share this email with colleagues.

Learn more about the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Tools for Schools guidance and access other valuable school environmental health resources at www.epa.gov/iaq-schools.

If you have questions about the IAQ Tools for Schools guidance, please contact iaqschools@epa.gov.

Learn more about IAQ.

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Register for EPA’s webinar — From Vision to Action: How School District Leaders Drive Healthy Indoor Air Quality!

noreply@blogger.com (denny iswanto) — Tue, 4 Aug 2026 08:38:24 -0700

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will host an informative session featuring school districts recognized by the 2026 National...

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From Vision to Action: How School District Leaders Drive Healthy Indoor Air Quality

Tuesday, August 11, 2026, 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. ET

Register

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will host an informative session featuring school districts recognized by the 2026 National School Boards Association Magna Awards for enhancing learning and academic success through improved indoor air quality (IAQ).

School leaders from East St. Louis School District 189 (Illinois), Salamanca City Central School District (New York) and Prince George’s County Public Schools (Maryland) will share how and why their school boards adopted EPA-aligned IAQ management plans, linked IAQ with energy efficiency, mobilized cross-department teams, and used training and simple metrics to drive results and program sustainability — even with ever-tightening school budgets. The webinar will also highlight how to implement cost‑effective best practices and access resources, including training, technical assistance and funding.

Learning Objectives

Attend this webinar to:

Understand the role school boards, superintendents and district leaders can play in setting policy, adopting an EPA‑aligned IAQ management plan, and establishing governance and accountability for IAQ and energy performance.

Identify practical, replicable steps to implement sustainable IAQ management programs — forming cross‑functional teams, conducting IAQ walkthroughs, controlling indoor pollutant sources, improving ventilation/filtration and maintenance, and integrating energy‑efficient practices.

Learn how districts track and communicate progress on IAQ and energy efficiency (e.g., simple metrics, training participation, documentation) and how these elements contribute to program success.

Access EPA and grantee resources and tools to implement cost‑effective best practices and accelerate healthier, more energy‑efficient schools.

Panelist Speakers

Pamela Boozer-Strother, M.B.A., CAE, Board of Education Member, Prince George’s County Public Schools, Maryland
Sandi Brundage, M.S., M.S.Ed., Grant Administrator, Salamanca City Central School District, New York
Antaniece Carter, Ed.D., Director of Social Emotional Learning and Health Services, East St. Louis School District 189, Illinois
Sydney Stigge-Kaufman, M.S.W., Executive Director of Communications and Strategic Partnerships, East St. Louis School District 189, Illinois
Joseph Haskell, M.A., Director of Maintenance, Operations, and Risk Management, East St. Louis School District 189, Illinois
Jill Buck, M.S., GoGreen Initiative (EPA School IAQ Grantee), California
Sheila Stevens, Program Manager, Department of Sustainability and Resilience, Prince George’s County Public Schools, Maryland

Spread the word! Share this email with colleagues.

Learn more about the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Tools for Schools guidance and access other valuable school environmental health resources at www.epa.gov/iaq-schools.

If you have questions about the IAQ Tools for Schools guidance, please contact iaqschools@epa.gov.

Learn more about IAQ.

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Questions? Contact Us

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America’s Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being, 2025

noreply@blogger.com (denny iswanto) — Tue, 4 Aug 2026 07:02:07 -0700

Read the Newly Released Report from the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics

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America’s Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being, 2025

Read the Newly Released Report from the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics

America’s Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being, 2025 brings together high-quality data on the well-being of the nation’s children and youth in a way that is accessible to the public and policymakers. Produced by the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics, the report highlights how federal agencies collaborate to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, and accessibility of government information.

This year’s report presents 30 key indicators on important aspects of children’s lives, drawn from reliable federal statistics and organized across seven domains:

Family and social environment
Economic circumstances
Health care
Physical environment and safety
Behavior
Education
Health

These indicators are designed to be easy to understand, objectively based on substantial research, measured over time to show trends, and representative of large segments of the population.

As in prior years, the report also highlights critical data gaps identified by the Forum and its federal statistical agencies. EPA’s America’s Children and the Environment (ACE) provided data for the asthma, air quality, drinking water, cotinine and blood lead levels indicators.

Explore the Report

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Learn how school district leaders can support indoor air quality management during EPA’s webinar on August 11!

noreply@blogger.com (denny iswanto) — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 08:02:41 -0700

Take action on school indoor air quality — what leaders need to know

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Take action on school indoor air quality — what leaders need to know

“East St. Louis School District 189 is honored to receive the Magna Awards Grand Prize from the National School Boards Association, but the greatest reward is knowing the air our students breathe today shapes their success tomorrow.”

– East St. Louis School District 189, 2026 Magna Award Grand Prize Winner

Register

Register today for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency webinar, From Vision to Action: How School District Leaders Drive Healthy Indoor Air Quality, on August 11, 2026, 1:00–2:30 p.m. ET. The webinar will include a practical session featuring school leaders from districts recognized by the 2026 National School Boards Association Magna Awards for managing indoor air quality (IAQ) to improve student and staff health, attendance and learning, as well as teacher retention.

Learn how these award-winning school districts — East St. Louis School District 189 (Illinois), Salamanca City Central School District (New York) and Prince George’s County Public Schools (Maryland) — have adopted EPA‑aligned IAQ management plans, linked IAQ with energy efficiency, mobilized cross‑department teams, and used training and simple metrics to drive results and program sustainability — even with ever‑tightening school budgets.

Learning Objectives

Attend this webinar to:

Learn how districts track and communicate progress on IAQ and energy efficiency (e.g., simple metrics, training participation, documentation) and how these elements contribute to program success.

Access EPA and grantee resources and tools to implement cost‑effective best practices and accelerate healthier, more energy‑efficient schools.

Spread the word! Share this email with colleagues.

Learn more about the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Tools for Schools guidance and access other valuable school environmental health resources at www.epa.gov/iaq-schools.

If you have questions about the IAQ Tools for Schools guidance, please contact iaqschools@epa.gov.

Learn more about IAQ.

STAY CONNECTED:

Questions? Contact Us

Manage Preferences or Unsubscribe | Help


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Register for EPA’s Upcoming Webinar: Heat Events & Indoor Air - Protecting Respiratory Health

noreply@blogger.com (denny iswanto) — Tue, 7 Jul 2026 11:01:43 -0700

Extreme heat is an indoor health risk — are you prepared?

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Heat Events & Indoor Air: Protecting Respiratory Health

August 6, 2026 | 1:00 - 2:30 PM ET

Learn why indoor air matters more than ever — register now for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s webinar, Heat Events and Indoor Air: Protecting Respiratory Health!

Register for the Webinar

Extreme heat events are a growing public health threat. When indoor temperatures rise, people can suffer from potentially deadly illnesses, including heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Rising indoor temperature is also associated with reduced air quality, adversely impacting respiratory health. Join EPA’s Indoor Environments Division for a timely webinar to learn how indoor environmental management strategies can moderate temperatures indoors during extreme heat events and reduce occupant health risks.

From Outdoor Challenge to Indoor Protection

Webinar attendees will learn how to:

Identify key indoor environmental and building-related risk factors that contribute to heat exposure and adverse health outcomes, particularly for people at-risk from heat.
Explain how temperature, humidity, ventilation and building characteristics influence respiratory health, heat stress and indoor air quality.
Apply practical building science and indoor environmental management strategies — like passive cooling, shading, ventilation, filtration and active cooling — to reduce heat-related health risks in homes, schools and community settings.

Asthma Community Network

AsthmaCommunityNetwork.org is designed for community-based asthma programs and organizations that sponsor them — including representatives of health plans and providers, government health and environmental agencies, nonprofits, coalitions, schools and more.

Subscribe for email updates from Asthma Community Network.

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EPA Seeks Public Comment on Draft Guidance for Reducing Risk from PFOA and PFOS in Biosolids to Make America Healthy Again

noreply@blogger.com (denny iswanto) — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 07:02:22 -0700

EPA released draft guidance to help wastewater utilities, landowners, and the public reduce risk from PFOA and PFOS in biosolids.

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News Release

EPA Seeks Public Comment on Draft Guidance for Reducing Risk from PFOA and PFOS in Biosolids to Make America Healthy Again

July 1, 2026 | Contact EPA's Press Office (press@epa.gov)

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is releasing draft guidance to help wastewater utilities, landowners, and the public reduce risk from PFOA and PFOS in biosolids. This effort is part of EPA’s comprehensive, lifecycle-based strategy to address PFAS and Make America Healthy Again.

EPA is taking a radically transparent approach by ensuring robust input is gathered to inform next steps. EPA will solicit comment on the draft guidance for 60 days following publication in the Federal Register. Once the notice is published, comments can be submitted using Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2026-2509. The notice will contain additional information on how to submit a comment.

“One of EPA’s top priorities is to Make America Healthy Again, and reducing risk from PFOA and PFOS in biosolids is a critical part of that effort,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Jess Kramer. “This draft guidance will provide Americans with commonsense recommendations that can protect public health, while also supporting wastewater systems and beneficial use of biosolids when appropriate.”

The Trump EPA has gathered feedback from a wide range of stakeholders on this topic and recognizes the complexity associated with biosolids contaminated with PFOA and PFOS.

After reviewing extensive public input, EPA determined that the previous administration's Draft Risk Assessment relied on assumptions too disconnected from real-world conditions to give Americans clear, actionable information. The agency received comments that flagged that there are risks at trace concentrations near the limit of detection, levels lower than those already found in everyday soil and household products. They also commented that the assessment relied on a simplified, straight-line risk calculation that independent scientists have questioned. Commenters underscored the assessment leaned on data from atypical, industrially contaminated sites while overlooking newer research from communities where ordinary household biosolids have been safely land-applied for decades.

The Trump EPA will now issue guidance to transparently gather important feedback and chart a path forward that helps protect Americans from exposure to PFOA and PFOS in biosolids. There is real concern from farmers and ranchers who want to ensure their land is as healthy and productive as possible. At the same time, wastewater systems need a path forward for managing sewage sludge and biosolids from the communities they serve. In keeping with common best practices, EPA’s draft guidance recognizes the importance of reusing biosolids through land-application. It also provides commonsense recommendations for how to reduce risk by avoiding land application of biosolids near waterways and on lands where children play, and also by avoiding using biosolids as fertilizer of crops that have higher risk of human exposure.

Background

Defining Biosolids and Sewage Sludge

When domestic sewage from households and businesses is sent to wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), the liquids are separated from the solids, producing a nutrient-rich product known as “sewage sludge.” In some instances, industrial wastewater is also conveyed to a WWTP and combined with domestic sewage. The terms “biosolids” and “sewage sludge” are often used interchangeably by the public; however, EPA typically uses the term “biosolids” to mean sewage sludge that is intended to be applied as a soil amendment or fertilizer and that has been treated to meet the requirements in EPA’s Clean Water Act (CWA) regulations.

Under existing federal regulations, biosolids can be applied to agricultural lands, forests, tree farms, golf courses, turf farms, and other types of land. Biosolids can also be bagged and sold at stores to the public, generally to be used on lawns or in home gardens. Biosolids generally are not used on specialty crops, such as fresh produce, and generally are used on crops where edible parts are not in contact with the soil. Some states, Tribes, or counties also have additional rules around the use of sewage sludge and biosolids.

Defining PFOA and PFOS

PFOA and PFOS are two chemicals in the larger class of PFAS. PFOA and PFOS persist in the environment for long periods of time and have been linked to a variety of significant adverse human health effects. Domestic production and import of PFOA has been phased out in the United States by the companies participating in the 2010/2015 PFOA Stewardship Program. However, quantities of PFOA may be produced, imported, and used by companies not participating in the PFOA Stewardship Program and some uses of PFOS may be ongoing. While statewide surveys have found that PFOA and PFOS have been detected at varying levels in sewage sludge, it is important to note that not all sewage sludge has been found to have detectable or elevated levels of PFOA or PFOS.

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Upcoming EPA Tools & Resources Webinar: Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units (July 15)

noreply@blogger.com (denny iswanto) — Wed, 1 Jul 2026 07:27:18 -0700

Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units: A Key Resource and Partner in Improving Children’s Environmental Health

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EPA Tools & Resources Webinar

Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units: A Key Resource and Partner in Improving Children’s Environmental Health

Wednesday, July 15, 2026 | 3:00 - 4:00 PM ET

Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units (PEHSUs) are a network of pediatricians, nurses, health educators, and other health professionals with expertise in the prevention, diagnosis, management, and treatment of health issues that arise from environmental exposures — from preconception through adolescence.

For nearly 30 years, PEHSUs have helped countless children and their families address adverse health impacts resulting from environmental exposures through consultations, education, and outreach initiatives. PEHSUs are an important source of information — not only for healthcare providers, but also for parents, schools, childcare centers, local and state health officials.

PEHSUs are located in each of the federal regions, which ensures that efforts are focused and specialized to the environmental issues of most concern to their respective communities.

During this webinar, you will hear directly from PEHSU leaders and staff on case studies and other examples highlighting the type of work they do to protect children’s environmental health and safety including working with communities and local, state and tribal entities in their regions.

Register for the Webinar

Learn More About PEHSUs

Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units (PEHSUs) work collaboratively to improve health systems to make communities safer for children and families. They provide community education and outreach, training for health professionals, and guidance and referrals.

PEHSUs are supported by CDC's Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) and EPA and managed by the Public Health Institute.

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EPA Takes Next Step in TSCA Review of Five Chemicals to Better Protect Workers and the Environment, Releasing Draft Technical Support Documents for Peer Review and Public Comment

noreply@blogger.com (denny iswanto) — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 06:15:58 -0700

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is advancing its review of five chemicals under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).

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Chemical Update

EPA's Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention

EPA Takes Next Step in TSCA Review of Five Chemicals to Better Protect Workers and the Environment, Releasing Draft Technical Support Documents for Peer Review and Public Comment

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is advancing its review of five chemicals under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) — 1,1,2-trichloroethane; 4,4'-(1-methylethylidene)bis[2,6-dibromophenol] (TBBPA); 1,2-dichloropropane; ethylene dibromide; and trans-1,2-dichloroethylene — by sending the underlying science to an independent expert panel, the Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC), for peer review and opening it for public comment. These chemicals appear in flame retardants, cleaning and degreasing products, leaded aviation gasoline, laboratories, and industrial processes, so EPA's conclusions can directly affect the air Americans breathe at home, at work, and in their communities.

Released today are technical support documents supporting the draft risk evaluations for four of these chemicals. The draft risk evaluation and supporting documents for TBBPA were released on June 12, 2026 for public comment in TSCA docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2018-0462 on www.regulations.gov. Draft documents related to all five chemicals are available for public comment and independent scientific peer review in SACC docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2026-2246 at www.regulations.gov — two essential steps in ensuring the integrity, radical transparency, and quality of EPA’s chemical safety assessments. Additionally, the draft environmental and human health hazard assessment for ethylene dibromide will be released to the same docket no later than June 26, 2026, along with charge questions related to this document.

EPA is committed to using the best available science and rigorous, gold-standard methods — including systematic review and robust analysis of the available data — to understand the real-world risks these chemicals pose to people and the environment. For example, EPA used a physiologically based pharmacokinetic model to convert air concentrations of 1,1,2-trichloroethane into the internal doses that actually reach the critical organs in the body, sharpening both the cancer and non-cancer estimates of inhalation risk.

The documents released today show the following:

Ethylene dibromide, (also called 1,2-dibromoethane) is used mainly as a lead scavenger in leaded aviation gasoline, where it manages lead deposits in piston-engine aircraft — which means EPA is examining it in the broader context of lead exposure, including around airports and in communities near where it is handled. EPA's draft material identifies workplace exposures from import, repackaging, fuel-related uses, laboratory work, and waste handling, along with potential exposures through air, drinking water, surface water, fish, consumer uses, and other environmental pathways.

trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene is used in cleaning and degreasing and in industrial and commercial products. EPA's draft documents evaluate non-cancer and environmental hazards and lay out EPA's full evaluation of the cancer evidence through the weight-of-evidence approach.

1,1,2-Trichloroethane is a volatile organic compound used primarily as an intermediate in the production of other organic chemicals. EPA’s draft technical support materials evaluate human and ecological hazards of 1,1,2-trichloroethane, highlighting respiratory, immune, neurological, and liver effects as key non-cancer concerns, evidence of carcinogenicity, and risks to aquatic and terrestrial species. The exposure assessment characterizes releases, fate/transport, and exposures across occupational, consumer, general population, and environmental pathways, concluding that air is the primary exposure pathway given the chemical’s properties and release patterns.

1,2-Dichloropropane is a chlorinated solvent that evaporates easily into the air. EPA’s draft hazard identified potential cancer and non-cancer health concerns including nervous system effects (such as drowsiness) and damage to the lining of the nose.

EPA is paying particular attention to the people most at risk — workers with the heaviest exposures, pregnant women, children, and communities living near sources — and welcomes comment on how real-world exposures should be reflected.

EPA emphasizes that these documents are drafts and do not represent final agency determinations regarding the risks posed by these chemicals. The findings and conclusions may change based on feedback received during the public comment period and peer review process. All current safeguards remain in place. 

Following the closing of the public comment period and completion of peer review, EPA will carefully consider all input before finalizing the risk evaluations in accordance with TSCA requirements. 

August 2026 Peer Review Meeting 

On August 3-7, 2026, EPA will hold a virtual public meeting of the SACC to review the draft technical support documents for these five chemicals.

In advance of the August meeting, EPA will also hold a preparatory virtual public meeting on July 23, 2026, for the SACC and the public to consider and ask questions regarding the scope and clarity of the draft charge questions that will be used in the peer review meeting. EPA will publish registration links for the July preparatory meeting and August SACC meeting on the SACC website approximately one month prior to each meeting. 

The draft documents and draft charge questions will be available in the peer review docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2026-2246 at www.regulations.gov. To have your comments on the draft technical support documents and draft charge questions considered by the SACC for peer review, they must be submitted to the peer review docket listed above no later than July 23, 2026. 

EPA will release draft risk evaluations for 1,1,2-trichloroethane; 1,2-dichloropropane; ethylene dibromide; and trans-1,2-dichloroethylene prior to the August SACC meeting. However, because of the unique and novel scientific approaches used in the human health and environmental assessments for these chemicals, the agency is only seeking peer review from the SACC on the draft technical document released today. EPA anticipates that the draft risk evaluations for these chemicals will use scientific approaches and techniques the SACC has previously commented on; therefore, EPA does not expect the need for an additional peer review of the forthcoming risk evaluations.

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Asthma & Children’s Health StoryMap

noreply@blogger.com (denny iswanto) — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 07:02:08 -0700

Newly Released Resource from the America’s Children and the Environment (ACE) Report!

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Asthma & Children's Health StoryMap

Newly Released Resource from America's Children and the Environment (ACE)!

EPA recently published a new Asthma & Children’s Health StoryMap to provide parents and guardians with the resources necessary to keep their families healthy.

Asthma is a serious, sometimes life-threatening, chronic respiratory disease that affects the quality of life for nearly 26 million Americans, including more than 4.5 million children. Asthma can also have long term impacts on childhood development by limiting a child's ability to exercise, play outdoors, and participate in sports.

The new StoryMap explores the relationship between environmental triggers that can cause asthma symptoms or attacks and make asthma worse and the impacts of these triggers on children’s health outcomes (such as emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and the number of missed school days).

View the Asthma & Children's Health StoryMap

America's Children and the Environment (ACE)

EPA’s America's Children and the Environment (ACE) brings together information from a variety of curated sources to provide national trends and highlight the disproportionate impacts of environmental factors on children’s health. ACE is the EPA’s only dedicated set of children’s environmental health indicators, quantifying progress toward a healthy future for the nation’s children.

ACE provides information on how environmental factors, such as air quality, affect health outcomes like asthma rates and other conditions. ACE indicators are used to track changes over time, identify risks, and guide policy solutions to improve public health and environmental conditions in the U.S.

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Children's Health Indicator Updates from America's Children and the Environment (ACE)

noreply@blogger.com (denny iswanto) — Mon, 8 Jun 2026 13:12:30 -0700

EPA’s ACE is publishing data updates to the obesity and neurodevelopmental children’s health indica

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America's Children and the Environment (ACE)

Children's Health Indicator Updates

EPA’s America’s Children and the Environment (ACE) is publishing data updates to the obesity and neurodevelopmental children’s health indicators.

View the Updated Obesity Indicators

View the Updated Neurodevelopmental Indicators

Learn About ACE

ACE’s Childhood Obesity indicators were updated to report through 2023. The Neurodevelopmental Disorders indicators were updated to report through 2024.

EPA's ACE brings together information from a variety of sources to provide national trends and data on the environment and children's health. Learn more about ACE.

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Newly Updated Healthy School Resource: Sensible Steps to Healthier School Environments

noreply@blogger.com (denny iswanto) — Fri, 5 Jun 2026 14:23:29 -0700

EPA's recently updated resource, Sensible Steps to Healthier School Environments is now available online.

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Newly Updated Healthy School Resource!

Sensible Steps to Healthier School Environments

EPA's recently updated resource, Sensible Steps to Healthier School Environments is now available online. This resource for school administrators, school custodians/facility managers, school staff, and teachers offers a comprehensive guide with cost-effective strategies to protect the health of students and school staff.

Last updated in 2017, this refreshed edition includes practical guidance on common environmental health concerns in schools including:

Indoor air quality, mold, and asthma triggers.
Lead in drinking water and lead paint.
Chemical and pesticide management.
Wildfire smoke and UV exposure.
Waste reduction, and more.

It also features a Quick Assessment tool to help schools identify priority areas and get started on no- and low-cost solutions.

Download Sensible Steps to Healthier School Environments

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EPA Provides $9.75 Million to States to Monitor Water Quality at Beaches and Protect Swimmers

noreply@blogger.com (denny iswanto) — Fri, 22 May 2026 12:01:28 -0700

Today EPA is is announcing $9.75 million in grant funding that coastal and Great Lakes states, Tribes and territories will use to monitor...

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EPA Provides $9.75 Million to States to Monitor Water Quality at Beaches and Protect Swimmers

May 21, 2026

Contact Information: EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov)

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing $9.75 million in grant funding that coastal and Great Lakes states, Tribes and territories will use to monitor water quality at beaches and to notify the public if elevated levels of bacteria make swimming unsafe.

“The Trump EPA is investing in clean water for all Americans this summer. By providing millions of dollars to keep swimmers safe, we are supporting strong beach community economies with our state and Tribal partners,” said EPA Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer Paige Hanson. “American families can kick off the summer this weekend with peace of mind as they visit our nation’s beautiful beaches to play in the water and relax with friends.”

This funding is authorized by the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act and advances EPA’s goals of enhancing cooperative federalism and ensuring that every American has access to clean and safe water, two key pillars of EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin’s Powering the Great American Comeback Initiative.

EPA anticipates awarding grants to the following eligible recipients after all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied:

EPA Region 1
Connecticut $209,000
Maine $254,000
Massachusetts $254,000
New Hampshire $191,000
Rhode Island $210,000

EPA Region 2
New Jersey $258,000
New York $315,000
Puerto Rico $319,000
U.S. Virgin Islands $302,000

EPA Region 3
Delaware $209,000
Maryland $258,000
Pennsylvania $214,000
Virginia $263,000

EPA Region 4
Alabama $260,000
Florida $478,000
Georgia $279,000
Mississippi $256,000
North Carolina $293,000
South Carolina $289,000

EPA Region 5
Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians $50,000
Grand Portage Band of Minnesota Chippewa Tribe $50,000
Keweenaw Bay Indian Community $50,000
Illinois $232,000
Indiana $205,000
Michigan $260,000
Minnesota $203,000
Ohio $216,000
Wisconsin $220,000

EPA Region 6
Louisiana $347,000
Texas $373,000

EPA Region 9
American Samoa $302,000
California $477,000
Guam $302,000
Hawaii $319,000
Northern Mariana Islands $303,000

EPA Region 10
Alaska $150,000
Makah Tribe of the Makah Indian Reservation $50,000
Oregon $219,000
Swinomish Indian Tribal Community $50,000
Washington $261,000

Learn more about BEACH Act grants.

Before heading to the beach, check the relevant state, Tribal or territorial beach program website for closing or advisory information.

Background

To be eligible for BEACH Act grants, states, Tribes, and territories must have coastal or Great Lakes recreational waters adjacent to beaches or similar points of access used by the public. They must also have a water quality standards program and EPA-approved numeric recreational water quality standards for coastal waters. Additionally, eligible entities must meet 11 performance criteria for implementing the monitoring, assessment, and notification components of their beach program. Each grantee receives an amount based on the length of the beach season, the number of miles of shoreline and the populations of coastal counties.

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EPA Announces $2.9 Billion for States to Reduce Lead in Drinking Water and Protect Americans’ Health

noreply@blogger.com (denny iswanto) — Wed, 20 May 2026 12:31:40 -0700

Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing nearly $2.9 billion in funding to protect Americans from exposure to lead...

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EPA Announces $2.9 Billion for States to Reduce Lead in Drinking Water and Protect Americans’ Health

May 20, 2026

Contact Information: EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov)

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing nearly $2.9 billion in funding to protect Americans from exposure to lead in drinking water. Lead is a powerful neurotoxin that is especially harmful to children. This investment will go directly to states through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) and is part of EPA’s unwavering commitment to Making America Healthy Again.

This funding will advance state and local efforts to find and replace lead pipes (also known as lead service lines) that deliver water to homes. Communities can use these funds for identifying lead pipes, planning removal projects, and funding replacement of these lead service lines. Each lead pipe removed and replaced delivers real, tangible public health benefits in communities across our great nation.

“An investment in removing lead pipes is an investment in America’s children and families,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Jess Kramer. “The Trump EPA is committed to tackling lead exposure and this $2.9 billion will help protect current and future generations by accelerating local efforts to find and replace toxic lead pipes.”

Providing clean, safe drinking water is a top priority under EPA’s Powering the Great American Comeback Initiative and reducing exposure to lead is a critical piece of ensuring clean water for all Americans.

The Drinking Water State Revolving Funds are financial assistance programs run by states to help water systems achieve the health protection objectives of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). The agency is distributing funding based on the best available information on the location of approximately 4 million lead service lines across the country. As good stewards of taxpayer dollars, EPA will work with states to ensure this funding is promptly provided to communities to support efforts to reduce exposure to lead through drinking water.

EPA is also announcing the redistribution of an additional $18 million in previously announced DWSRF funding to address lead. These funds were made available to states but have not been used. Consistent with the Safe Drinking Water Act’s directive to reallocate unused funds, these investments are now available to different eligible states with lead service line replacement needs.

The Trump EPA is committed to tackling the lead issue like never before. EPA recently published a revamped lead website, found at epa.gov/lead, including a new StoryMap about Lead and Children’s Health. The streamlined website allows parents and caregivers, contractors, health care professionals, and other users to quickly find critical information on how to prevent exposures from lead. This is one of many actions being undertaken by EPA under the government-wide Federal Lead Action Plan, which was launched in President Trump’s first term as a blueprint for reducing lead exposure through collaboration among federal agencies.

The FY2026 Lead Service Line Replacement allotments are available on the DWSRF webpage.

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EPA Announces Recipients of PEYA and PIAEE Awards

noreply@blogger.com (denny iswanto) — Wed, 20 May 2026 06:07:38 -0700

EPA Announces Recipients of PEYA and PIAEE Awards

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is pleased to announce the 2025 – 2026 recipients of the President’s Environmental Youth Award (PEYA) and the Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators (PIAEE).

The President's Environmental Youth Award (PEYA) recognizes outstanding environmental stewardship projects developed by kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) youth and promotes awareness of our nation’s natural resources and encourages positive community involvement. This year EPA is recognizing 3 awardees for students in K-5, and 10 awardees in grades 6-12. PEYA student projects improved water quality, created green spaces in student’s communities, and coordinated impressive recycling efforts. Many of these projects leveraged Artificial Intelligence, highlighting the innovative approaches of these environmental problem solvers. Read more about our PEYA awardees and their projects here!

The Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators (PIAEE) acknowledges exemplary K-12 educators who utilize innovative methods in environmental education. This year, EPA is recognizing five teachers who went above and beyond by involving their school communities and local organizations in their classes' stewardship and learning. Many teachers also incorporated exploration of local environmental contexts to enhance student learning. Read more about our PIAEE awardees here!

Office of External Affairs, Environmental Education and Stewardship Division
Office of the Administrator / U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

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U.S. EPA, Environmental Education and Stewardship Division, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460 United States

EPA Acts to Protect American Workers from Uses of 1,2-Dichloroethane

noreply@blogger.com (denny iswanto) — Mon, 11 May 2026 10:31:07 -0700

EPA charts a clear path forward for targeted, science-based worker protections that safeguard sensitive populations and support American...

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EPA Will Regulate 15 Uses of 1,2-Dichloroethane to Protect American Workers

EPA charts a clear path forward for targeted, science-based worker protections that safeguard sensitive populations and support American manufacturing.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it will move to regulate 15 industrial and commercial uses of 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCA) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to protect workers from unreasonable risks identified in the agency's final risk evaluation.

The decision follows a rigorous, multi-year scientific review that drew on the best available real-world data, extensive public comment, and external peer review by the Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC). The evaluation found that 1,2-DCA presents an unreasonable risk to workers in 15 of 20 conditions of use, driven by inhalation and skin exposure on the job. EPA did not identify unreasonable risk to consumers, the general population, including communities with high fish consumption such as Tribal communities or other communities that rely on locally caught fish, or the environment under the conditions of use evaluated.

1,2-DCA, also called ethylene dichloride (EDC), is a colorless liquid at the heart of American manufacturing and serves as the essential building block for vinyl chloride monomer, the feedstock for polyvinyl chloride (PVC). More than 90 percent of the 30 to 40 billion pounds of 1,2-DCA produced or imported in the United States each year goes into making PVC. The U.S. is one of the world's leading producers of PVC and its precursors, with the industry concentrated along the Gulf Coast in Texas and Louisiana and supporting American manufacturing jobs. EPA's action is designed to protect workers in this vital industry.

A Backbone Material, PVC, in America's Infrastructure, Healthcare, and Homes:

Water and sanitation infrastructure, including drinking water mains, service lines, sewer pipes, and irrigation systems. PVC pipe is a backbone of municipal water systems and a core material in the federal lead-pipe replacement effort.
Electrical and telecommunications, including wire and cable insulation, conduit, and jacketing.
Building and construction, including vinyl siding, window frames, doors, flooring, roofing membranes, and wall coverings.
Healthcare, including IV bags, blood bags, dialysis tubing, oxygen masks, and a wide range of single-use medical devices that depend on PVC's flexibility, biocompatibility, and ability to be sterilized.
Transportation and consumer goods, including automotive interiors and wire harnesses, packaging, footwear, and countless household products.

As required by law and consistent with the agency's commitment to safeguarding sensitive populations, EPA specifically evaluated risks to people who may be more vulnerable due to age, life stage, genetics, or preexisting health conditions, including children, pregnant women, women of childbearing age, workers, and Tribal and subsistence communities that rely on locally caught fish. Given the human health hazard assessment findings that male reproductive toxicity is a sensitive endpoint and the agency’s commitment to protecting future generations, the forthcoming workplace rule will be designed to be especially protective of several critical life stages, including males, pregnant workers, and women of childbearing age.

Informed by robust gold standard scientific review, EPA’s conclusions reflect:

The best available laboratory and exposure science, including findings of kidney toxicity, respiratory (nasal) toxicity, male reproductive toxicity, and cancer risk from repeated workplace exposure;
Real-world workplace data submitted by industry, workers, and the public, which replaced overly conservative default assumptions where better information was available;
Independent expert peer review by the SACC; and
Widely accepted exposure assessment approaches drawn from EPA's Office of Air and Radiation and other expert programs.

Radical transparency. Every document underlying this decision, including the full risk evaluation, technical support documents, peer review record, and public comments, will soon be available in docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2018-0427 at regulations.gov. EPA is committed to showing its work through radical transparency. The agency will continue to publish data, methods, and analyses so that workers, employers, scientists, and the public can see exactly how conclusions were reached and regulations are informed.

The agency will continue to review the latest peer-reviewed research, monitoring data, and information from workplaces and communities to ensure regulations remain rooted in the most robust universe of evidence available. Two byproducts formed during 1,2-DCA manufacture — trans-1,2-dichloroethylene and 1,1,2-trichloroethane — will be evaluated in separate TSCA risk evaluations.

What's next. EPA will now develop a TSCA Section 6(a) rule focused on the 15 conditions of use that drive workplace risk. The rulemaking will:

Establish workplace protections, including engineering controls, exposure limits, and personal protective equipment where appropriate;
Be informed by extensive consultation with workers, businesses, labor organizations, frontline communities, and state partners;
Weigh health benefits, real-world feasibility, and economic impacts; and
Provide clear, practical compliance pathways so that workers are protected and American manufacturing remains strong.

Read the final risk evaluation and supporting materials: Upon publication of the Federal Register notice, the risk evaluation and supporting materials will be available in docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2018-0427 at regulations.gov . The documents are available now at https://www.epa.gov/assessing-and-managing-chemicals-under-tsca/risk-evaluation-12-dichloroethane.

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Learn how your school can benefit from EPA’s school indoor air quality grantees!

noreply@blogger.com (denny iswanto) — Wed, 6 May 2026 08:03:16 -0700

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Learn how your school can benefit from EPA’s school indoor air quality grantees!

Wednesday, May 13, 2026
2:00 – 3:00 p.m. ET

Register now!

On a May 13 webinar, EPA will be introducing its five grantees under the Funding to Address Indoor Air Pollution at Schools grant program to showcase their work in the second year of their five-year grant projects. Schools, school districts, and school boards that join will learn how they can benefit from the resources the grantees have developed and how they can connect directly with the grantees to access no-cost assistance and resources for improving their schools’ indoor air quality (IAQ) and energy efficiency, including:

Training and peer networks: Local in-person workshops, virtual trainings, webinars, fellowships, recognition/mentorship opportunities, regional seminars, annual conferences, and support for building state-level school environmental health capacity.
Technical assistance and project management: Hands-on support to develop, implement, and sustain energy efficient IAQ management plans, including policy adoption and leadership training and mini-grants to support implementation.
Support with assessments and data tools: Energy efficiency assessments, IAQ monitoring, baseline assessments, benchmarking/tracking, and computational modeling/sensitivity analyses.
Resources and toolkits: IAQ management plan toolkit, IAQ monitoring tools, apps, factsheets, and additional guidance.

Speakers

Kelley Smith, Schools Team Lead, U.S. EPA Indoor Environments Division
Jill Buck, M.S., Ed., Founder and CEO, Go Green Initiative (GGI)
Michele Herdt, Ph.D., MPH, Director, New York State School Environmental Health Program & School Lead in Drinking Water Program, New York State Department of Health
Molly Ryan, MPH, Nationwide Director of Indoor Air Quality, American Lung Association
Nancy Daher, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Clean Air Schools for U, University of Utah
Richard Johnson, Program Director, Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council

Visit EPA's IAQ Tools for Schools website at www.epa.gov/iaq-schools to learn more or contact us with questions.

Learn more about Indoor Air Quality.

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Task Force Continues to Report Progress on the Federal Lead Action Plan

noreply@blogger.com (denny iswanto) — Tue, 5 May 2026 10:32:08 -0700

FY 2025 Progress Report on the Federal Lead Action Plan

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2025 Progress Report on the Federal Lead Action Plan

The President’s Task Force on Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks to Children has released the Progress Report on the Federal Lead Action Plan: Fiscal Year 2025 Accomplishments.

The report highlights key federal actions and progress made to reduce childhood lead exposures and associated health impacts.

Read the Progress Report

About the Federal Lead Action Plan

In 2018, the Task Force released the Federal Lead Action Plan to Reduce Childhood Lead Exposures and Associated Health Impacts. This plan serves as a blueprint for a coordinated federal strategy to reduce lead exposure and protect children’s health.

In 2024, the Task Force published a first progress report covering efforts and advancements made from December 2018 – April 2024.

The Task Force is a federal interagency group that coordinates national policy, guidance, and action to reduce environmental and safety risks to children’s health.

Learn more about Children's Health and Healthy School Environments.

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ICYMI: EPA Launches New Lead Website in Renewed Trump EPA Focus to Reduce Lead Exposures

noreply@blogger.com (denny iswanto) — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 07:49:23 -0700

EPA announced the release of new public education tools about lead poisoning prevention, including a new StoryMap and EPA's lead website.

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ICYMI: EPA Launches New Lead Website in Renewed Trump EPA Focus to Reduce Lead Exposures

April 24, 2026

Contact Information

EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov)

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the release of new public education tools about lead poisoning prevention, including a new StoryMap about Lead and Children’s Health and EPA’s lead website, epa.gov/lead. The revamped website streamlines navigation to allow parents and caregivers, contractors, health care professionals, and other users to quickly find critical information on how to prevent exposures from lead that may be contained in paint and dust, drinking water, air, and soil. The website serves as a one-stop shop for EPA information on lead and quickly connects users to resources, tools, and guidance.

“Public education and actionable risk communication are key tenets to further reducing lead exposures, especially for children. The Trump EPA has made tremendous progress over the past year on this agency-wide initiative, and today marks a new transparent chapter,” said Deputy Administrator David Fotouhi. “These new, easy-to-use tools for American families are part of EPA’s broader leadership to protect children’s health and make progress in reducing lead exposures and lead-related health risks.”

As part of EPA’s commitment to gold standard science and transparency, this is another action solidifying the agency’s foundation for continued success in reducing children’s lead exposure and defining milestones to track that progress. The updated website is one of many actions being undertaken by EPA under the government-wide Federal Lead Action Plan, which was launched in President Trump’s first term as a blueprint for reducing lead exposure through collaboration among federal agencies.

Other recent accomplishments include the following:

$3 billion in new funding for states to reduce lead in drinking water and redistribution of $1.1 billion in unused funding, in addition to the announcement of $26 million in funding for states and territories for lead in drinking water at schools and child-care facilities.
Issuance of the updated Residential Soil Lead Directive establishing a new approach to accelerate cleanup of lead contaminated soil on residential properties at Superfund sites and launch of a new National Center of Excellence in Residential Lead Cleanups.
Revision and translation of the pamphlet, Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home, which explains the dangers of lead and how to protect your family from lead-based paint hazards in homes. The pamphlet must be provided to buyers and renters of housing built before 1978. Updates in English and Spanish reflect the implementation of the new dust-lead action levels and dust-lead reportable levels.
Proposed amendments for secondary lead smelting that recycle lead-bearing scrap material, typically lead acid batteries, into elemental lead or lead alloys.

These are only a handful of the many lead-related accomplishments delivered by the Trump Administration over the last year.

In addition to the lead StoryMap and revamped website, EPA added new search functions to its website to aid public education and information organization. A lead subject tag has now been added to EPA’s Newsroom to make it easier to find recent lead-related announcements.

Background

Since the 1970s, EPA has worked alongside partners at the federal, state, Tribal, and local levels to protect children’s health and make progress in reducing lead exposures and lead-related health risks. Despite improvements over the last 50 years, ongoing exposures to lead where our families live, work, and play present a health risk, especially to children.

To combat this issue, in 2025 the Trump EPA reestablished a committee of senior leaders across the agency’s program offices and ten regions to drive success in reducing children’s exposure to lead. This renewed agency-wide focus is centered around strengthening cooperative federalism, streamlining actionable risk communications, and unleashing private sector innovation to protect human health and the environment.

Please see epa.gov/lead for additional information.

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Upcoming Webinar: Access grants and resources from EPA’s school indoor air quality grantees!

noreply@blogger.com (denny iswanto) — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 11:03:21 -0700

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Better Air, Better Schools: Programs, Resources, and Grants You Can Use Now

Wednesday, May 13, 2026
2:00 – 3:00 p.m. ET

Register now!

Hear directly from EPA's five Funding to Address Indoor Air Pollution at Schools grantees as they share how their projects are delivering results in year two of their five-year efforts. In this webinar, you will:

Gain practical insights into what is working for districts across the nation.
Explore tools and resources based on EPA’s IAQ Tools for Schools guidance that you can apply to your own school or district.
Learn how to connect with grantees for support in developing and implementing comprehensive energy efficient indoor air quality (IAQ) management plans.

Visit EPA's IAQ Tools for Schools website at www.epa.gov/iaq-schools to learn more or contact us with questions.

Learn more about Indoor Air Quality.

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