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The types of products recalled most were children's sleepwear, small vehicles such as ATVs and golf carts, toys, infant sleep products, furniture and small kitchen appliances. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Recall announcements up 10% from 2022

A new report found recalls, warnings and penalties for consumer products all increased last year. The recalls led to 550 injuries, 15 deaths and as …

For every $1 spent by the EPA, there could be as much as $77 in human health benefits in 2032, according to the EPA. (Adobe Stock)

Arizonans celebrate new EPA soot standards

Arizona leaders are encouraged by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's new soot standards they said will protect people from dangerous and …

Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, the EPA has the authority to set enforceable regulations for drinking water contaminants and require monitoring of public water systems. (Adobe Stock)

AZ Group: EPA's Limit on PFAS Chemicals 'Crucial'

Groups advocating for clean water in Arizona are applauding an Environmental Protection Agency plan to limit toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances…

About 15,000 types of products fall under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, but there are mandatory standards for only about 250 of them. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Product Recalls Up 33%, AZ Group Recommends Action

A new report asks lawmakers and regulators to look at why some unsafe products aren't recalled sooner, and what can be done to get them off the …

Coal-fired energy generation accounts for as much as 80% of air pollutants in some parts of the country. (lilifest/Adobe Stock)

SCOTUS Ruling on EPA Emissions Puts State Climate Goals at Risk

Groups working to curb climate change said a Supreme Court ruling limiting the ability of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to control carbon …

The Arizona PIRG Education Fund wants appliance retailers, such as Best Buy and others, to post safety warnings on all gas ranges they sell. (Sundry Photos/Adobe Stock)

AZ Consumer Group Demands Safety Warnings on Gas Ranges

Time was, when someone told you, "Now, you're cooking with gas!" it was meant as a compliment. But research shows that using a gas cooktop or range …

Bald eagles from Canada and the northwest Rockies migrate to Arizona in the winter months to build nests and mate. A 1999 survey found 74 nesting pairs in Arizona, up from only 11 in 1978. (Tagayuki Ogawa/flickr)

Bald Eagles Make Stunning Comeback from Brink of Extinction

MORMON LAKE, Ariz. -- Bald eagle populations in Arizona and across the nation have quadrupled in the last decade, after once being on the brink of …

Consumer advocates say President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Consumer Product Safety Commission is a former chemical industry lobbyist who specializes in cutting regulations. (gustavofrazao/Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

Opposition Mounts to Trump Nominee for Consumer Protection Agency

PHOENIX, Ariz. - Consumer advocates in Arizona and elsewhere are expressing concern over the Trump administration's choice to lead the Consumer …

Air pollution from a nearby coal-fired power plant casts a thick haze over the North Rim of Arizona�s Grand Canyon. (paulbriden/AdobeStock)

AZ Physicians Criticize McSally's Vote for GOP Clean Energy Rule

TUCSON, Ariz. – Arizona doctors are criticizing Sen. Martha McSally, R-Ariz., for her support of the Trump administration plan to replace the …

Almost half the water taps tested in Arizona schools were found to have unsafe levels of lead. (Phase4Photography/AdobeStock)

Study Finds Unsafe Lead Levels in AZ School Water

PHOENIX – A consumer advocacy group says Arizona school districts need to do more to protect students, after the state found unsafe levels of …

Fine-particulate pollution mixes with smog to blanket downtown Phoenix in haze during a recent winter air inversion. (Wikimedia Commons)

Grassroots Activists Protest EPA Toxic Regs Rollback

PHOENIX - Members of the grassroots group Moms Clean Air Force testified this week at the only public hearing on the Environmental Protection Agency's…

Pesticide drift can reach unsafe levels even at 300 feet from a field�s edge, according to Earthjustice. (Andy Powell/Flickr)

Health, Labor Organizations Fight for Pesticide Ban

PHOENIX – Labor and health groups, along with seven states, are challenging the Environmental Protection Agency's decision not to ban a …

In his resignation letter, Pruitt informed President Donald Trump he was leaving his post

Government Watchdogs: Both Pruitt, Wheeler "Wrong" for EPA

WASHINGTON – Government ethics and watchdog groups, even some conservatives, are saying Scott Pruitt's resignation as Environmental Protection …

The site of the proposed Rosemont Mine in the Santa Rita Mountains is part of the watershed that replenishes the aquifer that serves Tucson. (Save the Scenic Santa Ritas)

Lawsuit Filed to Stop Open-Pit Copper Mine

TUCSON, Ariz. – A coalition of conservation groups is suing the U.S. Forest Service over its approval of an open-pit copper mine 30 miles …

The proposed Regulatory Accountability Act would require financial-impact reviews of many safety regulations, including those affecting the food and drug supply, every 10 years. (Dodgerton Skillhause/Morguefile)

U.S. Senate Could Vote Soon to Put Brakes on Gov't Safety Rules

PHOENIX – A bill to make safety regulations more responsive to the concerns of industry already has passed the U.S. House and soon should make …

The deadline arrives Thursday for the Senate to uphold or repeal the Bureau of Land Management's Methane Waste Rule. (Chris Jordan Bloch/Earthjustice)

Tribal Groups Press U.S. Senate to Keep BLM Methane Waste Rule

NAVAJO NATION -- A vote on whether to repeal the Bureau of Land Management's Methane Waste Rule could come in the U.S. Senate in the next few days…

Leaked letters from Dow Chemical executives indicate they've asked the Trump administration to scuttle studies critical of Dow pesticide products. (Wasan Gredpree/iStockphoto)

In Leaked Letters, Dow Chemical asks Feds to Drop Pesticide Studies

TUCSON, Ariz. – An Arizona-based conservation group is raising questions about Dow Chemical's attempts to convince the Trump administration to …

Las cuencas de agua del Gran Ca��n ser�an protegidas bajo la creaci�n de un Grandioso Monumento Nacional del Gran Ca��n. (Thomas O�Keefe)

Encuesta: 82 por ciento apoyan el Grandioso Monumento Nacional del Gran Cañón

PHOENIX - Una nueva encuesta muestra que el 82 por ciento de los estadounidenses apoya que se declare un nuevo monumento nacional en las tierras que r…

The Canyon Mine sits 6 miles from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Conservation groups want President Barack Obama to declare a new national monument in the area. (Bret Fanshaw/Environment America)

National Park Service Turns 100 Today

PHOENIX – The National Park Service, often called America's Best Idea was founded 100 years ago today, and all parks are free this weekend to …

The EPA has ordered two power plants in Utah to cut emissions that cause hazy pollution in national parks and wilderness areas, including Arizona�s Grand Canyon. (National Park Service)

Pollution Controls to Cut Haze in Grand Canyon, Other Parks

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - The Environmental Protection Agency has ordered two coal-fired power plants in central Utah to bring emissions up to federal clean …

Getting traffic off the roadways is a key to cutting carbon pollution in major cities, according to a Frontier Group report released by Arizona PIRG. (kichigin/iStockphoto)

Report: Why Wait? Cities Can Cut Carbon Pollution Now

PHOENIX - If you're stuck in traffic and breathing fumes from the car ahead of you, a new report outlines ways to cut carbon emissions from vehicles …

Today is National Day of Remembrance for victims of drunk driving. CreditL:Ansaharju/iStock

Arizonans Remember the Victims of Drunk Driving

PHOENIX - Today is the National Day of Remembrance for victims of drunk and drugged driving sponsored by Mothers Against Drunk Driving, also known as …

The state of Arizona says the fish in the Gila River and its tributaries are safe to eat, removing a decades-old consumption advisory. Credit: Apollob66/iStockphoto.

State Says Fish in Gila River Now Safe to Eat

PHOENIX – For the first time in decades, fish in the Gila River and its tributaries are now safe to eat. That's according to the Arizona …

Climate activists in Arizona are cheering Pope Francis' visit to the U.S., hoping it will inspire action on the issue. Credit: Nicolo Campo/iStock

Pope's Visit Inspires Climate Change Activism in Arizona

PHOENIX - Today, as Pope Francis addresses a joint session of Congress, a group of religious leaders in Arizona is pressing America's leaders to take …

It's too risky to expose bees like this one to the pesticide sulfoxaflor; a federal appeals court decided the EPA's approval was based on flawed studies. Credit:proxymider/iStock

Court Rejects EPA Approval of Bee-killing Pesticide

PHOENIX - A pesticide linked to bee deaths may soon become illegal, the result of a federal court decision Thursday. The Ninth Circuit Court of …

The EPA is treating contaminated waters in containment ponds such as this one. Credit: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Toxic Sludge Expected to Enter Lake Powell Today

PHOENIX - Toxic sludge from the Gold King Mine spill in Colorado is expected to enter Lake Powell today. Lake Powell in Utah and Lake Mead in Nevada …

President Obama has finalized the Clean Power Plan, creating new and tougher emissions standards for power plants. Credit: The White House.

Report: Clean Power Plan to Cut Costs for Arizonans

PHOENIX – The Clean Power Plan, which President Obama finalized Monday, is expected to help energy consumers in Arizona and around the country …

PHOTO: Climate change is among the factors contributing to severe air pollution that has earned four Arizona counties failing grades in an annual American Lung Association report tracking the nation's most polluted cities and counties. Photo credit: Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.

Four AZ Counties Get F Grade on Air Quality Report

PHOENIX - Climate change is being called a major reason Gila, Maricopa, Pinal and Yuma counties all got failing grades in the American Lung …

Photo: Young people in Arizona and across the U.S. are using e-cigarettes more than all other forms of tobacco, including regular cigarettes, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Photo credit: CDC.

CDC: E-Cigarette Use Among Young People Tops Regular Cigarettes

PHOENIX - E-cigarette use among young people in Arizona and across the U.S. is topping regular cigarettes. The Centers for Disease Control and …

PHOTO: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has kicked off its new Tips From Former Smokers campaign, highlighting health effects beyond the heart and lungs. Photo credit: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

E-Cigs Targeted in CDC Anti-Smoking Campaign

PHOENIX - People in Arizona and around the U.S. are being reminded of the health risks of smoking and also myths about e-cigarettes in the Centers …

PHOTO: With more than two million accidental poisonings in the United States each year, families are being urged this week to make sure any dangerous medications or household products are kept locked up or out of reach. Photo credit: U.S. Sen, Mark Kirk.

Poison Prevention In Arizona and Around the Nation

PHOENIX - In Arizona and around the U.S., it's National Poison Prevention Week. Dr. Keith Boesen, director with the Arizona Poison and Drug …

PHOTO: Arizona is challenging air quality rules put into place by the EPA when it determined the state's air quality plan wasn't sufficient to reduce polluted haze at places like Grand Canyon National Park. Photo courtesy U.S. Dept. of Transportation.

Arizona Challenges EPA Over Air Pollution at National Parks

PHOENIX - The state of Arizona is challenging the EPA in the U.S. Court of Appeals in a case with implications for air quality across the country…

PHOTO: New vehicles in the U.S. are getting better gas mileage than ever before, according to a new report from the Environmental Protection Agency. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Department of Energy.

U.S. Fuel Economy at All-Time High

PHOENIX – Drivers are saving money at the pump, as U.S. fuel economy reaches an all-time high, according to the Environmental Protection Agency…

PHOTO: The EPA's new standards reducing carbon emission levels from existing coal-fired power plants are being applauded by conservationists in Arizona and around the nation. Photo courtesy EcoFlight and San Juan Citizens Alliance.

Arizona Conservationists Applaud EPA's New Carbon Pollution Standards

PHOENIX - Conservationists in Arizona and around the nation are applauding new standards that significantly reduce carbon pollution from existing coal…

PHOTO: Higher energy-efficiency standards for major appliances, along with other efficiency policies, could help Arizona meet EPA carbon reduction standards, according to a new report. Photo credit: Federal Trade Commission.

Easiest Carbon Reduction for Arizona? Energy Efficiency

PHOENIX – The Environmental Protection Agency is expected to release new regulations this week to reduce carbon pollution from existing coal-fir…

PHOTO: Conservation groups are opposing a new 25-year lease for the coal-fired Four Corners Power Plant. Photo credit: EcoFlight and San Juan Citizens Alliance.

Conservation Groups Oppose Four Corners Power Plant Lease

PHOENIX – Conservation groups are calling on the federal government to not allow the Four Corners Power Plant to burn coal for another quarter c…

PHOTO: The EPA is proposing rules for oil refineries to monitor and minimize toxic air emissions. Photo courtesy Jesse Marquez, Coalition for a Safe Environment.

New EPA Rules Would Reduce Air Pollution from Oil Refineries

PHOENIX, Ariz. - People living in the Southwest and other parts of the country could breathe a little easier if new Environmental Protection Agency (…

PHOTO: Cement plants in Arizona and around the nation will no longer be able to get off the hook for releasing dangerous pollutants and claiming it was a mistake, after a ruling Friday by a federal appeals court. Photo credit: Joe Mabel/Wikimedia Commons.

Etched in Cement? Court Closes Kiln Loophole

PHOENIX - A federal court has ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency can no longer let cement plants off the hook for fines if the plants or t…

PHOTO: Opponents of a huge open-pit copper mine proposed for southeast of Tucson say it would impact the area�s fragile water supply, damaging features such as Cienega Creek. Photo credit: Pima County Regional Flood Control District.

Decision Expected on Open Pit Mine near Tucson

PHOENIX - Approval for a vast open-pit copper mine in the Santa Rita mountains 30 miles southeast of Tucson is expected soon from the U.S. Forest …

PHOTO: Do your childen go to school near a potentially dangerous chemical facility? The Center for Effective Government's new report finds there is a one-in-10 chance they do. Image courtesy Center for Effective Government.

Report: Nearly 80,000 AZ Kids Attends School Near Chemical Facility

PHOENIX - Nearly 79,000 Arizona kids spend several hours each weekday in the shadows of potentially-dangerous chemical facilities, according to a new …

PHOTO: A coalition of citizens and environmental groups is launching a

McDonald's Urged to Keep Promise On Reducing Pesticide Drift

PHOENIX – Concerned citizens and environmental groups are urging the fast good giant McDonald's to follow through on a promise to reduce pestici…

PHOTO: Hazardous toys continue to be found on store shelves, according to a new report from the Arizona PIRG Education Fund. CREDIT: Microsoft Images.

Survey: Dangerous Toys Still Found on Store Shelves

PHOENIX - It still pays to be cautious when shopping for toys. A report released today by the Arizona PIRG Education Fund describes several toys on …

PHOTO: Mats of thick blue-green algal blooms are plaguing many of the nation's water ways. Photo credit: Dr. Jennifer L. Graham, U.S. Geological Survey.

Is Toxic Algae in Waters Near You?

PHOENIX – Toxic algae can be found in lakes, ponds and rivers across the country. And according to a recent report by the National Wildlife …

PHOTO: A lawsuit filed against the Environmental Protection Agency seeks to force the EPA to re-evaluate the potential harms of pesticide-drift exposure and then take action accordingly. CREDIT: Magarell

Suit Claims EPA Failing to Protect Kids from Pesticide Drift

PHOENIX - The Environmental Protection Agency is being taken to court over claims that it's failing when it comes to protecting children from crop-dus…

VIDEO: More than 67,000 children are treated in emergency rooms each year because they got into medication while unsupervised. This video offers tips on keeping kids safe.<br />Courtesy of: Safe Kids Worldwide<br />

Doctors Urge Arizonans to Keep Kids Away from Others’ Pills

PHOENIX - As prescriptions increase for adult aches, pains and chronic illnesses, accidental poisonings in children increase, too, according to a new …

PHOTO: A growing body of science links childhood obesity with certain chemicals that are found in products from food-can linings to nonstick cookware. The chemicals can change the cellular pathways, contributing to fat accumulation. CREDIT: Tony Alter

Chemicals Linked to Increased Risk of Childhood Obesity

PHOENIX - It's common knowledge that eating healthy food and exercising can help people maintain a healthy weight, but there's another factor in play …

PHOTO: Farmworkers visited Washington DC this week, calling on Congress for stronger protections from hazardous pesticides they say are harming them and their families. Courtesy Pesticide Action Network.

Advocate: Farm Workers “Treated Like Insects”

PHOENIX - Farm workers from around the nation have been in Washington this week to urge Congress to pass stronger legislation to reduce what one gover…

PHOTO: A new report says migratory birds, such as the Swainson's hawk, are having a tough time adjusting to a changing climate.

Report: Climate Change Pace Moving Faster Than Birds Can Fly

PHOENIX – Birds are often considered highly adaptable, but a new report from the National Wildlife Federation claims that many species are …

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AZ: Toxics