New EDF Action Ad Urges Government to Protect Communities from Toxic Trichloroethylene

(May 27, 2020) EDF Action is launching a new ad highlighting the problem of trichloroethylene (TCE) contamination in Phoenix to demand the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) follow the science and the law to protect communities from exposure to the toxic chemical. The six figure ad campaign will run on premium digital platforms in the Phoenix area from May 27 – July 1.

“Toxic TCE contaminates water and air in communities across the country, and it is still widely used by industry. We need a science-based evaluation of the chemical that will give us the ability to protect public health,” said Joanna Slaney, Legislative Director for EDF Health. “Unfortunately, judging from its actions thus far on TCE, the EPA is turning its back on communities, on science, and on its own mission to protect public health.”

TCE exposure can cause numerous health effects including cancer and fetal heart damage. It is found in hundreds of Superfund sites and nearly 3 million pounds of it are released annually to our air, land, and water.

EPA is currently evaluating the risks of TCE to decide whether and how the chemical should be restricted. The agency released a draft of its risk evaluation for TCE in February that had major scientific and legal flaws, resulting in a drastic underestimation of the risks the chemical poses to health and the environment.

The agency also seriously undermined the required opportunity for public comment on the draft risk evaluation. EPA refused a request from impacted communities to hold a public meeting and then ignored requests by health organizations and Congress to extend the comment deadline. EPA closed the public comment period on April 27, even as major disruptions and hardships caused by COVID-19 precluded many stakeholders, including scientific experts and healthcare workers, from providing meaningful input.

Watch the ad to learn more.