According to the EWG’s first salvo in a newly launched series, the pea-size particles, or PFAS, that were found in nearly 1,000 military installations nationwide last year may actually be the leading cause of liver damage among service members. The source of the contamination is the 54 types of chemical waste from old military installations that were not properly disposed of. Perceptive reader Monica Harris noticed the very same thing, so the environmental group is speaking out and urging the military to “take decisive action and set records for transparency.” EWG’s founder and director of the Environmental Working Group, Barbara Finamore, says the alarm is “well-founded.”

The Santa Monica-based Environmental Working Group is also campaigning for the proposed California law to protect minors from lead that could be present in their jewelry. According to EWG, these small baby earrings and bracelets are contaminated with lead from the solder used to manufacture them. The new legislation, Proposition 65, will require manufacturers to report these products, which include baby cases, pendants, and bracelets.

If you’re confused by what some of the other news items — all of which are about topics related to safety and cleanliness — are about, head over to EWG, because even the non-environmental reporting is more than a little informative.