NewsEnvironment, Health EPA program on children’s toxic exposure “flawed” According to a scathing new critique by the EPA’s inspector general, efforts by the Environmental Protection Agency to protect children’s health have been fatally blocked by American industry’s refusal to submit information on their commercial use of chemicals. Sheila KaplanJuly 23, 2011
InvestigationEnvironment Firm Pays Government to Challenge Pesticide Research A private company responsible for conducting research on pesticides has paid a US government agency to prove that some chemicals in question are in fact safe. Sheila KaplanPolitics DailyMarch 1, 2011
InvestigationEnvironment Risky Business: EPA Builds List of Potentially Dangerous Chemicals The EPA is preparing a list of pollutants that contribute to neurological disorders; some compounds on their list are ubiquitous in household products, drinking water, medicine, and within the environment. Sheila KaplanPolitics DailyDecember 21, 2010
InvestigationEnvironment, World Toxic Sand: Another Enemy in Afghanistan? US forces in Afghanistan may be facing another enemy: toxic sand. A new Navy study has found returning soldiers have memory loss and difficulty concentrating, which can’t be attributed to brain injuries. Sheila KaplanPolitics DailyJune 25, 2010
InvestigationBusiness, Health The Poison Crib New evidence has emerged that using chemical flame retardants, especially in baby products which are in little danger of catching fire, can do more harm than good. Sheila KaplanSalon.comJune 14, 2010
InvestigationEnvironment, Politics EPA Staffers Were Forced to Ignore Science EPA staffers have been forced to ignore relevant science, have lacked key monitoring data on human health and environmental impacts and more, according to the findings of a scientific advisory board. Sheila KaplanPolitics DailyApril 28, 2010
InvestigationEnvironment, Politics Sapping the Superfund’s Strength As Washington dithers, sites long slated for clean up continue to threaten human health, coating homes and yards with poisonous dust and saturating the air near schools. Sheila Kaplan & Marilyn Berlin SnellThe NationApril 15, 2010
InvestigationHealth, Politics EPA: On Nanoparticle Safety, We Know Nothing Nanoparticles are used in medicine, cosmetics, sunscreen, and electronics. Yet safety studies are nearly non-existent. Sheila KaplanPolitics DailyFebruary 18, 2010
BackstoryEnvironment The Backstory: Sheila Kaplan She’s uncovered suppressed scientific reports on Great Lakes pollution and toxic FEMA trailers and sniffed out the ways Sarah Palin’s environmental policies may help create “special needs kids” in Alaska. Here Sheila Kaplan talks about how to cultivate sources and follow a document trail. Sheila KaplanDecember 1, 2009
InvestigationPolitics How Bush Broke the Government No government since Watergate has systematically abused power on such a widespread scale as has the Bush administration. An assessment of the damage. Tara McKelvey, Esther Kaplan & Sheila KaplanThe American ProspectJanuary 5, 2009