Britt E. Erickson

Washington, D.C.

Senior Editor at C&EN

chemistry, food, health, environment--reporter since 1997. Views are my own

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Articles

Inhance sues EPA to keep PFAS data confidential

2 weeks ago | cen.acs.org | Britt E. Erickson

Inhance Technologies, a small Texas-based company that fluorinates plastic containers, is fighting to keep its R&D testing data confidential. In a lawsuit filed against the US Environmental Protection Agency on April 2, the firm claims that disclosure of data related to long-chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in treated containers would cause significant competitive harm.
Inhance sues EPA to keep PFAS data confidential

2 weeks ago | pfascentral.org | Britt E. Erickson

By Britt E. Erickson | C&EN | April 9, 2025 Read the full article by Britt E. Erickson (C&EN) "Inhance Technologies, a small Texas-based company that fluorinates plastic containers, is fighting to keep its R&D testing data confidential.
EPA kicks chemical regulations down the road

2 weeks ago | pubs.acs.org | Britt E. Erickson

Friday, April 11, 2025 Please be aware that pubs.acs.org is undergoing maintenance from Saturday February 1 to Monday Febraury 3, that may have an impact on your experience. During this time, you may not be able to access certain features like login, purchasing single articles, saving searches or running existing saved searches, modifying your e-Alert preferences, or accessing Librarian administrative functions. We appreciate your patience as we continue to improve the ACS Publications platform.
EPA kicks chemical regulations down the road

3 weeks ago | cen.acs.org | Britt E. Erickson

Workers in chemical plants, along with communities near such facilities, will have to wait longer for regulations that aim to reduce cancer and other health risks associated with widely used solvents like trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene, and carbon tetrachloride, and common building block chemicals like formaldehyde and 1,3-butadiene. While attention has focused on President Donald J.
West Virginia enacts nation's first broad ban on synthetic food dyes

4 weeks ago | cen.acs.org | Britt E. Erickson

West Virginia became the first state in the US this week to ban seven synthetic dyes in all food and beverages sold in the state. The ban also targets two food preservatives-butylated hydroxyanisole and propyl paraben-making it the strongest food additive law in the country. Consumer and industry groups say West Virginia's action is part of a growing trend among states because of a lack of federal food safety oversight.
EPA kicks chemical regulations down the road

1 month ago | cen.acs.org | Britt E. Erickson

Workers in chemical plants, along with communities near such facilities, will have to wait longer for regulations that aim to reduce cancer and other health risks associated with widely used solvents like trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene, and carbon tetrachloride, and common building block chemicals like formaldehyde and 1,3-butadiene. While attention has focused on President Donald J.
Kennedy orders FDA to review food ingredient loophole

1 month ago | cen.acs.org | Britt E. Erickson

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services, is pushing the Food and Drug Administration to close a loophole that allows food companies to decide for themselves whether an ingredient is generally recognized as safe (GRAS). On March 10, Kennedy ordered the FDA to explore eliminating that self-determination pathway to ensure that companies notify the agency and provide safety evidence before they market new food ingredients that fall under the GRAS category.
FDA nominee Marty Makary outlines vision for improving public health

1 month ago | cen.acs.org | Britt E. Erickson

Marty Makary, President Donald J. Trump's nominee to lead the US Food and Drug Administration, sailed through questioning during a Senate confirmation hearing on March 6, paving the way for the Johns Hopkins Hospital surgeon to oversee the US agency responsible for the safety of drugs, medical products, and food. He vowed to streamline drug approvals, ensure food safety, and rebuild trust in public health, emphasizing three key themes: science-based evidence, common sense, and transparency.
Thousands of federal employees fired from US science agencies

1 month ago | pubs.acs.org | Krystal Vasquez |Britt E. Erickson |Laurel Oldach |Prachi Patel

Monday, February 24, 2025 Please be aware that pubs.acs.org is undergoing maintenance from Saturday February 1 to Monday Febraury 3, that may have an impact on your experience. During this time, you may not be able to access certain features like login, purchasing single articles, saving searches or running existing saved searches, modifying your e-Alert preferences, or accessing Librarian administrative functions.
Thousands of federal employees fired from US regulatory and science funding agencies

2 months ago | cen.acs.org | Krystal Vasquez |Britt E. Erickson |Laurel Oldach |Prachi Patel |Priyanka Runwal |Rowan Walrath

Credit: AP Photo/Mark SchiefelbeinOver the past week, thousands of employees have been fired across multiple US regulatory and science funding agencies. The majority of those affected were probationary employees, a classification that includes newly hired or recently promoted workers who haven't been in their positions long enough to qualify for civil service protections.