People across the state and country are exposed to PFAS chemicals, which are linked to cancer and other illnesses, in consumer products, in food and food packaging and even in their drinking water. Tell your legislators to pass the PFAS Protection Act.
People across the state and country are exposed to PFAS chemicals, which are linked to cancer and other illnesses, in consumer products, in food and food packaging and even in their drinking water. Tell your legislators to pass the PFAS Protection Act.
Maryland PIRG 2020 legislative scorecard
See how your legislators voted on key public interest priorities.
Public Health
Protecting Marylanders from toxic ‘forever chemicals’
PFAS are a class of chemicals commonly used in cookware, food packaging, outdoor apparel, carpets and firefighting foams. They have been linked to cancer and other serious illnesses — and in order to protect our communities from this public health threat, we need to address PFAS contamination in our food, water, consumer products and environment.
Public Health
Baltimore puts public health over toxic pesticides
The Baltimore City Council has passed a bill that restricts the use of three toxic pesticides: chlorpyrifos, neonicotinoids and glyphosate (the main ingredient in the popular weed killer Roundup). Glyphosate and chlorpyrifos have been linked to severe health issues, while neonicotinoids contribute the decline in bee populations, which threatens our ecosystems and food production.
Democracy | Maryland PIRG
Voting in Maryland: What you need to know
Voting by mail is a safe and secure way to participate during the COVID-19 crisis, so everyone who can vote by mail should vote by mail.
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Maryland PIRG is your advocate for the public interest, speaking out for healthier, safer, more secure lives for all of us.
News & Research
Blog Post
Plastic is a problem not just for our environment, but also for our health. Chemicals used to make plastics anti-microbial, flame retardant, and more, can be toxic.
News Release | US PIRG
A new analysis by the U.S. PIRG Education Fund and Frontier Group found that 8 percent of nursing homes nationwide had a critical shortage of surgical-grade N95 masks, as of Dec. 27. And 4 to 6 percent of homes reported shortages in at least one other category of PPE.
Blog Post
Shortages improved during the fall but worsened in December
News Release | U.S. PIRG
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Kathy Kraninger submitted her resignation Wednesday soon after the inauguration of new President Joe Biden. Resignation opens seat for President Biden’s new nominee Rohit Chopra.
Blog Post
McDonald’s just committed to phasing out PFAS-treated food packaging from its restaurants globally by 2025. Other restaurants, like Burger King and Wendy’s, should follow its lead.
RESOURCE
Coronavirus update
In the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, we’ve taken steps for all of our staff to work remotely for safety reasons. But rest assured, we’ll keep advocating for you as we work for a healthier, safer world.
Learn more about how we can work together to address the COVID-19 pandemic.