cleaner world

safer kids
simpler pleasures

Environmental
Working Group
annual
report
2008
 2

our water
We have only so much fresh water.
Just water — hold the lead, hold refusal to regulate perchlorate as a
the arsenic, hold the industrial and water pollutant outraged and mobilized
agricultural chemicals, radioactive environmentalists, consumers, health
isotopes, pharmaceuticals and other professionals and scientists – including
impurities – is even harder to come two EPA science advisory panels, who
by. EWG has been working hard to issued rare public letters of protest.
conserve and protect our water supply.
Our May 2008 analysis, Without
Our August 2008 report, The a Paddle: U.S. Law Powerless to
Unintended Environmental Impacts Protect Colorado River From Mining,
of the Renewable Fuels Standard: generated an outpouring of news and
Time to Change Direction in Biofuel commentary by unearthing a surge
Policy, transformed the debate on in mining claims for uranium, gold
corn ethanol by showing that the 2007 and other metals along the banks of
energy bill’s biofuels mandate would the Colorado River, the drinking water
cost billions of gallons of water and source for 25 million Americans.
worsen the Gulf of Mexico’s “Dead Zone.”
After we documented dozens of
Our October 2008 report — Bottled mining claims staked within five
Water Quality Investigation: 10 miles of the Grand Canyon, the
Major Brands, 38 Pollutants — was House Natural Resources Committee
featured in more than two dozen invoked emergency authority to ban
“I have been very impressed by newspapers, including a New York new mining claims on more than 1
EWG’s diligence and effectiveness Times editorial and broadcasts million acres around the Canyon.
reaching 12 million people.
in addressing real health issues
that have been grossly overlooked Our 7-year campaign for a nationwide
by our government and our society cleanup of perchlorate, a rocket fuel
component and thyroid toxin, neared the
in general. The fact that groups
tipping point. The Bush administration’s
like this exist gives me hope for
the future!” S.M., Sebastopol, CA
‘08
 3

our food
Americans have a right to pure, safe food.
We have focused on ridding food On December 12, EWG made public
of chemicals that present subtle internal government documents
but serious threats to public describing a secret FDA plan to water
health. EWG research helped down federal warnings that tuna
galvanize a nationwide movement contains mercury, a potent neurotoxin
to ban bisphenol A (BPA), a plastic especially dangerous to pregnant
component and synthetic estrogen, in women and young children. Sen.
baby bottles and food packaging. Patrick Leahy, D-VT, denounced FDA
for “disregarding sound science.” The
Our exposé of conflicts of interest within FDA appears to have shelved the plan.
the National Toxicology Program (NTP)
strengthened the hand of scientists EWG’s June 2008 analysis, America’s
and led to a groundbreaking September Food-to-Fuel Gamble, correctly forecast
2008 NTP declaration that BPA may that bad weather and supply shortages
be toxic at current human exposures. due to diversion of corn to ethanol
Canada banned BPA in baby bottles, distilleries would inflate food and feed
U.S. retailers pulled BPA-based baby prices. Two weeks after the report
bottles from their shelves, major appeared, Iowa flooded, and grain
sports bottle manufacturers switched prices spiked — causing national debate
to BPA-free bottles, and federal, state over biofuels to intensify and EWG to
and local lawmakers drafted measures emerge as a thoughtful and effective
to restrict the chemical’s use. authority on U.S. biofuels policy.

The federal Food and Drug

Administration (FDA) still hasn’t
“I love what your group is regulated BPA as a food contaminant,
but that may change. In October 2008,
doing:  well reasoned information, based on testimony from EWG and
other scientists and health advocates,
communicated in a non-
FDA’s outside Science Board issued a
panic form, with constructive scathing critique of the agency’s stance,
prompting FDA scientists to launch a new
information about what changes BPA review. The new assessment is using,
to make ... including legislation among other evidence, EWG’s pioneering
study of BPA adulteration of canned food.
when necessary.  This is the right
approach.” A.S., Great Falls, VA ‘08
 4

our homes
Most of us think we know a thing or two about pollution.
We’ve fought long and hard to stop and preschoolers. The children’s
industries from spewing filth into the air, PBDE levels were 3 times higher than
groundwater and soil. Yet biomonitoring their mothers. EWG’s study generated
tests by EWG and other scientific bodies extensive media coverage of toxic
that are mapping the human toxome have fire retardants, found in consumer
identified hundreds of industrial chemicals, electronics and older foam products.
pesticides and other pollutants in the
bodies of most Americans. The truth is, EWG made public government
our stuff is permeated with powerful toxins documents showing that the chemical
and endocrine-disrupting chemicals. industry successfully pressured the
Environmental Protection Agency to
Carpeting, foam furniture padding, remove the chair of an expert advisory
upholstery, baby seats, pizza boxes, panel setting safe exposure levels
butter cartons, cosmetics, fragrances, for DECA, a neurotoxic PBDE banned
baby shampoo and lotion, bath foam, in Europe and four U.S. states.
tooth paste, sunscreens, pots and pans,
cleaners – the list of household goods and An EWG biomonitoring report published
personal care products impregnated with in September 2008 found that 20 teenage
dangerous chemicals goes on and on. girls tested positive for 16 chemicals
common in personal care products. These
Until the federal government regulates included phthalates, triclosan, parabens,
cosmetics ingredients, countless and musks, all linked to health problems
consumers rely on Skin Deep, EWG’s including cancer and hormone disruption.
“I see so much value in what you do and cosmetics safety database, with
want the information to continue to evaluations of more than 50,000 products, In August 2008, EWG advocacy helped
2,300 brands and 1,500 companies. In 2008, move the California state legislature to
be available and added to, so another Skin Deep generated 4.8 million unique ban fast-food sandwich wrappers, french-
contribution seemed in order!  Thanks visits and more than 83 million page views. fry bags, pizza boxes and other food
packaging containing two Teflon-related
for looking out for the welfare of EWG biomonitoring tests released in chemicals — perfluorooctane sulfonate
humankind since we cannot rely September 2008 found 11 different (PFOS) and perfluoroctanic acid (PFOA)
toxic fire retardant chemicals, called — linked to cancer and developmental
upon our own producers, vendors, or polybrominated diphenyl ethers problems in children. Governor Arnold
(PBDEs), in the blood of 20 toddlers Schwarzenegger vetoed the bill.
manufacturers to take personal health
into consideration. But with groups like
EWG there is hope!” M.H., Darien, CT ‘08
 5

donors
thank you
$250,000 or more Mifflin Memorial Fund Fa & Roger Liddell Cindy Emminger Ashley & Scott Pease*
Anonymous Oak Foundation* Sandy Lerner Enviro-Tote Puget Consumers Co-op
Beldon Fund PEW Environment Liza & Drummond Pike* Linda & Peter Formuzis Gail Raywid
Group
Breast Cancer Fund Nora Pouillon & Steven The Henry J. Fox Trust Restaurant Nora
Philanthropic Damato
Richard & Rhoda Fred Gellert Family The Robidoux
Collaborative
Goldman Fund Wendy & Larry Foundation Foundation
Rachel’s Network Rockefeller*
William & Flora Hewlett Randy Goldstein John Rodgers
Foundation Starry Night Fund
Greatmats.com Fannie & Gilbert
Joyce Foundation Town Creek Foundation $1,000 - $4,999 Pamela & Tom Green
Rosenthal
Turner Foundation
“Investigators” Ritchie Scaife
McKnight Foundation Dr. Sally Goodwin &
Anonymous
David & Lucile Packard Dr. Lucy Waletzky Kurt Hoelting Schregardus Family
Foundation Annette Bacola & Foundation
Wallace Genetic Fund Karen Guberman &
Robert Cummings
Popplestone Foundation Craig Kennedy Milton Shoong
Lisa Baron* Foundation
The Guide Foundation
$10,000 - $24,999 Elizabeth Barratt- Bonnie Nelson Schwartz
$100,000 - “Watchdogs” Brown & Bosworth
Jessica & Erik Haugsjaa & Arlie Schardt
$249,999 Anonymous Dewey Heimbinder Family Judith Shampaine
Anonymous Foundation
Bellwether Foundation James Bredt
Susan Shane
Jacob & Hilda Blaustein Mary & Eric
Dorothy & Russell Budd Bufka Foundation
Foundation Hetherington* Laura & Clifford
Dianne Christensen Roger Burt Simpkins
California Wellness Jenny Hoffman & Daniel
Foundation Environment Now Kim Butler Larson Harriet Stein*
California Endowment Fledgling Fund Rebecca Carter & Laura & Kurt Hudson Connie & Kevin Sutton
Demetris Giannoulias
Campbell Foundation Organic Valley Heidi & Arthur Huguley Swig Foundation
Morrow Cater
Park Foundation Stonyfield Farm hundreth monkey Elizabeth & David Thede
Victor Cheng* foundation
“The Environmental Working Group’s Alice & Fred Stanback Barbara Streisand Stephanie & Eric
Foundation Janna & Bob Crist Kellogg Collaborative Tilenius
groundbreaking, provocative, and Stacy & Peter Sullivan Vanessa Crosbie Kingfisher Foundation Thomas Tudor
$25,000 - $99,999
“Heroes” The Totic Family Andrew Crowley* Jerry & Terri Kohl Noelle Tutunjian &
consumer-friendly reports help protect Family Foundation Michael Ference
Agua Fund Kelsey Wirth & Dr. Sam Crummy Brothers
Myers* Janine Lariviere & Roger Brenda Watson
citizens the way our government does Anonymous Thomas Damato Gural
Alicia & Mark Wittink
Aria Foundation Davis Food Co-op
not but should. EWG is the whistle blower $5,000 - $9,999
Merloyd Ludington
Madge Woods*
Jan & Larry Birenbaum Laura DeBonis & Scott Lawrence & John Myers
“Muckrakers” Nathan
I turn to over and over again when HKH Foundation Anonymous
Benjamin Lynch*
Deitzler Foundation Maxon Family
John Merck Fund Amy Domini & Michael
researching the books, articles, and blogs Thornton
Patricia Dinner Foundation
Johnson Family
Foundation Linda & John Donovan Linda Mediate*
I write -- an invaluable, far-reaching, King Tree Service
Naomi Flack* Earthbound Farm Melissa & Stephen
Klean Kanteen Murdoch
and crucial resource.” Alexandra Zissu, Layton Family Fund Ecoconscious

environmental health journalist and author * These individuals also

contributed to the EWG
Action Fund
‘08
 6

staff
working for you
Bill Allayaud Lisa Frack, MPP Environmental EWG Board EWG Action Fund
Director of Online Organizer Health Outreach Members Board Members
Government Affairs, Coordinator
California Sean Gray David Baker Jeff Blattner, JD
Senior Analyst Olga Naidenko, PhD Community Against Legal Policy
Dave Andrews Kari Hamerschlag, Senior Scientist Pollution Solutions LLC
Senior Scientist MA
Senior Analyst Dee Pearlstein The Rev. Canon Sally Carlton Carl
Claudia Arango Administrative Bingham The Texas Observer
Administrative Dusty Horwitt, Esq. Assistant The Regeneration
Assistant Senior Counsel Project Mark Childress, JD
Michelle Perez Foley Hoag LLP
Kathryn Bozarth Andrew Hug Senior Analyst Sandy Buchanan
Bookkeeper Analyst Jason Rano, MPP SECRETARY Steven Damato
Legislative Analyst Ohio Citizen Action TREASURER
Leeann Brown Jane Houlihan, PE, Changing Seas
Press Associate MSCE Amy Rosenthal Ken Cook
Senior Vice President Development EWG President & Co- Robyn O’Brien
Nils Bruzelius for Research Associate Founder AllergyKids
Executive Editor
Colleen Hutchings Elaine Shannon Steven Damato Sally Paxton, JD
Chris Campbell Email Marketing Editor-in-chief TREASURER The Paxton Group
Vice President Manager Changing Seas
for Information Renée Sharp, MS Cari Rudd
Technology Anila Jacob, MD, Director, California Pete Myers, PhD CHAIR
MPH Office Environmental
Donald Carr Senior Scientist Health Sciences Ricki Seidman, JD
Press Secretary Rebecca Sutton, PhD TSD, Inc.
Nneka Leiba, MPH Senior Scientist Drummond Pike
Dean Clark Environmental CHAIR Richard Wiles
Web Developer Health Researcher Katherine Watier Tides Foundation SECRETARY
Director of Online EWG Co-Founder
Ken Cook Sonya Lunder, MPH Marketing Cari Rudd
President and Co- Senior Analyst Carrie Wofford, JD
“Whether it’s quick practical Founder Heather White, Esq. Perry Wallace, JD WilmerHale
Jocelyn Lyle Chief of Staff & American University
tips or in-depth, up-to-date Craig Cox Director of General Counsel
Midwest Vice Development Meredith Wingate
research, EWG makes it President Richard Wiles Center for Resource
Scott Mallan Senior Vice President Solutions
simpler for people to become Alex Formuzis Vice President for for Policy &
Director of Finance & Chief Communications Alicia Wittink
knowledgeable advocates for Communications Operating Officer
Tolga Yalniz
their own health -- and activists Bobbie Manning Web Designer
in the world at large.” Siel Ju,
environmental journalist ‘08
 7

financials EWG has received the top rating of 4

stars from CharityNavigator.org for

five consecutive years: 2003-2007.

2008 REVENUES 7M Consulting - 3.3%

Test Kit Sales - .3%
Grant Revenue - Foundations $4,612,652 70.2%
Interest Income - .9%
Individuals $1,261,072 19.2%
In-Kind Donations - 5.1%
In-Kind Donations $335,998 5.1% 6M

Consulting $214,690 3.3%

Grant Revenue - revenue Individuals - 19.2%
Corporations $68,174 1% Foundations - 70.2%
$6,570,003
Interest Income $59,735 .9% 5M

Test Kit Sales $17,678 .3%

TOTAL REVENUES $6,570,003 Corporations -
1%

4M

3M
Fundraising - 7.9%

2008 EXPENSES Administrative - 6.6%

Toxics $2,572,848 53.3%

2M
Sustainable Agriculture $1,099,735 22.8%
Natural Resources $456,356 9.5% expenses
Toxics - 53.3%
Sustainable Agriculture - 22.8% $4,827,119
Fundraising $381,550 7.9%
Administrative $316,630 6.6% 1M

TOTAL EXPENSES $4,827,119

Natural Resources - 9.5%

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

This statement represents the consolidated activities of EWG, Inc. and EWG Action Fund. Copies of
complete, audited financial statements from which this information is summarized are available upon
request.
‘08
 8

letter from the president

Watching a toddler take command of industrial chemicals, find household
his world is magical. And humbling. As goods free of invisible synthetics
I observe my 17-month-old scramble and conserve our countryside, rivers
and squeal through his daily agenda, I and streams and energy sources.
realize Cal is teaching me a lot more
than I’m ever going to teach him. I’m proud to say that with your support,
despite political adversity and lean
Yank pots and pans out of kitchen economic times, Environmental
cabinet with a clamor: check! Working Group has made great strides
towards those goals in 2008. In 2009
Grab dirt out of houseplant and and the years to come, we’re compiling
sprinkle over rug: on it! even more impressive accomplishments.

Chase a panicked Bennie the Cat When you’re looking for a good value
scampering down the hallway: done! and some serious game-changing
strategies, I hope you’ll think about
In tough times, our kids remind us EWG. We’re staying lean, playing
to take stock, keep what matters and smart and aim to do nothing less than
forget about the rest. They don’t need amazing work in the public interest.
a lot of complicated or expensive stuff.
Is there really anything better than Best,
leaping into a pile of leaves or watching
a bug or making a cave out of a big box?

They expect us to take care of the

basics. Clean air and water, healthy Ken Cook
food, safe homes, schools and President and Co-Founder
playgrounds and an unclouded future. Environmental Working Group

Our responsibilities are straightforward

– but hardly simple. Only by working
very hard and working together
can we hope to rid our water and
food of pesticides, pollutants and

‘08