The IRE office will be closed from December 25th to January 5th.
Consumer Safety
Texas schools often used bus firm linked to fatal crash
According to a report by Matt Stiles and Chase Davis of the Houston Chronicle, “Angel Tours, the charter bus company tied to a deadly North Texas crash this month, also shuttled children and students on dozens of trips since 2006, mostly for extracurricular events paid by local schools and universities.” Records show the Houston Independent…
Read MoreEPA investigation shows “safe” pesticides now top list of poisonings
Through a FOIA request, The Center for Public Integrity obtained the Environmental Protection Agency’s internal pesticide incident database, called one of the “Ten Most Wanted Government Documents” by a watchdog group. Their analysis of the more than 90,000 “adverse-reaction” reports filed by manufacturers to the EPA found that the supposedly “safe” pesticide compounds now in…
Read MoreAirbag recalibration may be linked to some accident fatalities
The recalibration of airbags in some 2005 Chrysler minivans meant to prevent potentially dangerous late deployments may be responsible for some fatalities when airbags fail to deploy, reports Mike Casey of The Kansas City Star. The family of the late Brooke Katz is suing the automaker because the airbag in her 2005 Dodge Caravan failed…
Read MoreHazardous flame retardant being used in household products
Susanne Rust and Meg Kissinger of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel detailed how a chemical flame retardant that was taken out of children’s pajamas 30 years ago has found its way back as a popular flame retardant used in sofa cushions, baby carriers and bassinet mattresses. As part of their ongoing Chemical Fallout series, the reporters…
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