Environmental Health News’ series “BPA’s Evil Cousin” — which investigated the ubiquitous, unregulated toxic compound BADGE — won second place in the Outstanding Explanatory Reporting category for small market newsrooms in the Society of Environmental Journalists’ annual awards.
Winners of the annual awards — the largest competition of its kind — were announced this week. The awards honor publications large and small for investigative work, beat reporting, explanatory journalism, student reporting and environmental books.
“BPA’s Evil Cousin” was reported by freelance reporter Meg Wilcox, who found that BADGE, short for bisphenol-A diglycidyl ether, has gotten far less attention than commonly known toxics like BPA, even though it shows potentially equal endocrine-disrupting potential, as well as other possible harmful health impacts. It is the predominant chemical used in epoxy resins — ubiquitous on construction sites, providing strong, durable corrosion-resistant adhesion.
She also found zero workplace exposure limits on BADGE leave the door open for potentially harmful worker exposures, and sketchy, or even false, advertising about the safety of construction, woodworking and art supplies.
“It’s an incredible honor to get this recognition from SEJ,” Wilcox said. “I am deeply grateful to EHN for working with me and for publishing the series to bring attention to this nasty, widely used and unregulated chemical. I hope that the award stimulates further investigation into — and action on — BADGE.”
SEJ judges said of Wilcox’s reporting: “EHN’s investigation is ambitious and vast in scope as they trace the lack of regulation to rein in this chemical in the U.S. and Europe. Easy to read, illuminating and in-depth look into a chemical that’s less known, unregulated and has the potential to harm all of us.”
Top honors in the Outstanding Explanatory Reporting category for small market newsrooms went to Flatwater Free Press and Investigate Midwest for their series “Pigs and Power.”
SEJ will honor all of the winners on in April 2025, during the society’s 34th annual conference in Fort Collins, Colorado. See all of the winners here.
Check out the series “BPA’s Evil Cousin” and listen to reporter Meg Wilcox discuss the investigation below.