Provide names of other journalists involved.
The Good Housekeeping Research Institute initiated and co-designed the water filter study, and the laboratory of Shane Snyder, Ph.D., at the University of Arizona, performed the analysis.
List date(s) this work was published or aired.
Mar-12
Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
Increasingly sensitive water tests have discovered low levels of unregulated contaminants in drinking water all over the country. I reported that each American drinks a unique assortment of such contaminants (including BPA, the insect repellant DEET, the herbicide atrazine, the anticonvulsant carbamazepine, the hormone estrone, sucralose, the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole, among others) and that early studies show these could be harmful in combination, consumed at critical points in development, or consumed long-term. A Good Housekeeping/University of Arizona study found that ordinary water filters can remove most of these contaminants, providing consumers with an easy way to protect their health.
Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
During more than a year of research and writing, I scoured numerous original scientific papers and EPA documents, among other reports (GAO, NSF International, etc).
Explain types of human sources used.
I interviewed scientists; government officials, scientists, workers (NIEHS, EPA, USGS); advocacy groups, Americans suffering from poor drinking water.
Results:
Good Housekeeping designed one of the first comparative tests of ordinary water pitchers and refrigerator filters, and found that they did, indeed, remove many of these low-level contaminants.
Follow-up (if any). Have you run a correction or clarification on the report or has anyone come forward to challenge its accuracy? If so, please explain.
No.
Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
Organize your files wisely and outline major themes as you research.