Reporting on Toxics & Health: Lessons from covering “forever chemicals”

By Collaborative for Health & Environment

Accurate reporting on chemicals and health is more important than ever before. While science clearly links chemical exposures to many health harms, this issue has become increasingly politicized. Petrochemical corporations often fuel the confusion and proactively manufacture doubt about the science.

In this webinar, award-winning chemical pollution reporters Sharon Lerner and Stéphane Horel will discuss the importance of accurate local reporting on toxic chemicals. Focusing on PFAS “forever chemicals” as an example, the speakers will explore the critical role of journalists in covering chemical health hazards, public decision-making, and industry strategies to influence both policy and science.

Stephane Horel will discuss learnings from the Forever Pollution project, a pioneering cross-border, interdisciplinary collaboration bringing together journalists and experts to document PFAS contamination across Europe. She will also discuss the Forever Lobbying project, a related effort which published an investigation in January 2025 describing industry’s disinformation campaign to counter a EU proposal to ban all PFAS.

Sharon Lerner will discuss her award-winning reporting on PFAS in the US, including observations on how lobbyists from the PFAS and plastics industries work to influence policymaking. Both speakers will also highlight examples of industry suppression or manipulation of scientific research, and how journalists can recognize these efforts.