Follow us on:
get updates by email
Tips And Guides - Toxic Nation
Latest Updates
our supporters
Download these handy Toxic Nation Guides to de-toxifying your life.
The Just Beautiful Personal Care Products Pocket Shopping Guide
Canadians put toxics on their skin every day from the products they use. Cancer-causing, hormone-disrupting, and allergy-inducing substances have been banned or restricted in European products that can still be found in Canadian products. Find out more about how these substance affect you, and where to find safer alternatives. Here's a guide of the top 10 ingredients to avoid to help when you are shopping.
Toxic Nation Guide to Fragrance
Top-selling perfumes and colognes were found to contain a dozen or more
secret chemicals not listed on labels, multiple chemicals that can trigger
allergic reactions or disrupt hormones, and many substances that have not
been assessed for safety by the beauty industry’s self-policing review
panels. This four page report explores some the research Environmental Defence has done on the safety of fragrances for sale in Canada.
PDF, 172 K
Toxic Nation Guide to Bisphenol A
This two page report explains Bisphenol A, how people are exposed, the health implications of BPA exposure and what Canadians can do to help.
Revised May 2010. PDF, 136K
Seeking Safer Packaging: Ranking Packaged Food Companies on Bisphenol A (BPA)
This scorecard reviews how leading packaged food companies are responding to increased consumer and investor concern about BPA. Seeking Safer Packaging ranks companies on three factors: 1) efforts to find and implement alternatives to BPA, 2) plans to phase out BPA in products for which alternatives exist, and 3) transparency on the issue.
The scorecard is accompanied by an introduction to health concerns linked to BPA exposure, the changing regulatory climate related to BPA, and studies of companies that have voluntarily removed the chemical from their products.
PDF, 375K
Toxic Nation Guide to PVC-Free School Supplies
Going back to school often means stocking up on a fresh batch of school supplies for the year ahead. What many parents and students don’t realize is that most common school supplies are made with toxic chemicals – but luckily there are safer alternatives.
If you haven’t yet finished your back to school shopping read on below for tips on less toxic school supplies. Keep these tips in mind as you refresh office and school supplies throughout the year.
PDF, 188K
Toxic Nation Guide to Triclosan
Triclosan is a synthetic antimicrobial/antibacterial agent whose use has become widespread in toothpastes and mouthwashes, deodorants, cosmetics, fabrics, plastics and other products. Increasing levels of triclosan in people and the environment have been linked to several negative health effects.
This two page report explains the current concerns with this antimicrobial and discusses alternatives. PDF, 208K
Toxic Nation Guide to Vinyl Shower Curtains
Vinyl shower curtains and other vinyl products are made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Other chemicals such as phthalates (see below) are added to PVC to make it soft or give it other practical characteristics. This two page report looks at the risks of PVC in vinyl shower curtains and other products, and has tips on how to limit your exposure.
PDF, 104Kb
Toxic Nation Guide to Toxic Baby Bottles
Bisphenol A is a hormone disruptor found in some 90-95 per cent of plastic baby bottles in Canada. Bisphenol A is used to make polycarbonate plastics — the clear or tinted, hard plastic used to make popular baby bottle brands and reusable water bottles, including some Nalgene bottles, as well as the lining of some food and drink containers and dental sealants. This two page report explains the risks of BPA in baby bottles, and lists suppliers of safe, BPA-free bottles for your baby.
PDF, 44K
Toxic Nation Guide to Plastics
This one page guide to common dangerous chemicals in your home is subtitled "Helping you avoid toxic chemicals". PDF, 110K
Top 10 Ways to Detoxify Your Life
This two page guide from Environmental Defence gives ten tips on how to avoid common sources of toxics in and around your home. PDF, 1.6Mb
Canadians are exposed to harmful chemicals everyday through commonly used products in their homes. Luckily, there are safe alternatives to many toxic products. Download and read through the toxic-free home checklist to find out how you can reduce your household's exposure to harmful chemicals. PDF, 172K
Toxic Nation Healthy Artist Guide to a Less Toxic Studio
This five page guide looks at common artists' materials, explains the hazards of their use, and discusses safe alternatives. PDF, 256K.
The Toxic Nation Guide to Insect Repellants
This is your guide to the safest ways to protect you and your family from bothersome, and sometimes dangerous, bug bites.
The Toxic Nation Guide To Spring Cleaning
Spring has sprung, and the time has come to pop the windows open and clean away winter’s dust and grime. Before you reach into the cabinet under your sink, consider the ingredients in your cleaning products, and make sur e you’re not replacing that dust and grime with chemical pollutants