The Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment’s (PRHE), part of the university of California, have produced a new guide designed to help individuals avoid exposure to toxic substances that are present in our daily lives.

Toxic Matters is a non-technical guide, providing evidence-based recommendations for preventing exposure to environmental substances with adverse reproductive and developmental health impacts. The recommendations are divided into five categories;

• Prevent exposure at home - learn how to make informed choices in your home life that can positively affect your health and the health of the ones you love;

• Prevent exposure at work - learn how many substances used in different jobs, present in office buildings or used in workplace renovation projects are toxic to reproductive health and about your right to a safe and healthy work environment;

• Prevent exposure in your community - learn how to reduce pollution in your community and limit your exposure to pollution in outdoor air;

• Become a smart consumer - find links to consumer guides that will help you find non-toxic products;

• Make the government work for you - learn how you can influence public policy and support policies that stop chemical pollution in the first place.

The online version and further resources are available on the website. Toxic Matters is the latest addition to advancing PRHE’s mission to create healthier environments for human reproduction and development by advancing scientific inquiry, clinical care and health policies that prevent exposures to harmful chemicals in our environment.