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Tip: Your message to SUST-MAR must be html-free. So, BEFORE you hit SEND, please go to your "Format" pull-down menu and select "Plain text." Thanks! ____________________________________________________________________________ Nova Scotia Allergy and Environmental Health Association MEDIA RELEASE FOR RELEASE MONDAY MAY 3 Guide to Less Toxic Products: groundbreaking new publication from Nova Scotia group April 29, 2004 Halifax A groundbreaking publication designed to help Canadians avoid toxic products in their everyday lives is now available on the Internet. The Guide to Less Toxic Products, published by the Nova Scotia Allergy and Environmental Health Association, is a first for Canada. Not only is this guide packed with information about toxic ingredients commonly found in make up, personal care, cleaning and baby care products, but hundreds of brand name products are evaluated so that people can easily select less toxic products. "Our aim was to address the needs of a wide range of people - from those who must avoid fragrances or other chemicals, to people who want to provide a healthy environment for their children, decrease their exposure to carcinogens and reproductive toxins, or be more environmentally responsible consumers," says project co-ordinator Barb Harris. "We tried to make the guide practical and easy to use, and we selected the web site format so that the information is available to everyone free of charge." People are increasingly aware that many products contain ingredients that pose serious risks to human health, but they often don't know where to start to find less toxic products. The Guide project was developed to make it easier for people to make healthy choices. " Most of the time we can't even pronounce the names of ingredients on product labels, let alone figure out how hazardous they may be," says Sharon Labchuk, principal researcher for the guide. "For the first time, Canadians will have information at their finger tips so that they can look at the ingredients on a label, understand the health risks, and then decide whether a product is worth purchasing. I think people will be very surprised when they discover just how many toxic chemicals they're exposed to on a daily basis in ordinary products like shampoo, toothpaste, make up and cleaning supplies." The Nova Scotia Allergy and Environmental Health Association is a charitable, volunteer-run organization. The Guide, produced with the assistance of a grant from the Halifax Peninsula Community Health Board, is available at www.lesstoxicguide.ca. "Our philosophy has always been that the most effective way to deal with illness is to prevent it," says Harris. "The Guide is a tool for prevention, as well as a way of helping people cope with existing allergies and sensitivities." Scientist and environmental advocate David Suzuki says of the Guide, "For all of us who know that we are exposed to toxic chemicals every minute of our lives but feel helpless to do much about it, here is an opportunity to take some responsibility." -30- Contact: Barb Harris 902-597-3675 <bharris@ns.sympatico.ca> Sharon Labchuk (PEI) 902-621-0719 <slabchuk@isn.net> ____________________________________________________________________________ Did a friend forward this to you? Join sust-mar yourself! Just send 'subscribe sust-mar' to mailto:majordomo@chebucto.ca
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