WHEN Women's Healthy Environments Network

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WHEN Women's Healthy Environments Network

WHEN is a non-profit org that educates on the links between environmental health and public health.

WHEN is a Toronto-based non-profit organization that teaches individuals and communities how to reduce their risk of illness and injury that arise from elements of the environment that surrounds us - this includes, the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe. WHEN uses the influence and knowledge of women to become champions for change. WHEN is a trusted source of credible tools and

information for women on today’s relevant and emerging environmental health topics. Since 1994, WHEN has been educating the general public, media and policy makers that environmental health is a key determinant of public health, and has promoted public action for the prevention of environmental health harms.

06/04/2026

☕ What else is in your morning cup?

Many of the products we use to enjoy our daily coffee and tea, from plastic-lined disposable cups and single-serve coffee pods to tea bags made with nylon or polyethylene terephthalate (PET), can release microplastics into our drinks when exposed to hot water. These plastics don't just disappear after use; they accumulate in our bodies and environments, contributing to a growing public health and environmental concern.

Microplastics have been found throughout the human body, including in blood, organs, and even the placenta. Researchers are also concerned about chemicals commonly associated with plastics, including PFAS, BPA, and phthalates. These endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have been linked to reproductive health concerns such as endometriosis, PMOS (formerly PCOS), menstrual irregularities, infertility, and potential risks during pregnancy.

At the same time, many single-use coffee and tea products are marketed as environmentally friendly despite creating significant waste. Millions of coffee pods are discarded every day, while disposable paper cups often contain plastic linings that make them difficult to recycle. The Keurig Canada case serves as a reminder that corporations must be transparent about environmental claims and held accountable when those claims are misleading.

While individual action alone cannot solve the problem, there are steps we can take to reduce exposure and waste, such as using French presses or Moka pots, choosing loose-leaf tea with reusable infusers, opting for plastic-free tea bags (try out , Canadian brand!), and bringing reusable mugs and thermoses when possible.

Creating a healthier future requires more than consumer choices. It requires stronger regulations, corporate accountability, and policies that prioritize human health and environmental wellbeing. Together, we can move away from a culture of convenience and toward one that is safer for both people and the planet. 🌎💚

🎥 Want to learn more about microplastics? Check out Plastic People on CBC Gem.
📖 Read the full blog at the link in our bio.

06/01/2026

A huge thank you to the incredible sponsors, vendors, and community partners helping make our WTF Home Edition event possible!
From sustainable household products and refillable essentials to Indigenous-made goods, local tea, and hands-on workshops, our partners are helping us create a day focused on healthier homes, environmental justice, and practical ways to reduce our exposure to toxics in everyday life.
Swipe through to learn more about the amazing organizations and businesses joining us at WTF Home Edition!

05/22/2026

Introducing our panel for WTF: Home Edition presented by WHEN!🌿✨
On June 7th, 2026 from 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM, join us for a Panel Discussion exploring toxic sources in our homes and how environmental factors like chemical exposure, pollution, and climate change impact our health. We’ll also discuss practical ways to reduce exposure, along with how gaps in Canadian policy create barriers to environmental justice, especially for marginalized communities.
We’re joined by Anna-Liza Badaloo, who works at the intersection of health, environment, and social justice to uncover how systemic inequities are embedded in organizations and to support strategies for meaningful change. Alongside her is Adrianna Trifunovski, whose work focuses on public health research with an emphasis on environmental exposures and their impacts on community health.
Swipe the post to learn more about them ➡️

05/18/2026

Wannabe Toxic Free: Home Edition
🗓 Sunday, June 7
🕒 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
📍 Centre for Social Innovation – 192 Spadina Avenue, Toronto
Presented by WHEN

Join us for an afternoon of learning, creativity, and community as we explore how toxic chemicals in our everyday environments impact our homes, our health, and our communities—and what we can do about it. Free tea will be provided for attendees by a local company producing sustainably and ethically sourced teas.
Doors open at 12:00 PM for check-in and home décor + clothing swap item drop-off.

From 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM, join our Panel Discussion to learn about toxic sources in our homes, how environmental factors like chemical exposure, pollution, and climate change affect our health, and practical ways to reduce exposure. We will also discuss how gaps in Canadian policy create barriers to environmental justice, particularly for marginalized communities. Panellists include Anna-Liza Badaloo, Organizational Justice Consultant & Environmental Justice Storyteller, and Adrianna Trifunovski, Public Health Researcher at ASEQ-EHAQ.

From 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM, visit our Home Décor Swap, DIY Cleaning Product Workshop hosted by Anarres Natural Health Apothecary, and sustainable vendors. Bring 1–3 small décor items to swap (such as cookware, dinnerware, mugs, frames, posters, plant pots, figurines, or small rugs). Items must be clean, usable, and easy to carry. Appliances, knives, plastic containers, furniture, and large mirrors cannot be accepted.

During the workshop, learn to make non-toxic products like all-purpose cleaner and laundry detergent. Please bring your own containers to take home samples.

From 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM join our Clothing Swap hosted by Good Swap Toronto. Bring up to 10 clean items (or two grocery bags) of clothing, footwear, jewelry, or accessories in good condition—no rips, stains, underwear, or used socks.
🎟 Get your tickets through the link below or scan the QR code in the post.
https://luma.com/sm7u0eqc
This event is part of Toronto Climate Week! Check their calendar for more climate and environment related events!

05/15/2026

Our homes should be places of safety, healing, and restoration. Yet many everyday household products contain toxic chemicals linked to hormonal disruption, reproductive harm, chronic illness, and environmental pollution.

Wannabe Toxic Free: Home Edition was created to reclaim health, awareness, and agency.

This event connects our personal health to broader systems of environmental injustice and corporate accountability. Toxic exposure disproportionately impacts women, children, and marginalized communities, while many corporations continue to profit without transparency or responsibility. Everyone deserves access to safe products, clean environments, and the knowledge needed to make informed choices.

Our intentions are to promote women’s and community health, advance environmental and reproductive justice, hold corporations accountable, make information about toxic exposure more accessible, and empower both individual and collective action.
Through panel discussions with environmental changemakers, hands-on DIY non-toxic workshops, a home décor swap rooted in circular living, and sustainable and women-owned vendors, we are creating space for education, creativity, and community action.

This event is about more than detoxing our homes. It’s about challenging harmful systems, protecting future generations, and reimagining home as a place of care, safety, and connection.
Join us in building healthier homes, communities, and futures. 🌿
Date: Sunday, June 7th 2026, 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Location: Centre for Social Innovation Spadina (192 Spadina Avenue, Toronto)

Click the link below to get your ticket!
https://luma.com/sm7u0eqc

This event is part of Toronto Climate Week! Check their calendar for more climate and environment related events!

05/14/2026

EcoFair Toronto 2026 was such a meaningful experience for our team at WHEN! We loved connecting with community members, sharing conversations about environmental health, and learning from so many inspiring local organizations working toward a healthier future.
From safer everyday products to sustainable living ideas, the energy and passion throughout the event reminded us how powerful collective action can be. Thank you to everyone who visited our booth, asked thoughtful questions, shared your stories, and supported our mission. These conversations are what keep us motivated.
Here’s to building stronger, healthier, and more sustainable communities together.

05/10/2026

Cut the Toxics, Not the Love 💐

Traditional cut flower bouquets can come with hidden environmental and health costs, including:

• Chemical use that contributes to air and water pollution
• VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that impact indoor air quality
• High water consumption
• Carbon emissions from global shipping and refrigeration
• Plastic wrapping and floral foam that contribute to microplastic pollution

Many floriculture chemicals and microplastics have been linked to negative health and environmental impacts, including hormone disruption, reproductive health concerns, biodiversity loss, and pollution of soil and waterways.

Microplastics can also bioaccumulate (build up in organisms faster than they are excreted) and biomagnify (increase in concentration up the food chain), affecting ecosystems and future generations.

This Mother’s Day, consider lower-impact alternatives that support both people and the planet 🌱

• Buy seasonal flowers from local farms using sustainable growing practices
• Gift indoor plants that can help reduce VOCs and dust
• Choose outdoor plants that absorb carbon and create pollinator habitats
• Support native wildflower adoptions
• Shop at local farmers’ markets and seed libraries

You can also honour a mother, grandmother, mentor, or loved one who has passed by donating to WHEN in their name.

Your support helps us continue sharing accessible information about environmental toxic exposures and advocating for stronger protections for women’s and environmental health.

Together, we can help create healthier environments for current and future generations. 💚

04/30/2026

We are proud to be part of RESILIENCE 2026, EHAC ASEC International Conference on Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS).

This two-day international conference brings together researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and civil society leaders to advance scientific understanding of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) and strengthen public education and awareness of MCS as a disability.

Grounded in science, guided by lived experience, and anchored in human rights, Resilience 2026 highlights a growing global movement toward healthier, more inclusive environments for all. From emerging research on biological mechanisms and prevalence, to policy innovation and community-driven solutions, the conference reflects a shared commitment to translating evidence into meaningful change.

The central theme of the conference is fostering a healthy environment while providing accessibility and inclusion for everyone. Some speakers who highlight this message include:

Domenica Tambasco, MD, FCFP, CCFP - She highlights the urgent need for inclusion and accessibility by examining how health intersects with systemic socio-economic barriers.

Claudia M Smith, PhD, MPH, BSN, RN - This presentation emphasizes inclusion and accessibility by highlighting the growing need for equitable healthcare practices and the vital role of nursing in creating safer, more supportive environments.

Robert Lattanzio LLB - This presentation discusses inclusion and accessibility by examining barriers individuals may face in navigating legal processes, including challenges related to evidence requirements, case framing, and broader societal perceptions.

Spaces limited! Save your spot! The fully virtual conference is free to attend, and you can learn more or register at https://aseq-ehaq.ca/en/resilience-registration-2026/

To support accessibility, simultaneous interpretation will be available in English and French, along with ASL and LSQ interpretation, CART captioning, and Zoom captions.

We’re so excited to be a part of RESILIENCE 2026, and we hope to see you all there!

04/26/2026

Reducing toxic exposure at home is about awareness, accessible changes, and advocating for broader systemic protections.

In this post, we’re sharing chemical groups to watch for, simple lower-toxic swaps, and ways to move beyond individual consumer choices into collective action.

Some chemicals commonly found in everyday products, including PFAS, VOCs, heavy metals, flame retardants, and synthetic fragrances, have been linked to harms for human and environmental health. Learning where these chemicals show up and checking ingredient lists or certifications when possible can help support more informed choices.

We’re also sharing a few practical swaps, from replacing nonstick cookware, plastic food storage, synthetic fragrances, and plastic-based textiles with alternatives like stainless steel, glass, natural fibers, and simpler cleaning solutions. Small changes can help reduce exposure over time.

A helpful guiding principle: stick to natural materials when possible. Materials like cotton, linen, wood, glass, and stainless steel often involve fewer synthetic chemical inputs, and third-party certifications can help verify sustainability and safety claims.

But safer homes shouldn’t depend only on what individuals can afford to buy or research.

Advocacy and policy change matter too, from supporting a circular economy and stronger chemical regulation to pushing for indoor air quality protections and engaging in PFAS and environmental justice consultations.

Because health and safety should be a right, not a burden.

Swipe through for recommendations, resources, and ways to get involved.

✨ Read the full blog in our bio.

04/25/2026

Many of our largest chemical exposures come from everyday household items. 🧼

Chemicals can enter the body through:
• Inhalation (breathing)
• Absorption (through skin)
• Ingestion (food and dust)

Some substances bioaccumulate, meaning they build up in the body over time. Others biomagnify, increasing in concentration as they move up the food chain, impacting ecosystems and human health.

Common household sources include:
• Nonstick cookware (PFAS)
• Plastic containers (phthalates, bisphenols)
• Cleaning products (VOCs)
• Paint, furniture, and building materials (VOCs, flame retardants)

These chemicals have been linked to:
• Endocrine disruption
• Reproductive and developmental impacts
• Respiratory problems
• Neurological effects
• Cancer risk

Household products also contribute to air and water pollution, affecting indoor air quality and aquatic ecosystems.

Understanding exposure sources helps us make informed choices and advocate for safer systems.

✨ Read the full blog in our bio.

Address

192 Spadina Avenue
Toronto, ON
M5T2C2

Website

http://www.womenshealthyenvironments.ca/

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