Chemicals surround us, often entering our environment from unexpected sources. The images on the right showcase some of the many ways potentially harmful chemicals can come into health care environments.
Resources for Safer Chemical Policies
These resources provide a wealth of information about the health effects of toxics, work that is being done around the world on safer chemicals, the role of chemicals in health care, chemical legislation at various levels of government, the physical properties of chemicals, and more. Click on "Expand/Collapse" under any of the headings to see the resources in that category (or hide them if they are already shown).
If you would like to add a resource to this page, please enter the URL (web address) of the resource into the submission box at the bottom of the page, or send an email to dylan@greenhealthcare.ca.
Collaborative on Health and the Environment Toxicant and Disease Database
www.healthandenvironment.org/tddb
The CHE Toxicant and Disease Database is a searchable database that summarizes links between chemical contaminants and approximately 180 human diseases or conditions.
eChemPortal
www.echemportal.org
eChemPortal provides free public access to information on properties of chemicals: Physical Chemical Properties, Ecotoxicity, Environmental Fate and Behaviour, Toxicity.
Human Toxome Project
www.ewg.org/sites/humantoxome/
The Human Toxome Project (HTP) at Environmental Working Group is working to define the human toxome — the full scope of industrial pollution in humanity.
Toxipedia Chemicals List
toxipedia.org/display/toxipedia/Chemicals List
Toxipedia is a free toxicology encyclopedia offering articles and resources about toxic chemicals (such as pesticides and endocrine disruptors), health conditions, ethical considerations, the history of toxicology, laws and regulation, and more.
TOXNET Toxicology Data Network
www.toxnet.nlm.nih.gov
The Toxicology Data Network (TOXNET®) is an integrated system of toxicology and environmental health databases that are available free of charge on the web.
Canadian Environmental Protection Act
laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-15.31/
The full contents of the 1999 Environmental Protection Act as well as links to the regulations made under the Act.
National Pollutant Release Inventory
www.ec.gc.ca/inrp-npri
The National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) is Canada's legislated, publicly accessible inventory of pollutant releases (to air, water and land), disposals and transfers for recycling.
Provincial/Territorial Environmental Ministries
Each province and territory has its own environmental ministry, and each ministry has its own website providing both general information about chemical issues and specific information about provincial rules, regulations and policies.
Business-NGO Working Group: Safer Chemicals
www.bizngo.org/safer.php
Spearheaded by the nonprofit environmental organization Clean Production Action, the BizNGO is a unique collaboration of business and NGO leaders who are creating a roadmap to the widespread use of safer chemicals and materials in our economy.
Canadian Centre for Pollution Prevention
www.c2p2online.com
The Canadian Centre for Pollution Prevention (C2P2) encourages actions that avoid or minimize the creation of pollution and waste.
Canadian Medical Association: Advocacy: Environment
www.cma.ca/advocacy/health-promotion-environment
The Canadian Medical Association is a national, voluntary association of physicians that advocates on behalf of its members and the public for access to high quality health care, and provides leadership and guidance to physicians.
Health Care Without Harm: Issues: Safer Chemicals
www.noharm.org/us_canada/issues/chemical
Health Care Without Harm shares a vision of a health care sector that does no harm, and instead promotes the health of people and the environment.
Ontario Hospital Association: Green Health Care
www.oha.com/currentissues/issues/green healthcare
The Ontario Health Association provides news and information about green issues as they relate to health care.
Pollution Probe
www.pollutionprobe.org
Pollution Probe is a Canadian charitable environmental organization with major programs focused on clean air and clean water.
Safe Planet: Chemicals
www.safepla.net/chemicals.html
The Safe Planet Campaign is a UN-led initiative, but is founded on the basis of partnerships.
Toronto Environmental Alliance: Campaigns: Toxics in Toronto
www.torontoenvironment.org/campaigns/toxics
The Toronto Environmental Alliance's mission is to promote a greener Toronto.
These products and services from Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care business associates may provide some benefit to health care environments in reducing, eliminating or preventing the release of toxic chemicals. Product and service descriptions are taken from their respective websites.
Deltasorb Anesthetic Collection Service
www.bluezone.ca/services
Service from Blue-Zone Technologies, which offers hospitals a cost effective, efficient and environmentally friendly alternative to venting toxic anesthetics into the atmosphere.
Eco Hygiene
www.ecohygiene.ca
Service from Eco Facility Solutions, which improves the cleanliness of washroom facilities while reducing or eliminating reliance on chemical detergents and disinfectants.
EcoShield
www.theecoshield.ca
Service from Eco Facility Solutions, which uses a light activated disinfectant coating that protects the environment by reducing the amount of chemical cleaners used.
Washer-Disinfectors
www.getinge.com
Washer-Disinfectors from Getinge, which reduce chemical consumption and do not require harsh/aggressive chemicals for fast cleaning cycles.
