We’re all out here trying to reduce our toxic exposures where we can, but sometimes the most helpful thing isn’t learning about a new “non-toxic must-have” or another ingredient to avoid.
It’s just hearing someone else’s similar lived experience and feeling the solidarity.
And so to that end, I wanted to share some things I actually DON’T do.
My hope in sharing these random things is that it will give YOU permission to let go of whatever invisible standard you didn’t even realize you were holding onto.
What’s on your list of things you DON’T do? 👇
P.S This first appeared in my weekly newsletter. You can sign up here: THEFILTERY.com/newsletter
The EPA's new "PFAS OUT" initiative was announced as a way to help communities tackle PFAS in drinking water.
But when you look at what's actually being offered, it's LITERALLY an email and a webinar.
No direct funding, technical assistance, or standards to be met.
Meanwhile, the agency is working to roll back the PFAS drinking water standards that would have ACTUALLY moved the needle toward safer drinking water for all Americans.
What do you think about this? Do you think it’s at least SOMETHING, or do you think it’s more like meaningless posturing? 👇
👙 tbh, non-toxic swimwear is one of the hardest categories to shop for.
But there ARE some options. Over the past several years, I’ve spent hours of digging to find (mostly) plastic-free swimwear that’s made of fabrics like organic cotton, hemp, and wool.
But if you CAN’T find a natural bathing suit that fits your needs/size/budget, then at least go with an OEKO-TEX certified synthetic one. There are plenty to choose from in this category. They’re not plastic-free, but they’re at least verified to be free from (or low in) a long list of toxic chemicals. 🏖️
I refrained from including Amazon links on The Filtery for YEARS.
The Filtery is all about trying to make the world a healthier place for everyone, and Amazon, well... does the opposite of that. 😆
Now, I am under ZERO illusion that we can have a 100% non-toxic/ethical/sustainable lifestyle.
So while I certainly never judge anyone for shopping at Amazon, it did seem antithetical to my mission to link to Amazon when recommending products.
But then one day, I randomly asked you, my lovely readers, if you'd want me to start linking to Amazon.
And I was honestly very surprised by the results...
About 90% of you said yes!
I heard from a lot of folks who shop from Amazon for a variety of reasons—living in rural areas, being disabled, simply being overwhelmed with life and short on time, and more. The truth is that Amazon just is one of the most accessible places to shop for a lot of things.
I hear you.
The thing is: I've never considered it my job to tell you what to do. Rather, I want to give you the information you're looking for so that you can decide for yourself what's best for you.
So, that's why I started adding Amazon links to my shopping guides (next to the links to the brand's actual website). And that's why I put together an Amazon Storefront. Nowadays, I give you the option for different retailers so that you can decide for yourself where you buy from.
But... alllll that being said, I still believe Amazon is a net negative to human and environmental health, and I want to support people who have the desire and capacity to move their dollars away from that company.
And so in that spirit, I've put together a list of Amazon alternatives I've shopped from that carry more natural, non-toxic, and sustainable goods.
👎 A new study found that men who regularly ate with plastic utensils had higher concentrations of microplastics in their semen and lower sperm counts. (PMID: 41068921)
An accompanying study in mice confirmed this, showing that microplastic exposure led to lower sperm count, reduced sperm motility, and an increase in malformed sperm.
👍 BUT the good news is that it’s SO easy to reduce your exposure with this one!
Here’s what you can do 👉
🍴 Skip the Plastic Silverware: Keep a reusable fork and spoon at work, in your car, or in your bag for takeout meals.
☕️ Use Your Own Cup: Bring a stainless steel, ceramic, or glass mug for hot drinks like coffee or tea.
🥡 Reheat Smarter: Transfer takeout food from plastic containers to glass or ceramic plates/bowls before reheating it. (Heat increases leaching.)
🧊 Choose Glass or Steel for Water: Opt for a reusable stainless steel or glass water bottle instead of single-use plastic bottles.
Small things can add up to make a real difference.
If you find info like this helpful, sign up for my (free) weekly newsletter: THEFILTERY.com/newsletter
For decades, under both Republican and Democratic administrations, the EPA has used a model that treats DNA-damaging carcinogens (like formaldehyde) as risky at ANY exposure level—even very small amounts.
But the current EPA is trying to change that. And this change would nearly DOUBLE the amount of formaldehyde considered “safe” for Americans to inhale.
The good thing is that public comments are OPEN until Feb 2, 2026, which means you have time to make your voice heard. 📣
The Filtery
We’re all out here trying to reduce our toxic exposures where we can, but sometimes the most helpful thing isn’t learning about a new “non-toxic must-have” or another ingredient to avoid.
It’s just hearing someone else’s similar lived experience and feeling the solidarity.
And so to that end, I wanted to share some things I actually DON’T do.
My hope in sharing these random things is that it will give YOU permission to let go of whatever invisible standard you didn’t even realize you were holding onto.
What’s on your list of things you DON’T do? 👇
P.S This first appeared in my weekly newsletter. You can sign up here: THEFILTERY.com/newsletter
Or read the entire list here: open.substack.com/pub/thefiltery/p/things-i-dont-d…
1 month ago | [YT] | 3
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The Filtery
The EPA's new "PFAS OUT" initiative was announced as a way to help communities tackle PFAS in drinking water.
But when you look at what's actually being offered, it's LITERALLY an email and a webinar.
No direct funding, technical assistance, or standards to be met.
Meanwhile, the agency is working to roll back the PFAS drinking water standards that would have ACTUALLY moved the needle toward safer drinking water for all Americans.
What do you think about this? Do you think it’s at least SOMETHING, or do you think it’s more like meaningless posturing? 👇
P.S. Here’s my full water filter guide if you need it: thefiltery.com/best-water-filters-for-home/
And you can stay updated on this and other toxicant-related news via my weekly newsletter: thefiltery.com/newsletter
1 month ago | [YT] | 2
View 0 replies
The Filtery
👙 tbh, non-toxic swimwear is one of the hardest categories to shop for.
But there ARE some options. Over the past several years, I’ve spent hours of digging to find (mostly) plastic-free swimwear that’s made of fabrics like organic cotton, hemp, and wool.
But if you CAN’T find a natural bathing suit that fits your needs/size/budget, then at least go with an OEKO-TEX certified synthetic one. There are plenty to choose from in this category. They’re not plastic-free, but they’re at least verified to be free from (or low in) a long list of toxic chemicals. 🏖️
Here's the full guide: thefiltery.com/organic-swimwear/
2 months ago | [YT] | 4
View 0 replies
The Filtery
EPA/HHS are making a big fuss about this proposal to add microplastics to the CCL for drinking water, but it doesn’t actually mean much…
Public comments are open until June 5, which means you can tell them you want them ACTUALLY REGULATE microplastics in our drinking water.
Here are some tips to add your voice (and the link for where to do it) 👉 docs.google.com/document/d/1HBaAKj8kVrvlpRH8Y3D_n1…
2 months ago | [YT] | 0
View 0 replies
The Filtery
I refrained from including Amazon links on The Filtery for YEARS.
The Filtery is all about trying to make the world a healthier place for everyone, and Amazon, well... does the opposite of that. 😆
Now, I am under ZERO illusion that we can have a 100% non-toxic/ethical/sustainable lifestyle.
So while I certainly never judge anyone for shopping at Amazon, it did seem antithetical to my mission to link to Amazon when recommending products.
But then one day, I randomly asked you, my lovely readers, if you'd want me to start linking to Amazon.
And I was honestly very surprised by the results...
About 90% of you said yes!
I heard from a lot of folks who shop from Amazon for a variety of reasons—living in rural areas, being disabled, simply being overwhelmed with life and short on time, and more. The truth is that Amazon just is one of the most accessible places to shop for a lot of things.
I hear you.
The thing is: I've never considered it my job to tell you what to do. Rather, I want to give you the information you're looking for so that you can decide for yourself what's best for you.
So, that's why I started adding Amazon links to my shopping guides (next to the links to the brand's actual website). And that's why I put together an Amazon Storefront. Nowadays, I give you the option for different retailers so that you can decide for yourself where you buy from.
But... alllll that being said, I still believe Amazon is a net negative to human and environmental health, and I want to support people who have the desire and capacity to move their dollars away from that company.
And so in that spirit, I've put together a list of Amazon alternatives I've shopped from that carry more natural, non-toxic, and sustainable goods.
thefiltery.com/amazon-alternatives/
2 months ago | [YT] | 4
View 0 replies
The Filtery
👎 A new study found that men who regularly ate with plastic utensils had higher concentrations of microplastics in their semen and lower sperm counts. (PMID: 41068921)
An accompanying study in mice confirmed this, showing that microplastic exposure led to lower sperm count, reduced sperm motility, and an increase in malformed sperm.
👍 BUT the good news is that it’s SO easy to reduce your exposure with this one!
Here’s what you can do 👉
🍴 Skip the Plastic Silverware: Keep a reusable fork and spoon at work, in your car, or in your bag for takeout meals.
☕️ Use Your Own Cup: Bring a stainless steel, ceramic, or glass mug for hot drinks like coffee or tea.
🥡 Reheat Smarter: Transfer takeout food from plastic containers to glass or ceramic plates/bowls before reheating it. (Heat increases leaching.)
🧊 Choose Glass or Steel for Water: Opt for a reusable stainless steel or glass water bottle instead of single-use plastic bottles.
Small things can add up to make a real difference.
If you find info like this helpful, sign up for my (free) weekly newsletter: THEFILTERY.com/newsletter
5 months ago | [YT] | 3
View 0 replies
The Filtery
For decades, under both Republican and Democratic administrations, the EPA has used a model that treats DNA-damaging carcinogens (like formaldehyde) as risky at ANY exposure level—even very small amounts.
But the current EPA is trying to change that. And this change would nearly DOUBLE the amount of formaldehyde considered “safe” for Americans to inhale.
The good thing is that public comments are OPEN until Feb 2, 2026, which means you have time to make your voice heard. 📣
Here's the link for where to comment and a template that you can copy and paste: thefiltery.com/formaldehyde-epa-comment/
6 months ago | [YT] | 1
View 0 replies
The Filtery
Toxic chemicals are costing us over $2 trillion every year in health and environmental damage.
A new report looked at just 4 groups of chemicals (phthalates, bisphenols, pesticides, and PFAS) and found they ALONE account for:
- $1.4–$2.2 trillion in annual healthcare costs
- $640 billion in ecological damage
- 3–4% of global GDP in avoidable costs
And the cost isn’t just financial. 💸
The report estimates these chemicals could lead to 200–700 million “missing births” globally between 2025 and 2100 due to impacts on fertility. 🤰🏼
To me, the frustrating part is that we already know how to DRASTICALLY reduce these costs.
Safer chemical alternatives, proven policies, and stronger enforcement could cut impacts by up to 70% and save $1.7 trillion every year. (!!)
So when companies say change is “too expensive,” what they really mean is too expensive FOR THEM.
Because We The People end up paying the price—in money, in declining well-being, and in lives lost.
What do you think will get those in power to actually put EXISTING solutions into place?
(Source: Systemiq, Invisible Ingredients, 2025: www.systemiq.earth/reports/downloads/Systemiq-Invi…)
6 months ago | [YT] | 1
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The Filtery
Low-tox & organic Christmas candy brands! 🍫🎄
See the full guide here: thefiltery.com/organic-christmas-candy/
6 months ago | [YT] | 1
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The Filtery
The FDA just withdrew a rule that would have required makeup to be tested for asbestos, despite the fact that it’s is a well-known carcinogen. 😬😬
What are your thoughts on this??
Here is Lindsay's full article, which makes it super easy to find and contact your representatives. (📧 And you can just copy and paste the email text): lindsaydahl.substack.com/p/fda-rollback-on-asbesto…
To stay updated on this type of environmental toxin news (and a lot more!), sign up for my (free) weekly email: thefiltery.com/newsletter
6 months ago | [YT] | 5
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