Toxin Audit Guide
The Toxin
Audit Guide
Six everyday exposure points. The swaps that close them.
Better defaults,
one at a time.
You do not have a toxin problem. The default version of modern life does. The water mains laid in 1965. The plastic toothbrush you bought because it was at eye level at CVS. The coffee filter that bleaches your morning cup. These are not your fault. They are defaults nobody updated.
This guide names six of them. The exposure points we believe matter most for daily contact. Each section gives you the swap that closes the gap, and the certification or label to look for before you buy.
No detoxes. No supplement stacks. No fear. Just better defaults, one at a time.
Tap Water
U.S. lead service lines deliver water to roughly 9 million homes, and the EPA itself concedes there is no safe level of lead exposure. PFAS, a class of forever chemicals, has been detected in 45% of tap water tested by the USGS.
Lead disrupts calcium signaling in the developing nervous system and bioaccumulates in bone, where it can leach back into circulation for decades. PFAS bind to thyroid receptors and have been linked in CDC studies to suppressed immune response, elevated cholesterol, and reduced vaccine efficacy.
A multi-stage carbon-block filter on your kitchen tap. Reverse osmosis if you have the counter space and a remineralization stage.
- NSF/ANSI 53 (lead, VOCs)
- NSF/ANSI 401 (pharmaceuticals, PFAS)
- Avoid filters certified only to NSF 42 (taste and odor)
Source: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, 2024 revision; USGS PFAS Tap Water Study, 2023.
Toothbrush
Nylon bristles shed an estimated 35,000 microplastic particles per brush over its lifetime, directly into the mouth, twice a day. The average household replaces six brushes per person, per year, and the heads are too small to be recycled.
Microplastic particles cross the oral mucosa into the bloodstream and have been recovered from human placental tissue, lung biopsies, and arterial plaque. They carry phthalates and BPA, endocrine disruptors that mimic estrogen and interfere with hormonal feedback loops.
A bamboo handle with a replaceable head and 100% boar bristle. Same dentist-recommended replacement cadence. No nylon.
- 100% boar bristle (some brands cut with nylon)
- Modular head so the handle lasts years
- FSC-certified bamboo, not anonymous "natural wood"
Source: Environmental Science & Technology, oral hygiene microplastic shedding study, 2024.
Lotion and Skin Care
The average woman applies 168 unique chemicals to her body before leaving the house, per Environmental Working Group research. Parabens, phthalates, and PEGs remain legal in U.S. cosmetics that would be restricted across the EU.
Skin absorbs an estimated 60 to 70% of topically applied compounds within 30 minutes, with peak bloodstream concentrations reached within hours. Phthalates accumulate in fatty tissue and have been linked to reduced testosterone, disrupted thyroid function, and altered sperm quality.
Single-source body lotions with under 10 ingredients. Tallow-based or shea-based formulas. No synthetic fragrance.
- Full INCI ingredient lists, not just "natural"
- No "fragrance" or "parfum" without disclosure
- Avoid BHA, formaldehyde-releasers, oxybenzone
Source: EWG Skin Deep database; European Commission Cosmetic Regulation 1223/2009.
Coffee and Tea Filters
A 2019 McGill University study found that a single plastic tea bag releases 11.6 billion microplastic particles into a cup of hot water. Bleached paper coffee filters leach chlorine compounds. Most "premium" coffee pods are PLA bioplastic that still sheds at brewing temperatures.
Hot liquids extract microplastics at six to seven times the rate of room-temperature exposure. Particles smaller than 10 microns translocate through gut epithelium into circulation, where they trigger low-grade inflammation and have been associated with reduced gut microbiome diversity.
A stainless steel reusable filter. Unbleached hemp or cotton bag for tea. French press or moka pot for coffee.
- 304 or 316 food-grade stainless
- For paper: "oxygen-bleached" or "unbleached"
- Avoid "compostable bioplastic" for any hot beverage
Source: Hernandez et al., Environmental Science & Technology, 2019.
Plastic-Filled Products
Polyester releases up to 700,000 microfibers per wash cycle. Black plastic kitchen utensils have tested positive for flame retardants from recycled e-waste at levels exceeding EU children's product limits. Plastic cutting boards add an estimated 50 grams of microplastic to the average diet, per person, per year.
Microfibers shed from synthetic clothing pass through standard wastewater treatment and re-enter the food chain via fish. Brominated flame retardants disrupt thyroid hormone transport. Cutting board particles enter food directly during meal prep, where the gut absorbs the smallest fraction systemically.
Wood, glass, stainless, or ceramic for anything that touches food or skin daily. Natural-fiber base layers: cotton, linen, wool.
- Utensils: olive wood, beech, or 304 stainless
- Cutting boards: end-grain hardwood
- Clothing tags: 100% cotton, linen, or merino. Not blends.
Source: Napper & Thompson, Plymouth University, 2016; Chemosphere flame retardant study, 2024.
Supplements
A 2022 ConsumerLab review found that 60% of tested gummy vitamins contained more sugar per serving than declared. 1 in 5 protein powders tested by the Clean Label Project exceeded California Prop 65 lead limits. "Other ingredients" sections routinely hide titanium dioxide, magnesium stearate, and artificial colors.
Heavy metals like lead and cadmium bioaccumulate in kidneys and bone, where they remain for decades. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles cross gut epithelium and were banned as a food additive across the EU in 2022. Magnesium stearate, while inert, can reduce nutrient bioavailability by coating the active compound.
Third-party tested supplements from brands that publish their Certificates of Analysis. Capsules or powder over gummies.
- NSF Certified for Sport, Informed Sport, or USP Verified
- Brands that link directly to their full lab results
- Ingredient lists short enough to read in one breath
Source: ConsumerLab Multivitamin Review, 2022; Clean Label Project Protein Study, 2023.
Start with the thing
you use most.
We started with the toothbrush. It is the most-used plastic object in the average household. Twice a day, every day, for ninety days, then thrown out.
We sourced a bamboo handle with replaceable boar-bristle heads. Modular. No nylon. Sonic vibration built into the handle, not the head, so the part you replace stays affordable.
First batch is limited by sourcing capacity. Early-access subscribers will see the link before public launch.
You are on the list.
Here is what is next.
We are building UpperDose in public. The first drop launches soon, and early-access subscribers get first dibs.
Two things to do now.
Daily toxin breakdowns and product previews from the team.
Launch updates, founder notes, and your early-access link land here first.
The curated starter kit for a toxin-aware daily routine.