Foundations of Environmental Health
Framing Toxic Exposure Through Science, Systems, and Public Health
Environmental chemical exposures are a major driver of chronic disease, yet most health professionals aren’t trained to recognize them.
From microplastics to “forever chemicals,” we’re all exposed to a complex, ever-changing mix of environmental pollutants. Decades of research, and a growing body of emerging science, show that these exposures contribute to a wide range of health conditions and represent a major public health concern.
And yet, many health professionals lack the training to recognize where and how these exposures show up in their clients’ daily lives, or how to talk about them in a grounded, accessible way.
At the same time, the wellness space is flooded with misinformation, fear-based messaging, and black-and-white thinking about “toxins,” leaving both practitioners and clients confused about what’s real, what’s relevant, and what to actually do.
This module, part of the larger Talking Toxins course, gives you the foundation, context, and clarity you need to speak credibly and compassionately about environmental health, starting with what it actually is!
Why seeing the bigger picture is essential
Poor health does not develop in a vacuum. In order to address chronic illness, we need to think more broadly. Module 1 of Talking Toxins is designed to frame environmental exposures within the broader conversation of public health, so you can take a more informed and holistic approach.
You’ll learn why science is about evidence, not proof; how dose and exposure shape toxicology risk; and how to avoid the pitfalls of fear-based messaging, misrepresentation of research, and common myths that persist in wellness culture.
Whether you’re new to the topic of environmental exposures or have been talking about “toxins” for years, this module lays the groundwork for responsible, well-informed practice. If you plan to “talk toxins” at all in your practice (and you should), start here.
Who this module is for
- Health Coaches
- nurses
- women's health experts
- nutritionists
- Health Educators
- fitness professionals
- naturopaths
- Occupational Therapists
- Health Bloggers
- Physicians
- midwives and doulas
- healthy living consultants
Module 1 lays the foundation for everything that follows in the full course.
Information is only truly useful if you understand it’s context. Module 1 of Talking Toxins is all about giving you a rock solid foundational understanding of environmental health, so that everything you share about microplastics, PFAS, and phthalates make more sense!
If you're only taking 1 module
Start Here
Module 1: Foundations of Environmental Health
Framing Toxic Exposure Through Science, Systems, and Public Health
What We Cover:
Environmental health is about more than just plastics and cosmetics.
In this 5-hour module, you’ll zoom out to understand what environmental health actually means — from its public health roots and regulatory history to why some communities bear far greater exposure than others. You’ll learn the difference between evidence and proof, get a primer on toxicology, and explore how to recognize misinformation, logical fallacies, and fear-based messaging.
Whether you’re a nurse, health coach, ND, MD, or educator, this module will help you confidently recognize and contextualize environmental exposures as part of your client or patient’s broader health picture — and communicate about them with clarity, nuance, and scientific integrity.
In This Module, You'll Learn How To:
Define environmental health through a public health lens
Go beyond surface-level conversations about “toxins” to understand how housing, occupation, air quality, infrastructure, and policy all shape health, and learn where this fits in to client conversations.
Understand how science, safety, and exposure are often misrepresented, and how to avoid misinformation
Learn why science is about evidence, not proof; how dose and exposure shape toxicology risk; and how to dismantle common myths, fear-based claims, and wellness soundbites with nuance and confidence.
Compare U.S. and EU regulatory systems (and their gaps)
Learn the history of chemical regulation in the US, the current landscape. of chemicals in commerce, and why “it’s banned in Europe” isn’t always a reliable benchmark.
Understand the role of chemical exposures in chronic disease
Explore how exposures to substances like lead, phthalates, and air pollutants are linked to cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and more, and why this matters even when clients are “doing everything right.”
Recognize the reality of disproportionate exposure
Discover how race, income, zip code, and job type affect toxic burden, and why addressing environmental health requires more than personal lifestyle changes - it requires empathy, context, and systems thinking.
Communicate clearly and credibly about toxins in your practice
Learn why precise language matters, how to avoid logical fallacies, and best practices when communicating complex science to clients so they'll actually act on it - all without fear or overwhelm.
Module 1 Outline
Framing Toxic Exposure Through Science, Systems, and Public Health
- Introduction & What To Expect
- What Is Environmental Health?
- Public Health vs Individual Health
- The Primary Drivers Of Disease
- The History of Environmental Health Policy
- How Chemicals Are Regulated Today: US vs EU
- Disproportionate Exposure & Environmental Justice
- Evidence Over Extremes: Understanding Toxicology, Risk, and Scientific Nuance
- Avoidance Over Detoxification
- Best Practices For Talking About Toxins
- Navigating Emotional Responses
This Module Includes:
11 Video Lessons
Each lesson is delivered in a narrated video format, perfect for visual learners. This module is 4 hours and 50 minutes in legnth.
Downloadable Transcripts, Audio Files, & Slides
Learn faster by reading? Skip the videos and go straight to the transcripts, download the audio to listen on the go, and save the slide decks for easy reference.
Student Only Facebook Group
Get access to a community of health professionals where you can ask questions about safer products, best practices for talking toxins with your clients, and more!
Access To Ongoing Office Hours
Once a month, ask Lara any accumulated questions about toxic exposures via Zoom (even long after you’ve finished the module)
2-Year Access To Course & Any Updates
Your enrollment includes 2 years of access to all course content and updates, and you get ongoing access to Lara directly through Facebook & Office Hours
Practitioner Handouts & Resources
Get practical tools to help you speak confidently about environmental health, from language swaps and logical fallacies to global regulation comparisons and a client-ready infographic.
In each Talking Toxins module, you'll get resources, support, and an evidence-based education
Practitioner resources
Get 4 practical downloadable resources to support your learning, including a language swap guide, conversation prompts, a logical fallacies cheat sheet, and a US vs. EU regulation snapshot – all designed to support your learning and your client work.
Self-paced, community supported
Move through the lessons and handouts at your own pace! Whether you enroll in just one module or the full Talking Toxins course, you’ll have direct access to me in our community Facebook group, as well as our Monthly Office Hours. Ask Lara any questions and engage with other students!
Balanced education
This course delivers balanced, evidence-based education rooted in peer-reviewed research. It dismantles common myths, clarifies what the science actually says, and helps practitioners avoid sensationalism or fear-mongering, so you can speak confidently, accurately, and responsibly about environmental exposures in your work.
Module 1 Practitioner Resources
I love a good handout! That’s why I’m including a series of practical, ready-to-use resources to help you apply what you’ll learn in Module 1. These resources are designed to make complex topics easier to explain and to help you be more credible, grounded, and science-savvy when talking toxins.
Logical Fallacies to Avoid When Talking Toxins
A quick reference guide on common reasoning traps people fall into to help you refine your communication
"What to Say Instead" Language Swap Guide
A cheat sheet of science-accurate alternatives to common phrases that oversimplify, sensationalize, or misrepresent risk
US vs. EU Chemical Regulation Snapshot
A quick reference guide outlining the fundamental differences in chemical regulations & the pros and cons of each
Conversation Prompts: Introducing Toxins To Clients
Non-judgmental scripts and openers to help you bring up exposures with ease, even with clients who are new to the topic
Here’s what’s included with Module 1:
- 11 in-depth, self-paced video lessons, totalling 5 hours
- Full transcripts, with references, for every lesson
- Downloadable slides & audio files
- 4 practical, downloadable practitioner resources
- Ongoing access to our student-only Facebook community
- Monthly Office Hours with Lara to get your questions anwered
- 2 full years of access to course materials
All for:
$290
Want the full picture? Upgrade to the complete Talking Toxins course!
Save $290, earn CE credits, and get exclusive resources you won’t find in the individual modules
Talking Toxins is a 6-module course that equips health professionals with the knowledge and tools to address the most common environmental exposures clients and patients face at home — along with practical, accessible ways to reduce them.
Across all six modules, you’ll learn to navigate this topic in a balanced, grounded, and evidence-based way, while avoiding the sensational, fear-based tone that overwhelms rather than educates.
With the full course, you'll get access to:
| Features | Individual Modules | The Full Course |
|---|---|---|
| Access to 1 Module | (All 6) | |
| Quiz, Certificate of Completion & CEU Credits | ||
| White-Labeled Handouts | ||
| Practitioner Resources | ||
|
Extended Practitioner Resource Kit (reference guides, client scripts, etc) |
||
| 2 Years of Access | ||
| Monthly Office Hours with Lara | ||
| Student-only Facebook Group | ||
| Save $290 vs Buying Modules Separately |
By enrolling in the Talking Toxins course, or it's individual modules, you are agreeing to our Terms & Conditions. If, after enrolling and reviewing the course materials you feel it’s not a good fit for you, simply send me an email within 48 hours of your purchase at [email protected], explaining what didn’t work for you, and a full refund will be offered. Additionally and in plain English, these terms simply state that you must honor your investment by not sharing any files, resources, information, or log-in credentials with anyone and that all course materials are protected by copyright and therefore non-stealable! That’s pretty fair! To read the full Terms & Conditions for your purchase, click HERE.
Hi, I’m Lara Adler
I’m an Environmental Health Educator and Science Communicator with over 14 years of experience helping health professionals and health-focused businesses understand the impact of environmental chemicals on chronic health conditions. My work bridges established and emerging research with practical, accessible strategies to minimize toxic exposures and build resilience against environmental challenges.
Combining environmental health education with business consulting, I’ve helped over 5,000 health professionals in more than 35 countries elevate their expertise, achieve better client outcomes, and become sought-after leaders in the growing field of environmental health.
I’m passionate about bringing balanced, and evidence-based perspectives to the environmental health conversation, and work to push back against sensationalized, fear-mongering content that harms the overall discussion.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Talking Toxins course, and each of it’s modules, is designed for health professionals or health educators, but you do not have to be one to benefit from what you’ll learn.
Most of my students are health professionals like: health coaches, nutritionists, nurses, NDs, MDs, DOs, occupational therapists, doula/midwives, etc.. I also have a lot of health educators, content creators and bloggers in my student pool.
A small number of my students are super motivated moms, or people on their own healing journey who are seeking ways to decrease their toxic load. If this is you, you’re welcome to join!
The Talking Toxins course, and each of it’s modules, is designed for health professionals or health educators, but you do not have to be one to benefit from what you’ll learn.
Most of my students are health professionals like: health coaches, nutritionists, nurses, NDs, MDs, DOs, occupational therapists, doula/midwives, etc.. I also have a lot of health educators, content creators and bloggers in my student pool.
A small number of my students are super motivated moms, or people on their own healing journey who are seeking ways to decrease their toxic load. If this is you, you’re welcome to join!
Individual modules of the Talking Toxins course do not offer continuing education credits. However, the full Talking Toxins course (ie, all 6 modules) is approved for 10 CEU hours from:
- The National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (CEA-000123-1)
- The National Association of Nutrition Professionals
- The Health Coach Alliance
- The Association for Integrative Nutrition
We are always seeking new CEU opportunities – if you don’t see your certifying board listed, please reach out to me at contact @ laraadler.com
Yes. You can start with just 1 or 2 modules, and if you wish to upgrade to the full course with all the additional materials, and access to the quiz and CEU credits, just email my team at su*****@*******er.com and we’ll get you moved into the full program.
Each module varies in length, but fall between 90 minutes and 3 hours. Because this course is a self-paced you can move through it on your own time. Once enrolled, you will have 2 full years to complete it.
Nope. This is education. In fact, within Module 1 there’s a lesson covering all the reasons why Talking Toxins does not include detoxification protocols.
That said, by following along in each module of the course, you’ll learn how to identify and address the common environmental exposures your clients or patients may be getting, thereby lowering their body burden. The first, most important, and most overlooked step in detoxification is actually avoidance, which is exactly what you’ll learn inside this course.
Absolutely! Each lesson in this course is fully cited. The majority of the research referenced in this course is from public health institutions, academic institutions, and well-respected, peer-reviewed journals. Open source research is prioritized to make following the paper trail equitable and accessible to all.
YES! Low-income and BIPOC communities in the US and abroad often experience disproportionate exposures to environmental chemicals. These communities also often lack access to healthy food and green spaces and lack access to education around helping to minimize exposure and optimize health. This disparity is addressed in detail within Module 1 of the Talking Toxins course, because it’s an essential part of the conversation!
My goal in offering scholarship seats to this course is to help bring practical, and actionable education to those communities who need it most.
We offer 2 types of scholarships:
Community Work Scholarships are made available to applicants who are actively working with an organization, non-profit, or in a clinical setting that meaningfully and specifically focuses on serving low-income and/or BIPOC communities. Individuals who are able to demonstrate and verify their work in these spaces are granted full scholarship.
Equity Scholarships are intended for low-income and BIPOC individuals working in the health & wellness space who are seeking to expand their education around environmental health so they can better support current and/or future clients.
At the moment, we are making 12 Community Work scholarships available each year, and an unlimited number of Equity Scholarships!
If you feel that you meet the requirements for this scholarship, please click here to fill out the application.
Yup! If, after enrolling in Talking Toxins (or an individual module) and checking out the course materials, you decide it’s not a good fit for you, just email my team at co*****@*******er.com within 48 hours of your purchase and we’ll refund 100% of your money. After 48 hours, refunds are not offered.
If you have any questions I didn’t answer here, just drop me an email at contact @ laraadler.com and I’ll get back to you ASAP!
