Our Story
Toxic-Free OC is a grassroots community group that was formed to raise awareness, protect public health, and support those suffering from the harmful effects of spraying toxic herbicides and pesticides in their neighborhoods used for weed and pest control. Our co-founders from Aliso Viejo have suffered severe health consequences, including cancers and disabilities as a result of inhaling these toxic sprays in our neighborhoods. The adverse health effects are directly linked to the sprays as shown in our toxicity reports (high levels of herbicides and pesticides). After efforts to communicate with the city to get this harmful practice for weed control stopped, Aliso Viejo continues to use these toxic sprays in parks with playgrounds, soccer fields, public streets, and residential slopes.
The toxic chemicals the city is spraying are banned in other countries, are substantially equivalent to glyphosate, contain 2,4-D (50% the active ingredient of Agent Orange), and other toxic Prop 65 ingredients. The product safety data sheets and labels state that the chemicals are harmful if inhaled, cause organ damage, central nervous system damage (including brain damage), pulmonary edema, cancer, respiratory damage, skin/eye damage, rashes, fertility problems, damage to the unborn baby, and more!
In Irvine, 16 children developed brain cancer as a result of the toxic exposure to spraying at the parks. Other local Aliso Viejo residents have developed fertility problems, respiratory diseases, worsening of asthma and allergies, neurological damage, organ damage, and more. Women and children are at the highest risk of health damage from the toxic exposure. High levels of toxic herbicides and pesticides have been found in the toxins reports of children, and several dogs have died shortly after exposure to recent spray applications.
The toxic chemicals also drift for miles, even after the product is dried. Since the chemicals don't degrade easily they become trapped in dirt, dust, water, and contaminate the air, exposing those in the vicinity to prolonged toxic inhalation. This phenomenon is very well known as "pesticide drift."
(Please know that this is also happening in sub-HOAs and neighboring OC cities. We must educate our community and city leaders and stop them from spraying these poisons!)
Toxic-Free OC was initially formed by Carolyn McCuan in August 2023. The group has since grown and will soon be registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization for public and charitable purposes.
Meet the Founders
Carolyn McCuan, MS MB (Founder)
Melissa Christian, M.Ed. (Co-Founder)
Melissa Christian, M.Ed. (Co-Founder)
Business Bio:
Carolyn McCuan is a clinical and medical researcher and writer, with a strong background in molecular biology and protein chemistry. She leads CTM Medical Consulting, a top clinical and regulatory consulting firm specializing in clinical research and medical writing. Her firm has supported many medical device and pharmaceu
Business Bio:
Carolyn McCuan is a clinical and medical researcher and writer, with a strong background in molecular biology and protein chemistry. She leads CTM Medical Consulting, a top clinical and regulatory consulting firm specializing in clinical research and medical writing. Her firm has supported many medical device and pharmaceutical manufacturers, from Fortune 500 companies to startups, by guiding their clinical and regulatory strategies for compliance and product approval with agencies such as US FDA and several other global regulatory agencies.
Carolyn has received a Master of Science degree in Molecular Biology from University of Southern California with a specialty in protein purification science and protein chemistry. She also received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences from University of California, Irvine. Prior to CTM Medical Consulting, she had served in senior roles of directorship and management at leading companies including Edwards Lifesciences, Medtronic, and Quest Diagnostics. She is also a former scientist with years of experience in molecular R&D, molecular diagnostics, protein purification, protein chemistry, and virology, as well as experience teaching molecular biology while at USC.
She has won awards for company innovation and work performance, and is dedicated to providing high quality research, output, and thoroughness in all the work that she does. With over 20 years of combined experience in the scientific, clinical, and medical research industries, her expertise is highly sought after by many company leaders in the medical device and pharmaceutical industry.
Why She Became Involved in Toxic-Free OC:
Carolyn has always been an advocate for a healthy and active lifestyle. She has run over 12 marathons and was an avid light weightlifter. She and her family moved to Aliso Viejo in 2020 and shortly after, her health began to decline. Aliso Viejo is known for its parks and accessibility to nature and numerous hiking and biking trails throughout the city. After a battery of medical tests and finding no cause for her declining health which included severe symptoms of chronic fatigue, debilitating brain fog, skin rashes, severe sinus infections, small joint pain, shortness of breath, changes to fertility cycle, and more, her physician had finally tested her for environmental toxins. This crucial test exposed the cause of her declining health and disability – high exposure to toxic herbicides and pesticides. The chemicals in her system and timing of symptom onset and severity correlated with the same timing and chemicals that AVCA’s landscapers had sprayed at the park behind her home and surrounding streets of her neighborhood. Around the same time, she had spotted a landscaping truck (hired by AVCA) with a skull and crossbones sign on a container reading “POISON”, connected to a long, orange tube that a landscaper was spraying onto the residential slope right outside her home.
She alerted AVCA of the situation in June 2023 and urged the association to stop using the dangerous chemicals which were causing harm to residents through inhalation and other routes of exposure. AVCA dismissed her claims. As she continued to raise awareness with neighbors and other community members, more individuals opted to take toxins tests and are finding similar results with the same toxic chemicals being identified in their systems.
She co-founded Toxic-Free OC as a result of her passion for raising awareness to this dangerous public health issue, and to help protect the lives of the residents, children, and pets within the community, as well as the environment and wildlife.
Melissa Christian, M.Ed. (Co-Founder)
Melissa Christian, M.Ed. (Co-Founder)
Melissa Christian, M.Ed. (Co-Founder)
Business Bio:
Melissa Christian is a veteran in the field of education with 40 years of experience informing her current work with schools and families. Her deep understanding of school life is the result of 30 years as a senior administrator and 10 years of classroom experience in prominent, independent schools. Her Master's Degree in
Business Bio:
Melissa Christian is a veteran in the field of education with 40 years of experience informing her current work with schools and families. Her deep understanding of school life is the result of 30 years as a senior administrator and 10 years of classroom experience in prominent, independent schools. Her Master's Degree in School Administration also informs her work with teachers in developing curricula, accrediting schools with the most prestigious organizations, and writing school specific strategic plans.
As a co-founder of an established independent school in Southern California, Melissa is familiar with both private and independent schools on the West Coast. Her work with school admissions teams makes her an excellent resource for families who are looking to place their children in an ideally matched independent or private school. Melissa understands the pressures that families experience when trying to locate that just-right academic fit for their children, and she works diligently to ensure a happy match between students and schools.
Why She Became Involved in Toxic-Free OC:
As an educator, I have spent my life advocating for children and their families. My involvement in Toxic Free OC is the next chapter in my work as a support and defender of children and their parents. Research data tells us that there is a high correlation between herbicide/pesticide use and the incidence of cancer and other life threatening illnesses in children and adults. As a cancer survivor myself, I understand the importance of using our resources to create an environment that is healthy and safe for all. I can’t think of a better way of doing that most immediately than to stop the use of toxic chemical sprays in our communities.
Tracy Blum, PT (Co-Founder)
Melissa Christian, M.Ed. (Co-Founder)
Tracy Blum, PT (Co-Founder)
Business Bio:
Tracy Blum received her Bachelor’s Degree in Health Science with a Certificate in Physical Therapy from California State University, Northridge. She has more than 32 years of hands-on experience, practicing in the orthopedic and holistic settings. Tracy offers integrated bodywork to facilitate and enhance healing, well being
Business Bio:
Tracy Blum received her Bachelor’s Degree in Health Science with a Certificate in Physical Therapy from California State University, Northridge. She has more than 32 years of hands-on experience, practicing in the orthopedic and holistic settings. Tracy offers integrated bodywork to facilitate and enhance healing, well being, and overall health. The focus of her work compliments the body’s own healing process by facilitating balance and symmetry to the body’s network of many systems including: skeletal, muscular, digestive, circulatory, respiratory, lymphatic, and reproductive systems. Tracy has expansive training in visceral manipulation, neural mobilization, vascular mobilization, craniosacral therapy, brain restoration and myofascial release.
Tracy has worked with a large variety of orthopedic, neurologic, endocrine, and organ dysfunctions. Her patients range from the weekend warrior to those in need of preventive management of chronic conditions. She has an affinity for treating infant pediatric conditions including torticollis, colic, respiratory dysfunction, and plagiocephaly.
Why She Became Involved in Toxic-Free OC:
Upon learning that the Aliso Viejo Community Association's (AVCA) landscapers are spraying multiple toxic herbicides and pesticides at our parks and on our slopes, I had to get involved. I had two non-related brothers (one biological, one adopted) die of leukemia in the mid 1960’s. We lived across the street from a farm and everyone freely used herbicides/pesticides at that time also. This was so unusual the CDC flew our family from Wisconsin to CDC Headquarters for blood testing and analysis. Their investigators came to our home to test our septic tank. My brother’s deaths were ruled environmental. We didn’t know any better back then, but we do now.
The correlation between pesticide and herbicide exposure to leukemia and lymphoma in children and adults is well documented. I am involved in helping to ensure the safety of my community’s residents - adults, children and pets. The practice of spraying dangerous toxic chemicals on our residential slopes and in our parks must stop.