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| Outbound to EHN's Government LINKS
EHN does not endorse any product, service or therapy and none is intended or implied. |
A
Join us and help make BART accessible to ALL!
ABC, the Access BART Coalition, is a coalition of individuals and
organizations representing members of the elderly and disabled public
who use BART Trains, BART Express Buses, and ADA-mandated Paratransit
supported by the Bay Area Rapid Transit District. ...
The Coalition for a Healthy Ottawa Ontario Canada
"Debra Sine, Lawyer.
'People with environmental sensitivities have the right to be free from chemical assault.
Ontario Commissioner of Human Rights said municipalities have a legal duty to
protect the most vulnerable citizens from harm due to pesticide exposures.' "
http://www.sankey.ws/choc.html
And, my belief is that all people have a right to be protected from the proliferation of perfume
poisons. That could begin with honest labeling and honest reporting of the "thorough" testing the
industry claims it does. Let us have truth in labeling. Let's see those industry tests for effects
upon users and nonusers from inhalation, for neurological effects, for systemic effects, for
effects upon fetuses, our elderly, our already ill, for effects upon all of us over time. IF our modern,
synthesized scents are as safe as industry claims, then let's see the chemicals used listed on
the labels and the results of truly thorough testing. Bump up the testing to include more than
just dermatological effects to the user. -- barb
JAN - Job Accommdation Network
A free service of the
Office of Disability Employment Policy of the U.S. Department of Labor
http://janweb.icdi.wvu.edu/
or http://janweb.icdi.wvu.edu/symposium/Symposium_Handouts/Session3.doc
or how I found it . . .
http://216.239.51.100/search?q=cache:gm5j_kCCFjkJ:janweb.icdi.wvu.edu/symposium/Symposium_Handouts/Session3.doc+EEOC+and+fragrance+accommodation&hl=en&ie=UTF-8
The ADA and City Governments: Common Problems Ý
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/comprob.htm
List of ADA publications
http://www.usdoj.gov/05publications/05_3_a.html
Look at what your efforts wrought. Take a moment to applaud the Board,
and then you, too, take a bow! -- barb
"Board Adopts Policy to Promote Fragrance-Free Environments"
http://www.access-board.gov/news/fragrance.htm
Also see Press Release Index for info from Mary Lamielle (NCEHS), and Susan Molloy
http://users.lmi.net/~wilworks/PressReleases/prsrelin.htm
Access and Action -- see EHN's Action Letters
http://users.lmi.net/~wilworks/actnletr/acletin.htm
Access info on EHN's "Take Heart!"
(EHN's links out to valuable information, articles, etc.)
http://users.lmi.net/~wilworks/ehnhompg/takheart.htm#Access
Access - ADA - Pro Se
Ragged Edge
"What is a Pro Se Complaint? This is, quite simply, a lawsuit that a person files
without a lawyer. The ADA Pro Se must be filed in Federal District Court., because
the ADA is a Federal law. ..."
http://www.raggededgemagazine.com/archive/pro-se.htm
Access.Adobe.Com
"Helping people with visual disabilities access information in AdobeÆ PDF."
http://access.adobe.com/
Access Board (USArchitectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board)
http://www.access-board.gov/
Access for People With Environmental Illness/Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
and Other Related Conditions, Final Report, September 30, 1996, Sen. Milton Marks
http://users.lmi.net/~wilworks/books/eimcsf1.htm
Accessible Italy
http://www.tour-web.com/accitaly/index.html
Accessible Web Page Design (a page of links)
http://www.arb.ca.gov/toxics/diesel/execsumm.wpd
When I was still gainfully employed, that is all that I was requesting! Alas, the management
team felt otherwise and in my opinion, their decision to continue business as usual may have
contributed to many staff suffering various diseases that are environmentally caused such as
rheumatoid arthritis, cancers, upper and lower respiratory problems, migraines, Parkinson's
. . . and, of course, ultimately my developing MCS. This is my opinion. -- barb
http://www.healthyindoors.com/english/ resources/workplace1.pdf
Arizona Technology Access Program (AzTAP)
http://www.nau.edu/ihd/aztap/
Electronic Information Technology Access Advisory (EITAAC)
HEALTHY KIDS: THE KEY TO BASICS
Ellie Goldberg, M.Ed.
http://www.information-engineer.com/kids/kidshp.htm
Pro Se Lawsuit ...
Stephanie's Accommodation Plan
Thomas Jefferson Middle School; Jefferson City, Missouri
Achieving Healthy Indoor Air
Report of the ATS Workshop: Santa Fe, New Mexico, November 16-19, 1995
THIS WORKSHOP REPORT WAS APPROVED BY THE ATS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS, MARCH 1997
American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
"... Perfumes are among the most difficult to control since they are perceived by their
users as pleasurable. Personal rights and preferences for perfumed products must be
evaluated against the discomfort that scents cause for some people. The odoriferous
materials are highly volatile synthetic chemicals; in effect, they contribute to the total
VOCs. Scented personal products are not limited to perfumes; they include residual
scents on clothing from detergents and fabric softeners, soaps, shampoos, deodorants,
skin lotions, and cosmetics. The only successful method of control is to eliminate these
odors, either by avoiding their use, as with perfumes, or by using unscented products. ..."
This is such an important paragraph! I hope everyone who is seeking access and
accommodation -- YOU do have an acknowledged right to breathe! -- prints out this
document to use along with the analyses information provided you in EHN's FDA Petition.
I fervently hope you have an administrative team that is willing to learn!!!
Millions of us did not. Yet, accommodating the already chemically injured, improves the air for all. -- barb
http://ajrccm.atsjournals.org/cgi/content/full/156/3/S33
Acne
Action on Smoking and Health (ASH)
http://ash.org/
ACTIVIST
http://get.to/activist
Also at http://www.acupuncture.com/news/postcancer.htm
The ADA and City Governments: Common Problems
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/comprob.htm
List of ADA publications
http://www.usdoj.gov/05publications/05_3_a.html
MYTHS AND FACTS ABOUT THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/pubs/mythfct.txt
Ý
-- end ADA list --
Adaptive Enviroments
Universal design, education & training, publications & library, technical assistance & consulting
http://www.adaptenv.org/default.asp
ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder)
Perfume Portal
http://www.perfume2000.com/
" 'No!' retorts a shopper at the Hecht's, a department store in downtown D.C. ..."
"... 'This is fun work, but you have to have a thick skin,' says LeCompt.
'You get rejected all the time.' ..."
"... And a lot of them don't really believe there is such a thing as an allergy to perfume.
'People just say that to get away from us,' says Jeanne Crow, dispensing sniffs of Oscar
and Opium. But most fragrance models now hand out cards embedded with scent
rather than spraying people -- unless they get permission."
http://www.perfume2000.com/Home/Articles/perfumespray.asp
"Fragrance advertising insert" means a printed piece with
encapsulated fragrance applied to it that is activated by opening a
flap or removing an overlying ply of paper.
Paperstocks employed in the manufacture of fragrance advertising
inserts shall have a maximum porosity of 20 Sheffield units or 172
Gurley-Hill units.
(b) Any person who distributes fragrance advertising inserts in
violation of this section, is guilty of an infraction and shall, if
convicted, be subject to a fine of one hundred dollars ($100) for
each distribution. The fine shall apply to each mass mailing or
distribution, and to each mass publication of a magazine or newspaper
in violation of this section. The fine shall not apply, however, to
each individual letter, magazine, newspaper, or fragrance
advertising insert so distributed. Section 111825 is not applicable
to violations of this section.
(c) This section shall become operative on January 1, 1992.
Affinity
" AFFINITY is Ohio's Free environmental newspaper distributed throughout Northeastern
Ohio and in various cities and towns throughout the state. The purpose of this publication
is to provide vital information to help educate citizens so that they can take a more active
role in protecting their environment. In addition AFFINITY serves as a forum for
environmental activists to voice their concerns.
http://www.greenlink.org/affinity/index.html
AFL-CIO's Executive PayWatch
http://www.aflcio.org/paywatch/index.htm
A CALL TO INDOOR ARMS
Richard L. Corsi, The University of Texas at Austin
An excellent read on Indoor Air Quality. -- barb
http://www.utexas.edu/research/ti2e/IAQ_Briefs/calltoarms.html
|
California Building Standards Adopted, November 28, 2001
Special thanks to Michael Mankin, Chief, Office of Access http://users.lmi.net/wilworks/events/clnerair.htm
Dear Friends, Do you face barriers to your safe access to housing and medical facilities? The designated Contact Persons, for our questions regarding modifications to the California Building Standards, are:
State Housing Law Program Manager Department of Housing and Community Development Tel.: (916) 445-9471 E-mail: Fax: (916) 327-4712
Susan M. Botelho
Please attend if you are able - a public show of support for this effort is essential, but CALL FIRST to be sure the CBSC schedule hasn't been changed (again). Get the schedule updates or other details from Michael Mankin, Access Compliance office, Division of the State Architect, at (916) 322-4700 or Linda Huber at (916) 324-9495. THANKS! Susan Molloy
|
Two bits' worth from barb: Remember, the EPA tells us that indoor air pollution is
worse than outdoor air pollution AND we spend far more time indoors. Seems to me
it is not a huge leap in logic to figure out that the volatile organic compounds in synthetic
fragrances in personal care and household and janitorial cleaning/maintenance
products can play a significant role in indoor air pollution. See EPA's
Why Should You Be Concerned About the Quality of the Air That You Breathe?
http://www.epa.gov/iedweb00/index.html
Another point from the EPA: "Studies have found that levels of several organics average
2 to 5 times higher indoors than outdoors. During and for several hours immediately
after certain activities, such as paint stripping, levels may be 1,000 times background
outdoor levels."
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/insidest.html
Also see: San Francisco's "Achieving and maintaining good air quality"
http://www.sustainable-sf.org/Plan/Air/intro.htm
And, there's this to consider . . .
Folks, I have a big problem with the industry being able to call these recognized pollutants air
"fresheners." They are anything but and the worst part of that misleading name is that people
use them thinking they are helping improve the air.
I've had too many comments now from folks who ask: Why when [they] "freshen" the air in the
child's room that the child (or children) get an immediate asthmatic attack?
Why? Because they are using fragrance products that are air pollutants. If they want to really
freshen the air, they should open windows. The EPA tells us that indoor air is more polluted than
outdoor air, so let the outdoor air in . . . unless you live next to a refinery or other chemical
plant. But then, if that's the case, for crying out loud, don't add to the air pollution by using
products that have the word "fragrance" on the label.
Everyone using petrochemically derived fragrances are adding unkown petrochemicals to not only
their air, but your air too. Fragrances are made to volatilize, to become one with the air
everyone breathes, regardless of health status. Years of writing to our government agencies,
pleading that they begin accurately informing the public regarding fragrance products, has gained
little or nothing . . . depending upon the agency.
So, folks, it is up to you. As it is said, VOTE WITH YOUR POCKETBOOK. Buy baking soda to
put around your house or an attractive little dish, into which you've put a little vinegar. Neither
vinegar nor baking soda will pollute the air and they will help eliminate natural odors. -
Fragrances are polluting assaults on everyone, whether they or their doctors are yet aware. Just
try to get someone to take this seriously when you are talking about a personal health issue
caused by fragrances. However, IF enough of us try, we'll sooner gain air freer of petrochemical-
derived fragrances. Do remember Margaret Mead's famous quote: Never doubt that a
small group of dedicated individuals can change the world ... indeed, it's the only thing
that ever has.-- barb
July 27, 2006; NIEHS PR #06-11 --
Folks, what have we been saying all along???? Well, lookie here. Of course, they say
MAY, and we say WILL, but what they hey, this is at least some recognition of the polluting effects
and health damage associated with synthetically scented products. Air "freshener," my kiester!
For those who want a customized letter to send, regardin harmful effects of air
"fresheners," go to MCS America
http://www.mcs-america.org/customairfreshenerletter.doc
-- barb
.
Chemical in Many Air Fresheners May Reduce Lung Function
New research shows that a chemical compound found in many air fresheners,
toilet bowl cleaners, mothballs and other deodorizing products, may be harmful to
the lungs. Human population studies at the National Institute of Environmental Health
Sciences (NIEHS), a part of the National Institutes of Health, found that exposure to a
volatile organic compound (VOC), called 1,4 dichlorobenzene (1,4 DCB) may cause modest
reductions in lung function.
NIH News; NIEHS contact: Robin Mackar (919) 541-0073
http://www.niehs.nih.gov/oc/news/airfreshener.htm
Remember, naphthalene is commonly used in mothballs, deodorizers and air "fresheners."
Naphthalene can cause diarrhea. All bathroom humor aside, that ain't fun -- in fact,
it can be downright painful -- if the diarrhea reaction happens about a half hour after
you've left the facility that gave it to you in the first place . . . and you are out in the
middle of nowhere as far as finding another restroom is concerned. -- barb
. . . and that led to . . .
Principal Investigator: William W. Nazaroff
University of California, Berkeley
April 2006
ARB Contract No. 01-336 (Full Report)
ABSTRACT
When cleaning products and air fresheners are used indoors, occupants are exposed to
airborne chemicals, potentially leading to health risks. Indoor air pollutant exposures
owing to cleaning product and air freshener use depend on emissions from products,
dynamic behavior of chemical species, and human factors. A series of experiments was
conducted to investigate volatile organic compound emissions, concentrations, and
reactive chemistry associated with the household use of cleaning products and air
fresheners. Research focused on two common classes of ingredients in cleaning products
and air fresheners: ethylene-based glycol ethers, which are classified as toxic air
contaminants, and terpenes, which react rapidly with ozone. A shelf-survey of retail
outlets led to the selection of 21 products whose chemical composition was characterized.
Among the criteria used to select these products were ready availability through
California retail outlets and, for the majority of products, expectation that they contained
ethylene-based glycol ethers, terpenes and related compounds, or both. Of the 17
cleaning products characterized, four contained substantial levels of d-limonene (4-25% by
mass), three contained terpenoids that are characteristic of pine oil, six contained
substantial levels of ethylene-based glycol ethers (0.8-10% by mass), and five contained
less than 0.2% of any of the target analytes. Xylene in one product was the only other
toxic air contaminant detected. Among the four air fresheners characterized, three
contained substantial quantities (9-14% by mass) of terpene hydrocarbon and terpene
alcohol constituents, with linalool being the most abundant. Six of the 21 products were
investigated in simulated-use experiments in which emissions and concentrations of
primary constituents were measured. Cleaning products that contain 2- butoxyethanol
as an active ingredient produced one-hour-average concentrations of 300 to 2,300 µg/m 3
immediately after simulated typical use in a room-sized chamber. For cleaning products
that contain d-limonene as an active ingredient, corresponding levels were 1,000 to
6,000 µg/m 3 . Application of a pine-oil based cleaner produced one-hour-average
concentrations of 10-1300 µg/m 3 for terpene hydrocarbons and terpene alcohols.
Reactive chemistry was studied by exposing constituents of three products to ozone, both
in a bench-scale chamber and during simulated use. Prominent products of the
reaction of terpenes with ozone included formaldehyde (a toxic air contaminant), hydroxyl
radical, and secondary organic aerosol (a form of fine particulate matter). Incorporating
the new experimental data, exposures were estimated for several simulated use
scenarios. Under ordinary circumstances, exposures to 2-butoxyethanol, formaldehyde,
and secondary organic aerosol are not expected to be as high as guideline values solely
as a result of cleaning product or air freshener use. However, ordinary use could lead to
exposure levels of similar magnitude as guideline values. Scenario model results
suggest that exposure levels could exceed guideline values under exceptional yet plausible
conditions, such as cleaning a large surface area in a small room. The results of this
study provide important information for understanding the inhalation exposures to
certain air pollutants that can result from the use of common household products.
http://www.arb.ca.gov/research/abstracts/01-336.htm
" Use: If freshener is in aerosol form, do not breathe fumes. Avoid skin contact.
Use only in well-ventilated areas. ..."
Tell that to healthcare facilities that have these air POLLUTERS up in restrooms. -- barb
http://www.epa.gov/seahome/housewaste/house/airfresh.htm
EHANS
"Until now the European Union has not managed to regulate the introduction and use of
all these substances on the market. The legislation has managed to control only a
small fraction of them, thereby exposing the public and the environment to ongoing and
partly unknown threats and actual diseases. ..."
http://www.eeb.org/activities/chemicals/main.htm
"Until now the European Union has not managed to regulate the introduction and use of
all these substances on the market. The legislation has managed to control only a
small fraction of them, thereby exposing the public and the environment to ongoing and
partly unknown threats and actual diseases. ..."
http://www.eeb.org/activities/chemicals/main.htm
Alkalize For Health
http://www.alkalizeforhealth.net/index.htm
This page contains important information and it surely is worth reading. Unfortunately, the
unsuspecting public is led to believe that the problems given are simply associated with "Aerosol
spray products,... Chlorine bleach and Rug and upholstery cleaners." Again, you get
information on adverse health effects of fragrances from the ALA by innuendo.
This page conveniently ignores the fact that our modern petrochemically derived FRAGRANCES
have been crafted to quickly volatilize, and to waft further and last longer on the ambient air.
It matters not whether FRAGRANCES are used as colognes or perfume, or are found in an
enormous variety of personal care products, or in our household and janitorial cleaning and
maintenance products, fragrances can cause the health problems listed. A real hasardous household
polluter is fabric softeners. Not only does its scent and other chemicals pollute the fabric in the
laundry facility and the home or building housing that laundry area, but those chemicals pollute
the outdoor air for blocks around while in use in the laundry. Then they pollute the air --
AND OUR BODIES -- when the laudered item is worn or used.
FRAGRANCES are made to become one with the air we all must breathe, regardless of stage of
development or heath. ONLY YOU can make a difference by purchasing safer, cleaner products. -- barb
http://www.lungusa.org/air/household_products.html
Got asthma? Do your own test. Remove all scented products from your daily life. There are
alternatives that are not only safer for you, but all the people around you, plus safer for our
environment. Keep a diary. If you encounter fabric softeners on the ambient air, and you get
asthma, record it. If you encounter a perfumed individual, and you get asthma, record it. ETC.
Not all fragrances will trigger all asthmatic attacks for all people, but it is important to note when
such an exposure does cause asthma.
Next, take your self-survey, along with a printout of EHN's FDA Petition's Perfume Analysis
Summary, to your doctor. You've just begun what could be a long, drawn-out educational
process. IF you are having asthmatic attacks because other people at work, school, healthcare
facility, public places and places of worship use and wear fragrances and you need accommodation,
check out EHN's page, "Take Heart!". Three you will find suggestions for accommodation
that have actually worked for others. -- barb; last checked, after many, many letters sent with
documentation: Dec. 1, 2003
http://www.lungusa.org/asthma/astastrig.html#household
Memorial Lung Center
Asthma Triggers you may not be aware of from A - Z
Lists perfume under P. -- barb
http://www.qualityoflife.org/services/LungCenter/AsthmaEdu.cfm
So what's with that "freshen" line? Maybe it should be replaced by "pollutes". -- barb
-- end of work of Anderson's that I've built links to . . . now visit their site. --
Cleansers, cosmetics and other products pump 100 tons of pollutants daily into the Southland's air, ranking second to tailpipe emissions, studies show.http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-me-homesmog9mar09,1,1846847.stOrdinary household products such as cleansers, cosmetics and paints are now the Los Angeles region's second-leading source of air pollution, after auto tailpipe emissions, air quality officials say.
Regulators have long known that smog-forming chemicals escape with every squirt of antiperspirant, each bubble of detergent and every spritz of aerosol hair spray. And they have been controlling some products' emissions for years, with mixed success. But new research shows that products common in kitchens, bathrooms and garages contribute more to Southern California's smog problem than previously thought.
"It's the same stuff that comes out of a tailpipe or a smokestack," said Jerry Martin, a spokesman for the California Air Resources Board. "We're talking hundreds of different kinds of products, stuff everyone uses. It's almost one secret area of emissions that you don't hear about and no one talks about." ...
LA Times sells older articles.
Air line travel and Oxygen
A Comparative Analysis of Arranging In-Flight Oxygen
Aboard Commercial Air Carriers*
http://www.medscape.com/ACCP/chest/1999/v115.n04/ch1154.01.stol/ch1154.01.stol-01.html
Air Pollutants
SEC. 112. HAZARDOUS AIR POLLUTANTS defined by Congress
by CAS # and Chemical name ( scroll down to list)
http://www.epa.gov/oar/caa/caa112.txt
Air Pollution -- Environmed Research Inc.
"All our big environmental problems are built from many small,
personal decisions - little mistakes that add up over time. If there
is a solution, it will emerge from the collective value of millions of
better decisions made by individuals all over the globe. The
environmental action plan is to think globally and act locally - it
does make sense."
http://www.nutramed.com/environment/airpollution.htm
Air Pollution Page -- Environmental Working Group
http://www.ewg.org/air/
Air Pollution from paints and finishes
Earth Tech
http://www.earthtechinc.com/whynontox.html#Medical Reasons:
People use scented products on faith. Faith that an unregulated industry has thoroughly tested
its products. Thus far the only testing that I know of has been for dermatological effects of the
user. I'd like to see evidence of "thorough testing" for respiratory, neurological and systemic
effects for users and nonusers. I'd also like to see truthful and clearer labeling. But, until
such time that fragrances are proved safe for marketing, I'd like to see the FDA require its alert
to be affixed to all labels of products released to market without substantiation of safety:
"WARNING: The safety of this product has not been determined." Fragrances can
adversely affect the health of users and untold others. There is a vested interest here folks . . .
check the economy of the flavors and fragrance industry and then grab a look at the economy
of the pharmaceutical industry. See "FDA Authority Over Cosmetics". -- barb
Arts Journal
"Singer Sues Over Fog A singer is suing San Francisco Opera over the company's use of
stage fog. "The lawsuit, filed in San Francisco Superior Court, is the latest twist in a
fight between the city's opera and several singers who claim the fake fog is damaging
their health." Yahoo! (Reuters) 12/06/02 "
http://www.artsjournal.com/music/archive20021201.shtml
Air Purifiers/Filters
Like so many other products and/or services for the MCSer, the "best" air purifier is a personal
choice. This info is provided as a tool. I hope you find something that works for you. But, as
you consider air purifiers, also steep yourself in information on ozone generators, which are
not healthy for those with respiratory distress. See EHN's section on Ozone Generators
http://users.lmi.net/wilworks/ehnlinx/o.htm#Generators-- barb
Also visit EHN's Consumer Products
(http://users.lmi.net/~wilworks/ehnlinx/c.htm#Consumer)
You'll want to visit our Government Links page, on which we
provide many links to EPA sites
http://users.lmi.net/~wilworks/ehnglinx.htm#E
Also, contact your local Air Resources Board.
Two-bits' worth by barb: Let me assure everyone, it is not mere "discomfort that scents
cause for some people," although, they too, should not have to be forced to inhale another person's
choice of odor. But for the already chemically injured -- POISONED -- it can be a life and death
situation. Now, how can any employer, school administrator, healthcare administrator and
professional or executive of government entities grant the right to odorovect toxic chemicals
from personal care products over another's right to breathe? I ask you.
http://www.lungusa.org/press/association/asnairq.html
If not available through the ALA, then go to:
http://ajrccm.atsjournals.org/cgi/content/full/156/3/S33
Airplanes/Airports
print version:
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/07/national/07AIR.html?pagewanted=print
Alaska
Also see EHN's section on the Valdez spill
http://users.lmi.net/~wilworks/ehnlinx/v.htm#Vladez
You'll note that the ad states in part: "The composition of perfumes hasn't changed much in
hundreds of years. They contain primarily water and alcohol - of the same type and purity we
drink in beverages -- as well as essential fragrance oils."
Don't ignore that line about not changing much in "hundreds of years," but for now, I ask
that you notice that line about water and alcohol.
So, let's look at alcohol. What does Blue Cross of California have to say --
Now, let's visit National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and their
Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards --
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/pgdstart.html
. . . and look up
Exposure Routes: inhalation, ingestion, skin and/or eye contact
Symptoms: irritation eyes, skin, nose; headache, drowsiness, fatigue,
narcosis; cough; liver damage; anemia; reproductive, teratogenic effects
Target Organs: Eyes, skin, respiratory system, central nervous system,
liver, blood, reproductive system"
Or, we can look up the couple of chemicals listed on the label above, on Material Data Saftey Sheets (MSDS):
Benzophenone
MSDS from Cornell; read "Health Hazard Data"
http://MSDS.PDC.CORNELL.EDU/msds/siri/msds/h/q410/q325.html
"There is an abundance of scientific evidence showing that alcohol and other ingredients used in
cosmetics can enter the bloodstream through the skin (15, 16). Alcoholic perfumes, fragrances and
colognes are applied directed to the breast by some women. In such instances, many breast cells
at the site where most malignant tumors occur receive a dose of alcohol that is greater than
what would be experienced with heavy drinking. ..."
Go to Dr. Coleman's page, Education, to read the rest of his comments and link to the footnotes. -- barb
http://www.cancerresearchamerica.org/edu.html
FUSELS ALCOHOLS
http://www.beer-brewing.com/brewers-yeast/brewers-yeast-fusel-alcohols.htm
Aldrich Flavors and Fragrances
You must register to use this site, but it is free. -- barb
http://www.sigma-aldrich.com/saws.nsf/Home?OpenFrameset
Those who live with fragrance-sensitization realize that they do not suffer an "allergy," but
most of the world thinks only in terms of allergy and so often you will hear the expression, "I am
allergic to perfume (or fragrance)." Regardless of how it's phrased, we know that perfumes
cause, exacerbate and trigger, many allergy-like symptoms, hence the confusion. If you have
asthma, along with your "allergies," you may be interested in this brochure. -- barb
Also see BodyBio
http://www.bodybio.com/
http://www.allergyclinic.co.nz/physician.html
-- end Allergy --
... but also see . . .
Fragrances http://users.lmi.net/~wilworks/ehnlinx/f.htm#Fragrance
Perfume http://users.lmi.net/wilworks/ehnlinx/p.htm#Perfume
Pollution - Chemical Sensitivity, MCS
http://www.nutramed.com/environment/mcs.htm
Toxic Alert
http://www.cqs.com/etoxic.htm
Alternative Medicine.com
http://www.alternativemedicine.com/
Alternative Medicine Homepage
Alternative Products
http://www.mtnhigh.com/gfyidx.html
Amazing Breakthroughs in Immune System Enhancement
Medical Research and Scientific Evidence Supporting Glyco-Nutritional PhytoNutrients
National Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine
http://nccam.nih.gov/nccam/what-is-cam/fields/alternative.shtml#traditional
Reiki
For links to more info on vaccines, see EHN's
http://users.lmi.net/~wilworks/ehnlinx/v.htm#Vaccines
The Dental Amalgam Issue - Mercury Free and Healthy
http://www.amalgam.org/
-- end amalgam --
Amazon.com
For those who shop via the www -- or just "window shop" -- here is the link to what is claimed to be "Earth's Biggest Bookstore."
-- Try to wear pure, untreated cotton in light colors. Avoid permanent press or
cotton blends. Silk and polyester are acceptable.
-- Wash all new clothing items five times before wearing.
-- Use only fragrance-free soaps, body cleansers, shampoos and conditioners.
-- Avoid all perfumes, colognes, and after-shaves.
-- Do not use any fingernail care products or hair spray.
To spell out the obvious: Our modern fragrances are volatile organic compounds, therefore they
become the air we all must breathe. Synthetic scents are not tested for reactions to skin beyond
those of the primary user.
When will our government agencies and health care societies begin to look at the fact that
fragrances contain volatile chemicals that are known or suspected hormone disrupters, irritants,
sensitizers, carcinogens, tertatogens and neurotoxins? Fragrances should be tested BEFORE
marketing for their adverse effects upon users and nonusers who suffer adverse events at
secondary and tertiary levels of exposure. Fragrances should be tested for their effects upon the
reproductive systems of developing fetuses as well males and females of all ages. Fragrances should
be researched for their effects upon the respiratory systems of users and non users; for their
neurotoxic effects upon users and non users; for their potential cancer-causing capabilities for
users and non users. Come to think of it, if there is synthetic scent in the air, we all are users!.
And therein lies the reason more and more people are seeking fragrance-free accommodation! -- barb
http://www.newswise.com/articles/2000/3/ALLERGY.AAD.html
and: http://www.aad.org/PressReleases/allgeries.html
"Drugs are avoided as much as possible."
http://www.healthy.net/pan/pa/NaturalTherapies/aaem/aaem2.htm
http://pubs.acs.org/cen/coverstory/8018/8018coverstory2b.html
As I live and breathe! No kidding folks, there it was one day in my email messages,
this item from the American Lung Association. Sign up for their newsletters and you
might find a gem such as this, too. The article the ALA is referencing is Scents and sensitivities,
by award-winning Francesca Lyman of MSNBC. It was originally released February 2002
at http://www.msnbc.com/news/702445.asp Scents and sensitivities was
re-released in October at http://www.msnbc.com/news/702445.asp?cp1=1.
I have one question: Why is it that after all of these years of sound research, our American Lung
Association doesn't have a page like the Canadian LungAssociation? Both organizations use
the same line, "When you can't breathe nothing else matters." We live it, they copyright it.
At least the Canadian Lung Association spells out clearly for the uninformed that fragrances are
harmful to health for user . . . and non user. Excerpts:
This site also takes you out to asthma symptoms -- asthma can be caused, exacerbated or triggered
by modern, petrochemical derived fragrances. Really, these volatiles should have no place in a public place.
http://www.lung.ca/diseases-maladies/asthma-asthme/signs-signes/index_e.php
Of further interest is CLA's document: "Developing a Scent-free Policy for the Workplace".
http://www.lung.ca/_resources/DevelopingaScentfreePolicyforaWorkplace.pdf
By contrast, a search for "scents" and you'll find ALA writes, in part, under COPD:
Search for "Indoor Air Pollution" and you'll be given info on RADON. Is radon really spelled RED HERRING? Not to minimize radon, but are as many homes polluted by radon as are polluted by the huge array of ubiquitous petrochemical-derived fragrance products? What will they find IF they look at the harmful effects of fragrances?
Number 36 on my search was " " and at the very bottom of that page, you'll find:
And also on page http://www.lung.ca/protect-protegez/pollution-pollution/indoor-interieur/scents-parfums_e.php
The problem with scented products is not so much the smell itself as the chemicals that
produce the smell. Today's perfume is not made from flowers but from toxic chemicals.
Ninety-five percent of chemicals used in fragrances are synthetic compounds derived
from petroleum. They include benzene derivatives, aldehydes and many other known
toxics and sensitisers - just one perfume can contain more than 500 chemicals. Another
common ingredient in scents is toluene. Toluene triggers asthma attacks and is known
to cause asthma in previously healthy people.
The only safe assumption about scented products is that they contain numerous toxic
chemicals which constantly vaporize into the air and attach themselves to hair, clothing,
and surroundings.
-- barb
" PERFUMES MAY BE COMPROMISING LUNG HEALTH, ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE WITH ASTHMA-Ý"
"The October 28, 2002 MSNBC.com website featured an article that described how perfumes
and fragrances present in soaps and other personal hygiene products may trigger allergies
and irritation, especially for those who suffer from asthma, rhinitis, and dermatitis. The article
cites allergy, dermatology, and pulmonary experts who asset that a growing number of
patients are suffering from such sensitivities to fragrances. In light of this, the New York
Committee on Occupational Health and Safety (NYCOSH) has stated that wearing perfume
at the workplace or in closed in spaces may pose health problems for the wearer and
those around them.
"According to the article, the fragrance industry is responding to these concerns by
implementing more stringent testing of their products before they are marketed to the public.
The article also points out that whereas perfumes were once distilled from flower
essences, many of those now being manufactured are complex mixtures of botanical- or
animal-derived materials and synthetic chemicals. In addition, about 90% of perfume
ingredients are not composed of flower essences or natural products, but are synthesized
from petrochemicals, which emit volatile organic compounds or "VOCs." According to the
EPA, VOCs may produce eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches, nausea, loss of
coordination, damage to the liver, kidneys, and central nervous system, and some are
believed to be carcinogen.
"The article points out that the incidence of respiratory sensitivity to fragrances is on the rise,
which raises health concerns for people with respiratory illnesses, especially asthma. Although
it asserts that most perfumes do not pose immediate danger for people with asthma,
some ingredients may trigger asthma attacks since perfumes contain many potentially
allergenic ingredients that can add to other irritants, such as tobacco smoke or exhaust fumes.
The article reports that the Environmental Health Network, and advocacy group based in
California, has petitioned the government to require that products which have not been
adequately tested carry warning labels. Since the petition was filed, more than one thousand
consumers with health problems associated with exposure to fragrances have written to
the FDA in support of the petition; however, to date, the FDA has not put forth a public
response. For the entire article: http://www.msnbc.com/news/702445.asp?cp1=1."
AMA on Migraines
Managing Migraines Today
Potential Provoking Factors of Migraine
I saw this list and saw lots of petrochemical products . . . we just don't think in terms of petro-
chemical products when we think of flavors, prescriptions, and fragrances. But we should! -- barb
http://www.ama-assn.org/med-sci/course/migraine/m1hist.htm
"The Institute's mission is to enhance both the global competitiveness of U.S.
business and the U.S. quality of life by promoting and facilitating voluntary
consensus standards and conformity assessment systems, and safeguarding
their integrity. "
http://www.ansi.org/public/about.html
The section on pesticides: http://nursingworld.org/mods/mod250/cesafull.htm#pest
131st Annual Meeting and Exposition
November 15-19, 2003; San Francisco, California
"The APHA Annual Meeting is a smoke-free event. Smoking is not permitted in
any of the meeting rooms used for scientific sessions, business meetings or APHA
sponsored social events. In addition, the Moscone Center is a smoke-free
environment. Be aware however, that hotels do allow smoking in some public areas.
Specific requests will be made to the hotels that chemicals not be used on the
meeting room carpeting within 4 days of the commencement of our meeting and that
only unscented products be used in guest rooms. In addition, APHA requests
that its meeting attendees refrain from the use of perfumes, hair sprays and other
chemicals, for the comfort and health of all our registrants.
"Please note that Exhibit Hall carpeting will be laid out the night before the exhibits
open, and because this is new carpeting, it may present problems for people with
chemical sensitivities.
NOTE: I've attended functions in Moscone Center and the new carpeting laid out always
adversely affected my health. I should hope by now, safer products would be used.-- barb
http://www.apha.org/meetings/access.htm#cs
"Mar 2001 - Learn more about the organic compounds present in perfumes that
have been documented to cause or exacerbate asthma."
###
Upon clicking out to the article (above) by James E. Lessenger, MD, one can read his
introduction, which leads me to believe again that we, the already fragrance-sensitized,
have not been listened too. In his introduction he stated:
"In the workplace, they have been associated with rashes in employees exposed to
scented soaps, or with such allergic conditions as rhinitis or asthma in employees exposed
to perfumes or fragrances in the air. Rarely have they been used in assaults."
Alas, fragrances have been used in assaults, not only against fellow workers, but also against
fellow students. But when the human resources manager "loves" her scents, as do the
entity's lawyers and other management staff, they'll refuse to acknowledge that fragrances
can and are being used as a deadly weapon. Therefore there is no record, and as we try to pursue
our cases, our causes, we run up against not only disbelieving doctors, but also lawyers and
judges. To my mind, we are living examples of Environmental Injustice. It is past time due
for a change in paradigm. Look at the petrochemical makeup of fragrances and then you'll see how
an assault with fragrance can lead to death-defying events. -- barb
High Stakes, Hard Choices
When school reformers want parents to spend more time on homework and welfare
reformers demand more time on the job, what's supposed to give?
By Katherine D. Newman and Margaret M. Chin; Issue Date: 7.15.02
And here is another side to the perfume industry . . . [emphasis added] -- barb
"... When she is 'in work,' Elisa commutes almost three hours a day, most recently
to a job packing perfume bottles in a New Jersey factory, for which she is paid less
than $4 an hour (considerably below the legal minimum wage). It was while she was
working that her oldest son dropped out of the eighth grade. ..."
http://www.prospect.org/print/V13/13/newman-k.html
Take Heart! / Law
http://users.lmi.net/~wilworks/ehnhompg/takheart.htm#Law
Occupational Acute Anaphylactic Reaction to Assault by Perfume
James E. Lessenger, MD, From a private practice.
http://www.familypractice.com/journal/2001/v14.n02/1402.07/art-1402.07.htm
Article about "...Drs. Rosalind C. and Julius H. Anderson [who]
investigated the respiratory toxicity of chemicals emitted by children's bedding..."
Anderson Labs
PO Box 323
West Hartford, VT 05084
ANNALS ONLINE
of the New York Academy of Sciences
You can view abstracts or full text from a list of documents. -- barb
Also see EHN's
Household Antimicrobial Products
Virginia Cooperative Extension; Publication Number 356-650 July 2001
http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/housing/356-650/356-650.html
Lysol MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets)
Go to this link and key in LYSOL®. Notice how many times a look at
"Health Hazard Data" and "Route of Entry" clearly states NO by inhalation. Absurd!
This product is meant to be inhaled, hence the additional toxins added . . . fragrances! -- barb
http://msds.pdc.cornell.edu/msdssrch.asp
Anti-SLAPP Project - Dedicated to First Amendment Rights
Californian's
SLAPPs (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation).
http://www.sirius.com/~casp/welcome.html
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: A 1999 Consensus
Available through EHN
Architecture
Architects/Designers/Planners for Social Responsibility (ADPSR)
http://www.adpsr-norcal.org
Architectural Features for Multi-Family Housing to Better
ACCOMMODATE RESIDENTS with CHEMICAL and ELECTRICAL SENSITIVITIES
By Susan Molloy, MA; EHN Advisory Board Member
afmf
HEALING ENVIRONMENTS: PHYSICAL, SPIRITUAL, EMOTIONAL AND
PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS IN ARCHITECTURE THAT PROMOTE HEALTH
by Anou Mirkine
BA, French Literature and Painting, Bennington College, 1979
M.Arch., Architecture, University of New Mexico, 1996
http://home.earthlink.net/~anouchka/Abstract.htm
Arctic
Potential Impacts of Proposed Oil and Gas Development on the
Arctic Refuge's Coastal Plain: Historical Overview and Issues of Concern
http://www.r7.fws.gov/nwr/arctic/issues1.html
Arizona Technology Access Program
Printer friendly: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2002/09/15/ED1334.DTL&type=printable
Common arsenical pesticide under scrutiny
EHP; February 9, 2005
"Golfers can thank monosodium methanearsonate (MSMA) for flawless, weed-free
fairways, but experts are questioning whether the arsenic-containing pesticide is safe for
the environment and human health. New research reveals that, despite industry claims,
MSMA applied to golf courses with certain types of soil degrades to toxic inorganic
arsenic, which leaches into groundwater. A separate study has documented that MSMA
can move through wildlife food chains. The news comes as Canada and the United
States are re-evaluating registrations for MSMA. ..."
http://pubs.acs.org/subscribe/journals/esthag-w/2005/feb/science/jp_arsenical.html
CHILD-SAFE ART MATERIALS
By Ann Hallock is the editor of FAMILYFUN
http://family.go.com/crafts/drawpaint/expert/dony0400aasafe/dony0400aasafe.html
EHN's The New Reactor (http://users.lmi.net/~wilworks/newreact/nrindex.htm)
Newspapers (http://users.lmi.net/~wilworks/ehnlinx/n.htm#Newspapers)
OnLine News and Reference (http://users.lmi.net/~wilworks/ehnlinx/o.htm#OnLine)
Publications (http://users.lmi.net/~wilworks/ehnlinx/p.htm#Publications)
Stuff Happens
The Word IS Out! (http://users.lmi.net/~wilworks/ehnhompg/wordout.htm)
For daily health reports, also check:
An important article on asthma . . . effects from prenatal on! Now why can we not study the effects of fragrances in these and other cleaning and maintenance products, "environmental scents" such as candles, air "fresheners," trashbags, and of course, personal care products. Don't forget about flavors -- the twin of fragrances! -- barb
"A new study of respiratory health among young children has shown a clear connection
between breathing problems and their mothers¼ use of a range of common products
such as bleach, paint stripper and carpet cleaners. ..."
http://www.alspac.bris.ac.uk/press/household_chemicals.shtml
And on BBC :http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4115617.stm
MESOTHELIOMA
Mesothelioma Cancer Center (ASBESTOS CAUSED CANCER)
Call: 1,800,272.3786, or remember: 1.800.ASBESTOS
http://www.asbestos.com/images/abestos_ribbon.gif
Mesothelioma Cancer Center is committed to providing the latest, up-to-date
informatgion to our visitors in the hopes of spreading awareness about the dangers of
asbestos exposure and mesothelioma. This website offers a one-stop resource on all
asbestos issues ranging from occupational exposure, steps to take after receiving a
mesothyelioma prognosis and where to find the nearest mesothelioma doctors in
your area.
http://www.asbestos.com
ASH (Action on Smoking and Health)
Pages in English | Deutsch | EspaÒol | FranÁais | Italiano | Portuguese
http://ash.org/
Aspartame and other artificial sweeteners
For Access and Accommodation -- all for the want of Common Courtesy! -- see EHN's"Take Heart!"
http://www.ehnca.org/ehnhompg/takheart.htm
"Annette Green, [former] executive director of the Fragrance Foundation in New York,
has said the restrictions are much ado about nothing, arguing perfume does not
pollute the air and does not contain carcinogens, as cigarettes do." [Emphasis added.]
See:
"Scent-Sensitive Nurse Sues LDS"
BY MICHAEL VIGH
THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, Tuesday, October 15, 2002
http://www.sltrib.com/2002/oct/10152002/utah/7273.htm
Schools / Universities
http://users.lmi.net/~wilworks/ehnhompg/takheart.htm#School
Workplaces
http://users.lmi.net/~wilworks/ehnhompg/takheart.htm#Workplace
Scotland's Court Case:
"Police charged Lynda Taylor, 36, with aggravated battery Thursday.
"David Taylor, 46, is disabled due to allergies that resulted from exposure to toxic mold
and hazardous chemicals as a construction worker, his doctors say. That exposure
netted him $150,000 in a recent workers compensation settlement.
"The fragrant incident occurred April 4 during a conversation the couple were having
about separating after three years of marriage. ..."
http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/South/05/11/perfume.plot.ap/index.html
... and ...
... then there's this ...
... and then ...
"The 16-year-old hasn't been to school since she reported that a campus
bully sprayed her in the face with perfume a year ago, causing a severe
asthma attack that landed her in the hospital.
"Childers said she is afraid to return to Shelby Valley High School until
administrators ban perfume, cologne, and other smelly aerosol sprays
that could be used as weapons against asthmatics. ..."
Write this newspaper by going to http://www.n-jcenter.com/opinion.htm#letters
and scroll to bottom. -- barb
http://www.n-jcenter.com/2002/Oct/3/NOTE1.htm
"The policy was proposed in response to an incident last year in which a
student at Shelby Valley High School was attacked with the smelly products,
causing her to have a severe asthma attack. ..."
Write to: Paul McAuliffe, Editor mcauliffep@courierpress.com;
J. Bruce Baumann, Managing Editor baumannb@courierpress.com -- barb
http://www.myinky.com/ecp/news/article/0,1626,ECP_734_1445132,00.html
"And that failure to act, said Elkhorn City attorney Tim Belcher, could potentially
land the school board in a lawsuit to force the issue. The vote was 4-1 against, with
Ravine Ratliff voting in favor of the policy.
"The policy was proposed in response to an incident last year in which two Shelby Valley
students allegedly attacked another student with such products, causing her to have
an asthma attack. ..."
Write to: David Gross, Editor, E-mail: news@news-expressky.com or
dgross@news-expressky.com -- barb
http://www.news-expressky.com/news-expressky/myarticles.asp?H=1&S=547&P=695283&PubID=11583
"While we sympathize with the asthmatic teen-age girl whose mother initiated the
proposal, we also understand the majority of school board members¼ concern ã that
such a policy likely would be unenforceable. ..."
Mr. Gross doesn't say one word about the spraying. That's an assault with a deadly weapon,
not a prank! Email: dgross@news-expressky.com-- barb
http://www.news-expressky.com/news-expressky/myarticles.asp?H=1&S=547&P=697979&PubID=11623
Assistive Technology (AT)
The Association of Occupational & Environmental Clinics
http://www.aoec.org/
"Dr. Jacob Offenberger is an Allergist; 'No manufacturer would like to
sell any product that has real toxins in it or real irritants in it because it
won't sell.' Dr. Jacob Offenberger is spokesperson for the Asthma
Foundation of America. He says some people are just sensitive to
perfume chemicals....and they are blowing this issue out of proportion. ..."
Write-up following EHN-Cancer Prevention Coalition press release,
"Perfume: Cupid's Arrow or Poison Dart?," Feb. 7, 2000, immediately below
Includes words of Judith Sanderson, Teacher, Culver City High -- barb
http://www.wsfa.com/Global/story.asp?s=58076
Now let's check another source other than the fragrance industry's ads and public relations campaigns.
But let's explore this concept of "testing" a little further. How can a fragrance product be
thoroughly tested if it is simply tested for the dermatological reactions to the primary user?
How can a product that is made to be smelled (inhaled) and not tested for its effects upon the
lungs, the brain, the reproductive systems of adult males and females, as well as developing babies,
be considered "thoroughly tested"? By what stretch of the FDA's imagination are these
products so safe the public does not need to learn, "WARNING: The safety of this product
has not been determined."? Why isn't the FDA demanding its prescribed warning message
on the labels of all inadequately tested fragrances? And why, oh why, does the FDA claim that
it doesn't have enough info to raise public awareness? It's buried that at the bottom of a food page!
http://www.fda.gov/oc/fdama/fdamawebcast/stakeholdersquestions/foods.html
-- barb
WWF, the global environment campaign, is urging precautionary action now, because
it says testicular cancer and lowered sperm counts can occur decades after exposure.
It wants the European Union to agree to a precautionary presumption against the use
of endocrine disrupters until they are proven to be safe.
http://eces.org/ec/health/malereproductiveproblems.shtml
"The study was conducted on adult males being evaluated in a fertility clinic, and found
a correlation between damage to the DNA in sperm and DEP exposure at the levels
already present in the men. DEP is widely used in many different kinds of products
containing fragrances. Recent product tests found the chemical in every fragrance tested
in the United States. ..."
http://nottoopretty.org/pa_12_09_02.htm
Now how about a compare and contrast with Tobacco, which I state time and again will wind
up looking like small potatoes when the lid blows off the flavors and fragrance industry. -- barb
Electric Words
-- end section on industry assurances and another view --
I'd truly like to stay alive long enough to see someone, somewhere start to GET IT! regarding the harmful effects of fragrance products. But you all better hurry up as time is running out for me if my blood test numbers mean anything.
Please keep in mind that ASTHMA is just one of the diseases fragrance chemical concoctions can cause. Fragrances pollute the air for everyone, regardless of age or stage of life. And, the adverse events -- diseases and premature death -- can vary. It is past time for a change.
L@@k, this site is all about PREVENTION. Please start using your heads . . . shop wisely. If you see the word FRAGRANCE (or its twin, FLAVOR) on a label, please leave the product on the shelf and purchase a safer one, one without petrochemically derived scents. However, when talking about fragrance pollution, please keep in mind that you do not have to purchase the product, nor apply it to your body to become a user. Fragrances (and their twin, flavors) are volatile organic compounds and become one with the air we all must breathe. Alas, we ALL are stakeholders when it comes to breathing!
If ever there was a time to study EHN's petition of the FDA -- it will be 10 years old on May 11, 2009! -- the time is now. See www.ehnca.org/FDApetition/bkgrinfo.htm
People are still wondering about the "unexplained" rates of soaring asthma . . . plus a host of other diseases. Why is there such a mental block at looking at commonly used scented products? (One answer to my question is that the industry has one hell of a lobbying organization. They have even lobbied Europe in a challenged effort to keep them from developing tougher standards for safer products. Another is that the fragrance and flavors industry is embedded with the FDA. A third is that from the very beginning, the industry was set up to be self-regulatory. That, as I've said for years, is akin to putting the fox in charge of the hen house. By now, we've all learned that only a very small percentage of the population has benefitted from deregulation in general. Heavens to Betsy, the fragrance industry was never regulated to begin with. Further, their products are protected by trade secret status, and, whatever government oversight there is supposed to be is terribly fragmented. Meaning that while fragrances pollute air indoors and out, the EPA is not the authority over fragrances. Nor is the Consumer Products Safety Commission. Only the FDA, and they don't even demand their warning be affixed to the labels of all fragrances, which are released to market without full substantiation of safety. Have your doubts? Then pay for an analysis!
Folks, the research has been done. The information is there, available. Fragrances can cause, exacerbate and trigger asthma (plus other adverse events, including the ultimate: untimely death).
I've said it before and I'll say it again: IF you want to turn the tide on soaring asthma rates, look to your personal exposures to commonly used personal care products and those used for household and janitorial cleaning and maintenance work. Any product that has the word "fragrance" on the label should be suspect IF you are serious about trying to control -- and PREVENT -- asthma.
That benign sounding word, fragrance -- or its twin, flavor, used interchangeably by industry -- hides a plethora of toxins that have not been fully substantiated for safety before being released to market. And worse, the FDA does not implement its requirement for the public alert: "WARNING: The safety of this product has not been determined." See "FDA Authority Over Cosmetics" http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/cos-206.html
But Lance Wallace of the EPA has said to look to personal exposures better than I.
"However, one of the primary findings of the TEAM study was that for air toxics,
indoor sources were the primary contributor to indoor air concentrations and to
personal exposures for the majority of air toxics measured. ..."
What can be done? Not much if you expect the government to do it for you. The industry fights
health legislation, and their money talks. But, YOU can refuse to buy their products until they are
released to market with substantiation of safety and better labeling information. YOU can force
industry to change by "voting" with your pocketbook.
A brief glimpse into my health history, should you care to know:
I have a memory of my mother claiming there was a "mishap" at Shell Oil in Wood River, Illinois
when my brother was an infant and I was about five. I've not found proof of that, but if anyone
knows for sure that there was a problem at Wood River circa 1943, I'd like to know. Cousins who
lived near that area are younger than I and don't know and their parents are dead so they
cannot be asked. If there was a release from Shell in 1943, it settled as a chemical pall over south
St. Louis. Obviously, that refinery has had modern problems.
What I have learned is that St. Louis had a severe "flu" outbreak at about that time. But I ask:
Was that a true, viral flu, or a major flu-like reaction to the toxins that flowed down the
Mississippi River Valley to butt up against the Ozarks, which start to rise just south of St. Louis?
Until I learn more about the refinery in 1943, I'll put my buck on it having been a chemical-
induced flu, not viral.
In any case, I remember my mother, infant brother and I being very sick with a severe bronchial
cough -- I don't remember my father being affected, but then, he had a smoker's hack and so
he always had a strong cough. I do know he was not as ill as my mother. And for me, that
marked the beginning of what later -- around my forties -- was finally diagnosed: Chemical-
induced asthma. One can just imagine, with that as a background, how my body then reacted to
perfumes that went from being made largely with plants and animal parts to being derived from
petrochemicals . . . think HYDROCARBONS!
As the flavors and fragrance industry is highly protected by trade secret laws, self regulation
and fragmentation of what little government authority may exist, I suggest people start doing
their own research. Notice if you come in contact with scented products. Do you:
"The category of fragrance raw materials was selected for investigation because of their
unknown potential forevoking a mild respiratory response in some individuals who
may be exposed to these materials in the form of afinished perfume. Such a response
has been characterized as consisting of symptoms associated with changes in
respiratory rate, depth of respiration and bronchoconstriction. It was decided that, in
order to investigate these materials in an organized fashion, selection of
compounds for testing would be based on rate of use in fragrance compounding.
Fourteen fragrance raw materials which represent the major components of the four
most widely used essential oils were finally selected. ..."
Available for purchase through http://wwwlib.umi.com/dxweb/
1986, January . . . Effect of odors in asthma.
Shim C, Williams MH Jr.
Many patients complain that some odors worsen their asthma. Perfume and cologne
are two of the most frequently mentioned offenders. Four patients with a history of
worsening of asthma on exposure to cologne underwent challenge with a cologne,
and their pulmonary function was tested before, during, and after the exposure. Forced
expiratory volume in one second declined 18 to 58 percent below the baseline
period during the 10-minute exposure and gradually increased in the next 20 minutes.
Saline placebo pretreatment did not affect the response to subsequent challenge.
Single-blind pretreatment with metaproterenol and atropine prevented decline in one-
second forced expiratory volume in three of four patients and blunted the response
in the other. Cromolyn sodium prevented decline in one of four, and occlusion of
nostrils prevented decline in one of three. A survey of 60 asthmatic patients revealed a
history of respiratory symptoms in 57 on exposure to one or more common odors.
Odors are an important cause of worsening of asthma.
PMID: 3079951 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3079951
1992: I worked with Julia Kendall to put her "Twenty Most Common Chemicals
Found in Thirty-One Fragrance Products" -- http://users.lmi.net/~wilworks/ehn20.htm --
and her "Fabric Softeners = Health Risks From Dryer Exhaust and Treated Fabrics" --
http://users.lmi.net/~wilworks/ehnfs.htm --
into one-page flyer format, which EHN distributes as two-sided copy at its tabling events. Julia
then wrote, based on available asthma information , "Ten million Americans have asthma. Asthma
and asthma deaths have increased over 30 percent in the past 10 years."
Would it were our various asthma and lung organizations, government agencies and healthcare
professionals, et al., paid closer attention to Julia Kendall and the rest of us. Instead, we've
been dismissed as hypochondriacs or psychosomatics, in favor of industry having carte blanch
with its introduction of ever more inadequately tested chemical products for our daily use.
So, it is up to you to guard your body and the bodies of your children. Be savy consumers. When
reading about asthma triggers and you see words or phrases like "chemicals," "chemicals in
the air," "irritants," "strong odors," etc., think FRAGRANCES. Thanks to the Internet, it
doesn't take much work to discover our modern fragrances are petrochemical derivatives made
by man and are a very lucrative business for the chemical industry's various facets. And, those
same products can make you, your children -- including those still in the womb -- very sick.
Remember the adage, An ounce of PREVENTION is worth a pound of cure.
1995, November: Inhalation challenge effects of perfume scent strips in patients with asthma
"CONCLUSIONS: Perfume-scented strips in magazines can cause exacerbations of symptoms and airway
obstruction in asthmatic patients. Severe and atopic asthma increases risk of adverse respiratory
reactions to perfumes."
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7583865?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_Discovery_RA&linkpos=1&log$=relatedarticles&logdbfrom=pubmed
1998: Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA)
2004Are Household Chemicals Connected To The Rise In Asthma?
23/12/2004
"Frequent use of household cleaning products and other chemicals in the home could be
linked to cases of asthma among Britain¼s children.
"A new study of respiratory health among young children has shown a clear connection
between breathing problems and their mothers¼ use of a range of common products
such as bleach, paint stripper and carpet cleaners. ..."
http://www.alspac.bris.ac.uk/press/household_chemicals.shtml
And on BBC :http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4115617.stm
Summary of Control Measures For Environmental Factors
That Can Make Asthma Worse Figure 2.4
JAMA lists perfumes at the very end of its info on Asthma, but at least it is
there, under "Indoor / Outdoor Pollutants and Irritants." JAMA states: "Other irritants
(e.g., perfumes, cleaning agents, sprays). Now, let me tell you, when you read the word
"irritant," think POISON. If that definition is good enough for Oxford Dictionary, it should be
good enough for our medical industry, our FDA, our EPA . . .
http://web.archive.org/web/20000520083257/http://www.ama-assn.org/special/asthma/treatmnt/guide/guidelin/comp2/fig2-4.htm
The text reads in part:
I'd certainly caution people to avoid fragrance products until we get that testing that was
called for back in the late 1970s or early '80s! -- barb
1999: The numbers of people now living with asthma are increasing dramatically -- reportedly
now a good 17.6 million people. The "experts" and "officials" remain stymied.
October 2002: NOT listening to the already fragrance-sensitized individual has not led to a
decrease in numbers of people with asthma . . . L@@K at that figure soar: over 24 million people
have now been diagnosed with asthma sometime during their lifetime; 150 million worldwide.
Perhaps mainstream medical doctors should start not only listening to their patients, but
then reporting to the national resarch institutes and associations, their findings that synthetic
fragrances in a myriad of personal care and cleaning/ maintenance products are causing, triggering
and exacerbating asthma. Why not assume all asthma associated with fragrance products is a
chemical "injury" and therefore should be reported to ICE (Injury Collaborative Activities)?
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/about/otheract/ice/ice.htm
If you have adverse reactions to perfumes and other scented products, please visit EHN's FDA
Citizens' Petition, 99P-1340 replete with analyses of the chemicals and contact information.
http://users.lmi.net/~wilworks/FDApetition/bkgrinfo.htm
Keep in mind, that the seasons can bring on a heightened use of fragrances, which are derived
from petrochemicals. These concoctions are crafted with tens to hundreds of inadequately
tested chemicals and are used in combinations that have not been adequately tested for inhalation,
nor systemic effects. Remember, the FDA does NOT regulate this industry. You must
take their products on faith . . . while our doctors tell us the skyrocketing rates for asthma and
other chronic diseases are UNEXPLAINED. -- barb
Asthma can be caused, triggered and
exacerbated by modern
petrochemically concocted fragrances!
I've pulled just a few sites/topics up front for you, scroll slowly through this entire section,
visiting the information available. If a link is broken, please inform. -- barb
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI)
http://www.aaaai.org/
"Viral upper respiratory tract infections (common cold) are the most common cause of
severe exacerbations of asthma. Other irritants that have been shown to worsen asthma
with chronic exposure include aeroallergens and smoke. Triggers that may cause acute
bronchospasm requiring treatment with as needed albuterol include allergens, cold air,
air pollution, strong smells (excess perfume), exercise and certain food additives (sulfites)."
Search ALA's Asthma section for "perfume," "fragrance " and "scented." -- barb
What is Asthma?
Message above applies here too. -- barb
"... Other factors contributing to the severity of asthma. Cold air, wind, rain, and sudden
changes in the weather can sometimes bring on an asthma episode. Medications like
aspirin can also be related to episodes in adults who are sensitive to aspirin. Irritants
in the environment can also bring on an asthma episode. These irritants may include
paint fumes, smog, aerosol sprays and even perfume. ..."
http://www.aafa.org/templ/display.cfm?id=25
ConsumerAffairs.com
Perfume Hazards Health Concerns
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/health/perfume_3.htm
East Bay Express
http://eastbayexpress.com/
I've searched EPA from time to time over the years for word of perfume pollution. I admit
I do not do regular checks, certainly not daily, nor even monthly. But, I must say, I am so very
pleased to see that at least one government agency charged with protecting public health is starting
to let the public know that perfume pollutes. What we need is for the FDA to inform the public of
the various adverse health events that can be associated with the using of perfumed products
or breathing perfume used by others. Until such time, think of perfume as a timebomb in a
bottle . . . for you and those around you. There are safer alternatives. Be a wise shopper. -- barb; 9/25/04
FamilyPractice.com
Occupational Acute Anaphylactic Reaction to Assault by Perfume Spray in the Face
By James E. Lessenger, MD, From a private practice.
".... Conclusion
"Sprayed perfumes can now be added to the long list of methods of occupational
assault. The many organic compounds present in perfumes have been documented
to cause or exacerbate asthma, eczema, or dermatitis. This case represents an incident
of acute asthmatic symptoms in a person with pollen allergies when exposed to a large
amount of perfume. ..."
http://www.familypractice.com/references/referencesframe.htm?main=/journal/2001/v14.n02/1402.07/art-1402.07.htm
EHN's FDA Petition -- see the right hand column of the Analysis Summary
Chemicals discovered with info from available MSDS, e.g.: "The chemical, physical, and
toxicological properties have not been thoroughly investigated." Also, you will notice
all of the chemicals listed on the EPA's Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Inventory
and on the Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances (RTECS). -- barb
http://www.ehnca.org/FDApetition/analysis.htm
Environmental Protection Agency
Health Care Without Harm's The Issue
Links out to more info on Cleaners & Disinfectants, Fragrances and Pesticides
http://www.noharm.org/pesticidesCleaners/issue
Research
A long list of valuable links . . . well worth a visit! -- barb
http://www.geocities.com/fragranceallergy/Research.html
Selected Abstracts on the Health Effects of Perfume
http://www.herc.org/news/perfume/abstracts.htm
Wanna know why? Check out EHN's FDA Petition, especially the Analysis Summary.
Then put "99P-1340 in the subject line and email the FDA fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
http://www.ehnca.org/FDApetition/bkgrinfo.htm
Also underIndoor Air Tips for People With Allergies and Asthma
http://www.lungusa.org/press/association/asnairt.html
Asthma Rates Climbing Fast
BANGKOK, Thailand, Feb. 17, 2004; CBSNEWS.com
Again, the experts look at everything but fragrances. Fragrances are volatile organic compounds
capable of causing, exacerbating and triggering asthma. Fragrances are released to market without
substantiation of safety. Why don't you look for safer, organic, petrochemical-free detergents and
cleaners, and personal care products that are free of petrochemical-derived scent? -- barb
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/02/17/health/printable600653.shtml
12/2/00 -- Now there's proof positive that our children are being targeted by the fragrance
industry. See Fragrance Foundation's Events for 2000-2001. Scroll down to
March 2001.
This site is set up in frames. It is likely to beam up on, "Holiday '99: Malicious Lies &
Tantalizing Truths - The Fragrance Foundation and the New York Times invite you
to the first meeting of the New Millennium," so click on "Back to Events" and then
click on "Fragrance
Foundation's Events for 2000-2001." By the way, if you ever have
wondered why the truth about the toxicity of fragrances is not readily available through the
media, this should give you a clue. NY Times! Malicious Lies -- what the
advertising? The REAL truth is far from tantalizing. For the REAL TRUTH, visit the Citizens'
Petition currently before the US FDA at http://users.lmi.net/~wilworks/FDApetition/bkgrinfo.htm -- barb
Start page 247:
http://books.nap.edu/books/0309064961/html/247.html#pagetop
Start page 400:
http://books.nap.edu/books/0309064961/html/400.html#pagetop
Breathing polluted air
Inhaling irritants such as perfume and cleaning products ...
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/articles/43626-2.asp
Halton Healthcare
http://www.haltonhealthcare.com
"Excessive use of deodorants, perfume etc should be discouraged. ..."
http://www.agius.com/hew/resource/iaqimp.htm
PDF: file: http://www.tilia.se/books/intheairbeawareeng1.pdf
"Researchers at the Tulane University Medical Centre evaluated 77 asthmatic individuals, 77% of whom indicated they were allergic to fragrances. Of the 38 fragrances identified as causing reactions, the top six were Red, White Diamonds, Giorgio, Charlie, Opium and Poison."
http://www.medicalpost.com/mpcontent/article.jsp?content=/content/EXTRACT/RAWART/3612/17A.html
|
I had problems with how that study was performed -- and wrote to both American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology when that study was released, and to Tulane. In your piece, you've quoted:
"Fifteen subjects were randomly exposed for 20 minutes at a time to each of these fragrances in an inhalation chamber. Spirometry was performed during the last 10 minutes." The subjects were not only exposed for ONLY 20 minutes at a time, but then -- and this is crucial information -- "After each exposure, the chamber was flushed with filtered air."
I ask you, in what real-life perfume exposure situation does the person suffering an adverse event as a result of the toxic chemicals volatilizing off of our modern synthetic scents get to have his/her breathing space flushed with filter air? And that is after an exposure of ONLY 20 minutes! ... -- barb |
Asthma Causes
Scented products are listed under IRRITANTS
http://dci.nhlbi.nih.gov/Diseases/Asthma/Asthma_Causes.html
