Fragrance Free School Policy??

[pwdgroup]

Source: Associated Press

"ST. PAUL, Minn. — Those all-over body sprays that promise to turn teenage boys into babe magnets? Instead of attracting girls, they could be making them sick.

A Minnesota lawmaker proposed a bill Monday urging a fragrance-free educational campaign to discourage students from dousing themselves in scents that aggravate classmates with asthma and other health problems.

Odors that fill hallways come mostly from boys who douse themselves in body sprays like Axe, said Mikolai Altenberg, a senior at Minneapolis South High School. He said the smell is "indescribable" and unavoidable.

"You can smell it from 10 feet away," Altenberg said. "Mostly it's just guys who just think that putting Axe all over them is a substitute for showering."

Rep. Karen Clark, a Democrat, first proposed banning fragrances in Minneapolis schools, one of the state's largest school districts. The bill she introduced Monday scales that back to an awareness campaign in Minneapolis and in other districts that volunteer. The campaign could include letters to parents, fact sheets, signs in schools, e-mail and Web sites.

One in eight Minneapolis students has asthma, and school nurses have treated students for wheezing and headaches brought on by the fragrances wafting from classmates, said Mary Heiman, a nursing service manager who runs the district's asthma program.

An awareness campaign would mirror the approach of policies at the University of Minnesota's Disability Services office and in a recent version of the Minneapolis teachers contract.

If the awareness campaign works, it could be expanded, Clark said.

A trade group for toiletry makers, the Personal Care Products Council in Washington, said it doesn't oppose fragrance policies as long as they're voluntary.

"We really don't think it's a good idea to legislate personal hygiene," said John Hurson, the group's head of government affairs.

Rhode Island and Massachusetts are the only other states where lawmakers have proposed fragrance-free bills in the past two years, Hurson said."


Read more: http://www.wral.com/news/national_world/national/story/2552441/

---

I think Ive heard it all. Lawmakers in Minnesota want to implement a ban on anytype of body sprays and fragrances stating these "odors" are creating possible health issue. I guess the smell of "BO" and the clanging of "bling-bling" will be OK.

Hey, how about guns that have been well oiled down? Those smell too. Will they need a "BO Patrol"

Im sure there are a lot of pros-cons to this but, whats next? No Scooby-Doo lunch box's? Must not be much to worry about for Minnesota lawmakers these days.

THIS IS SOMETHING FOR EACH SCHOOL, NOT LAWMAKERS TO DECIDE. Yes it can smell, and yes it could be a little much. But schools should make the decision. Does it need to be a LAW?

[joeybee12]

1. Have you ever been to a bar or club that outlawed this?

I guess the idea of a closed space and all...don't see how that could happen in a school unless it's REALLY over-crowded.

[saigon68]

2. Why not----- these idiots legislate everything else too

Do they then hire "EXTRA SECURITY" to arrest the "law breakers"

[Randomthought]

3. It's an awareness campaign

Not a ban. There is certainly nothing wrong with making people aware that their cosmetics can be harmful to others. Ever been stuck on an elevator with some of those perfumes?
BTW I live in Minnesota and Karen Clark is a good friend. She wouldn't be doing this unless it was a very real problem.

[Duppers]

42. Thank You! Some important info.....

FRAGRANCE CHEMICALS AS TOXIC SUBSTANCES:

Acetaldehyde - found in perfume, dyes, fruit and fish preservatives, and flavor fragrances, which produces a fruity odor. It is a suspected animal carcinogen and has been classified in Group B2 as a probable human carcinogen of low carcinogenic hazard by the EPA. It can cause eye, skin and respiratory tract irritation. No information is available on the reproductive or developmental effects of acetaldehyde in humans; however studies in animals have shown that acetaldehyde has crossed the placenta to the fetus.

Acetone - found in cologne, dishwashing detergent, nail enamel remover, and cosmetics. Inhalation can cause dizziness, nausea, drowsiness, loss of coordination, eye, nose and throat irritation and in severe cases tremors and coma. Acetone is on the Hazardous Substance List because it is flammable.

Acetonitrile - found in perfume, dyes, and pharmaceuticals. It can cause irritation of the mucous membranes, weakness, headaches, tremor, numbness, and nausea. High concentrations can cause convulsions and death.

Benzaldehyde - found in perfume, hairspray, laundry bleach, deodorants, detergents, shampoo, soap, dishwasher detergent. It can be a sensitizer, also causing eye, throat, lung, and skin irritation. It may cause kidney damage.

Benzyl Acetate - found in perfume, cologne, fabric softener, after shave, deodorants, hairspray, bleach, air freshener. Inhalation can cause eye, throat and respiratory irritation.

Benzyl Alcohol - found in perfume, cologne. shampoo, air fresheners, laundry bleach, detergent, fabric softener, deodorants, soap, nail enamel remover, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and ointments. It can cause dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, dizziness, weakness, skin, eye, mucous membrane and respiratory tract irritation.

Benzyl chloride - found in perfume, dyes, pharmaceuticals, and a flavor fragrance. It was formerly used as an irritant gas in chemical warfare. It can cause skin, eye, lung, and mucous membrane irritation, dizziness, headache, fatigue, and is a suspected animal carcinogen. The EPA has classified benzyl chloride as a Group B2, which is a probable human carcinogen of low carcinogenic hazard.

Camphor - found in perfume, fabric softener, shaving cream, nail polish, air fresheners, and dishwasher detergent. It can cause eye, nose and throat irritation, dizziness, nausea, confusion, and tremors.

Cinnamaldehyde - found in perfume and flavors. It can cause eye, nose, skin and respiratory tract irritation.

Citronella - found in perfume, fabric softener, shampoo, and nail enamel remover. It can cause eye, nose, skin and respiratory tract irritation.

Dimethyl sulfate - found in perfume, dyes, and pharmaceuticals. It was formally used in chemical warfare. It is a suspected animal carcinogen and a Group B2, probable human carcinogen. It can also cause eye, mouth, skin, and respiratory tract irritation. Severe exposure may cause lung, heart, kidney and central nervous system damage, convulsions, delirium, paralysis, coma, and even death.

Ethanol - found in perfume, hairspray, shampoo, air fresheners, nail polish, nail enamel remover, laundry detergent, shaving cream, and dishwashing detergent. It can cause lung, kidney and liver damage, fatigue, nausea, tremors, anemia, respiratory tract irritation, and conjunctivitis.

Limonene - found in perfume, flavor fragrances, soap, deodorant, nail polish and remover, fabric softener, air freshener, aftershave, dishwasher detergent, waterless hand cleaners, and pesticides. Limonene is used for its lemon-like flavor and odor. It is a known animal carcinogen, yet it is widely used in insect repellents for flea control on pets such as cats and dogs. It can be a skin, eye, nose, throat and respiratory tract irritant and it can cause headaches. It is a skin sensitizer.

Linalool - found in perfume, cologne, air freshener, aftershave, shaving cream, soap, hand lotion, fabric softener, laundry detergent, and dishwashing liquid. It can cause central nervous system damage such as confusion, depression, and dizziness.

Methylene chloride (dichloromethane) - found in some shampoos, cologne, and paint and varnish remover. In 1988 it was banned by the FDA; however in a 1991 EPA Report on Fragrances, methylene chloride was still found in fragranced products. In this report, methylene chloride was listed as one of the 20 most common chemicals found in fragranced products. It is carcinogenic, and can cause headache, numbness, irritability, fatigue, confusion, and central nervous system damage, eye and skin irritation. Severe exposure can cause unconsciousness and death.

Musk ambrette - found in perfume. It has been proven to cause central nervous system damage, weight loss and muscle weakness in laboratory animals.

Musk tetralin (AETT) - was found in perfume, aftershave lotions, colognes, creams, and was used as a masking agent in unscented products. This chemical was found to cause irritability, degeneration of the brain neurons and changes in the spinal cord in laboratory animals. This chemical was voluntarily withdrawn by the fragrance industry in 1977 but it has not been banned by the FDA. It can be reintroduced into the fragrance industry at any time and there are no guarantees that it is not being used now.

Styrene oxide - found in perfume and cosmetics. It can cause skin and eye irritation. In animals it is known to be a central nervous system depressant.

a-Terpineol - found in perfume, cologne, fabric softener, air fresheners, soap, hairspray, laundry detergent and bleach, and aftershave. It produces a lilac odor. It can cause eye, nose, skin, and respiratory irritation, headache, depression and central nervous system damage.

Toluene (methyl benzene) - found in perfume, soap, cosmetics, nail polish removers, detergents, dyes, aerosol spray paints, paint strippers, spot removers, gasoline, antifreeze, and explosives. Petroleum crude oil is the largest source of toluene. It can cause damage to the lungs, liver, kidneys, heart, and central nervous system, skin and eye irritation, numbness, dizziness, tremors, headaches, confusion, unconsciousness and death. Chronic exposure can cause loss of memory and muscle control, brain damage, problems with speech, hearing and vision.

It is interesting to note that toluene was detected in every fragrance sample collected by the Environmental Protection Agency for a 1991 report.


References:
"Acetone Material Safety Data Sheet." New Jersey Department of Health: Right to Know Program. NJ. 1986.
"Acetonitrile." United Air Toxics Website. Environmental Protection Agency. Available: http://www.epa.gov/ttnuatw1/hlthef/acetonit.html
"Benzyl Alcohol." Available: www.chem.utah.edu
"Benzyl Chloride." United Air Toxics Website. Environmental Protection Agency. Available: http://www.epa.gov/ttnuatw1/hlthef/benzylch.html
"Chemicals in the Environment: Methylene Chloride." Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1994.
"Chemicals in the Environment: Toluene." Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1994.
"Citronella Material Safety Data Sheet." The Good Scents Company. Oak Creek; Wis. 1977.
"Cinnamaldehyde Material Safety Data Sheet." NTP Chemical Repository, Radian Corporation. 1991.
"Dimethyl Sulfate." United Air Toxics Website. Environmental Protection Agency. Available: http://www.epa.gov/ttnuatw1/hlthef/di-sulfa.html
Kendall, Julia. "Making Sense of Scents." Citizens for a Toxic-Free Marin. Available: http:www.supernet.net/~jackibar/perfume.html
Kendall, Julia. "No Perfume Means Healthier Air." Citizens for a Toxic-Free Marin. Available: http:www.supernet.net/~jackibar/perfume.html
"D-Limonene - Techmical Grade Material Safety Data Sheet." Flordia Chemcial Co. Inc. Available: www.pdc.cornell.edu
"2-Methoxyethanol and 2-Ethoxyethanol)Glycol Ethers." United Air Toxics Website. Environmental Protection Agency. Available: http://www.epa.gov/ttnuatw1/hlthef/glycolet.html
"R.E.D. Facts Limonene." United States Prevention, Pesticides EPA -738-F-94-030 Environmental Protection and Toxic Substances Agency. Environmental Protection Agency. Washington. DC. 1994.
"Styrene Oxide." ." United Air Toxics Website. Environmental Protection Agency. Available: http://www.epa.gov/ttnuatw1/hlthef/styreneo.html
"Toluene Material Safety Data Sheet." New Jersey Department of Health: Right to Know Program. NJ. 1986.
"Uses and Safety: National Toxicology Program Reports" Fragranced Products Information Network. Available: http://pw1.netcom.com/~bcb56/use_safety.html
Wallace, Lance. "Identification of Polar Volatile Organic Compounds in Consumer Products and Common Microenvironments." Environmental Protection Agency; Washington, DC. 1991.

http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/education/CASLE/fragrance.html

.........

HOW TOLUENE ENTERS AND AFFECTS YOUR BODY

Toluene enters your body when it evaporates into the air you breathe. Toluene can also be absorbed through your skin, especially with lengthy skin contact.

Overexposure to toluene mainly affects the central nervous system (the brain), causing headache, nausea, dizziness, clumsiness, drowsiness, and other effects like those of drunkenness. Other symptoms can also occur, as described below.

Nervous System: Toluene, like most organic solvents, can affect your brain the same way drinking alcohol does. Drinking alcohol within a few hours of exposure increases these effects and makes them last longer, because the effects of alcohol and other organic solvents on the brain add together. The symptoms of short-term overexposure usually clear up within hours after exposure stops. Effects occur more quickly and become more noticeable and serious as the level and time of exposure increase. These symptoms can increase your chances of having accidents.

The table below lists exposure levels at which various effects of toluene are likely to appear. The table gives exposure levels in "ppm" ("parts per million" - the number of parts of toluene in each million parts of air).

Most experts believe that repeated, frequent overexposure to organic solvents over months or years can have long-lasting and possibly permanent effects on the nervous system. The symptoms of these long-term effects include fatigue, sleeplessness, poor coordination, difficulty in concentrating, loss of short-term memory, and personality changes such as depression, anxiety, and irritability. We do not know at what exposure levels these effects occur, and the effects have not been studied in workers exposed only to toluene.

Nervous Systems Effects of Toluene

Level Effects of 8-Hour Average Exposure
100 ppm headache, dizziness, drowsiness, fatigue
200 ppm nausea, weakness, poor coordination, numbness,
tingling,
600 ppm sleepiness, lack of emotional control, staggering
800 ppm severe nervousness, muscular fatigue, insomnia
which lasts for days
>10,000 ppm loss of consciousness, death


Skin: Toluene, like other organic solvents, can dissolve your skin's natural protective oils. Frequent or prolonged skin contact can cause irritation and dermatitis (skin rash), with dryness, redness, flaking, and cracking of the skin. Toluene penetrates most ordinary clothing (see "Personal Protective Equipment," page 4) and can get trapped in gloves and boots. Such exposure can cause burns and blistering.

Eyes, Nose, and Throat: Toluene in the air can irritate your eyes, nose, and throat. Liquid toluene splashed in the eye can sting, and may slightly damage the surface of the eye, but the eye usually heals within a few days.

Hearing: One study suggested that toluene, and possibly other organic solvents, may be able to cause hearing loss.

Lungs: Exposure to toluene at high levels can irritate the lungs, causing chest pain and shortness of breath. Extreme overexposure (for example, in an enclosed or confined space) can cause pulmonary edema, a potentially life-threatening condition in which the lungs fill with fluid. However, there is no evidence that repeated, low-level exposure has any long-term effects on the lung.

Liver and Kidneys: At very high levels of exposure - such as might occur in an enclosed space or during a spill - toluene can injure the liver and kidneys. This is extremely unlikely to occur without substantial effects on the nervous system first. Generally, such liver or kidney damage is not permanent.

Cancer: In a U.S. National Toxicology Program test, rats and mice exposed to high levels of toluene in the air throughout most of their lives did not show any sign of increased cancer rates. There is no good reason to believe that toluene causes cancer. However, toluene is often contaminated with small amounts of benzene, which is a known cause of leukemia and other cancers. In a workplace where toluene is used, a proper health and safety evaluation should consider the possibility of benzene exposure.

Genetic Changes: Most studies show that toluene does not easily damage the genes or chromosomes, although at least one study found minor effects among workers exposed to high concentrations for 10-20 years.

Reproductive System: Toluene's effects on the reproductive system have not been thoroughly studied. A number of women who have abused toluene throughout their pregnancy (by sniffing glue or paint) have had children with birth defects and delayed development. Toluene is on the State of California's Prop 65 list of chemicals known to harm the developing fetus. We don't know whether normal workplace exposure to toluene can affect pregnancy or other reproductive function. Pregnant and nursing women should avoid overexposure to toluene.

http://www.dhs.ca.gov/ohb/HESIS/toluene.htm

AND here: http://www.epa.gov/chemfact/f_toluen.txt


=====
And from: Tips for Chronic Fatigue Patients, May, 2004:

The immune system and the body's detoxification pathways must work overtime to deal with environmental pollutants and chemicals. Avoiding all toxic substances is impossible, but we need to exercise caution to minimize adding to total body load. Sensitivities to chemicals are common, including perfumes and colognes, petrochemicals (e.g., gasoline, exhaust fumes), hairsprays, pesticides, formaldehyde, and cleaning products.

(Source: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and Other Invisible Illnesses: The Comprehensive Guide. By Katrina Berne, Ph.D. Published by Hunter House and available at www.hunterhouse.com )

(Note I suffer with CFS or CFIDS and I cannot bear to be around ANY scents, not because I dislike them but because they make me SICK!)

[AirmensMom]

4. It's not the smell.

It's the chemical soup that makes the smell. Why is that so hard for people to understand?

[uppityperson]

31. It is the chemicals. Most cheap scents are made from nasty chemicals, petrochemicals, etc.

More people have asthma, more getting sensitive to chemicals, it seems like a good idea. I wonder if people understand that these products are only slightly regulated?

[AirmensMom]

35. I doubt they understand.

People who are not yet affected by the chemicals tend to think that only safe products are sold in the good old USA. And they think the rest of us are just crazy. What's sad is that babies and small children are being exposed to these chemicals.

[Donnachaidh]

5. Have you ever walked down a crowded school hall filled with that noxious shit?

I guess if teenage boys are stupid enough to buy into the babe magnet advertising, it's okay to create a hazard for anyone with asthma or breathing problems?

All the axe in the world isn't going to get these jerks laid, despite what the pr firm says. And it does cause problems for other kids who are asthmatic. And there are some of these jokers who think it's *funny* to spray that crap on other kids who do not use it.

It's not just Minnesota having the problem.

[Bruce McAuley]

6. I'm all for it.

My wife can't go out in large crowds because of the "fragrance bomb" people walking around who have no concept of the damage they cause to others.
They use a lot of the same stuff to make nerve gas.
Even people who use "bounce" in their dryers are not allowed in our house for long.
Some people are oblivious to scents and smells though, about the same percentage who are extremely allergic to them, IMO. They cause real respiratory damage to those sensitives though.
Nothing to laugh about.

Bruce

[ET Awful]

8. My girlfriends mom is very allergic to many perfumes/scents, etc.

She can wind up in the hospital if she has to breath it too long.

I know of at least 5 other people in my circle of acquaintances with similar allergies.

I find the "overscenting" of some people to be just as offensive as cigarette smoke, and it's just as likely to make someone ill who has asthma or other breathing ailments.

I'm all for it as well.

[mac2]

16. I agree.

[otohara]

20. At My Dr. Office Yesterday - Med Asst. Doused

in perfume. Of course I got a terrible headache, which took 3 doses of migraine medicine to finally go away, but not until after 10PM. Those pills are pricey - and they only allow 18 per month for me. Luckily they gave me some samples, but I'd rather not have had my whole day ruined with a headache.

When the doctor came in I complained. Of all places to ban toxic fragrances, it would be a place where sick people come.

[catgirl]

12. I have the same problem your wife has

I don't go to the movies anymore and I wear turtlenecks on airplanes (to
pull up over my nose). Dozens of the chemicals found in synthetic fragrance
products in the U.S. are banned in Europe. There are no regulations in the
cosmetics industry in the states.

Cat litter with deodorizing agents is really bad too. In the clumping litter,
there is a chemical that can cause lung cancer! No regulations in this
industry either, although studies have proven that these products can
cause deadly diseases.

[truedelphi]

37. I am glad to find that most people posting here are aware of the problem

I was expecting a lot of people to be angry abt limiting people's "right to spray benzenes and formaldehydes all over their persons."

I'm sad to realize that so many people are suffering from Multiple Chem Sensitivity, though.

[Norrin Radd]

7. Brings back memories of junior high and high school in the late 80's...

clouds of hair spray billowing from the girl's locker room door as we walked by (after escaping the fumes of spray-on deodorant and Polo cologne in the boy's locker room).

[shanti]

28. yes, junior high school

is where most of this happens! my son was big into axe back then!

[Recursion]

40. In 8th grade I was late to sign up for the band bus seating...

...and I wound up on the bus with all the flag girls.

This was 1990, when girls' hair generally looked like this:



Oh. My. God.

Even today the slightest smell of hairspray gives me flashbacks.

[peace13]

9. Smoke..purfume it is all the same to my lungs.

If I have to spend any amount of time with either one I will be sick for days. Unfortunately smokers and scented people do not understand or often care what happens to me. It is their right. We sold our office condo last year and for a period of time after that we shared the space with the new owner who has a scented employee. It was then that I realized that I could not work in an office with scented people. Is that a disability, you tell me. Peace, Kim

[catgirl]

13. It is a disability.

And if an employee has asthma and complains about someone
with too much fragrance, the company should ask the person
to stop wearing it.

On job applications, some companies ask the prospective employee
if he/she smokes. They should ask the same about fragrance (not
real perfume where natural oils are used).

Restaurants and hotels should have fragrance-free areas/rooms.

[otohara]

22. Re: Natural Oils

for me, it depends on which oil. Citrus oils from lemon, grapefruit, orange don't bother me, but petuli oil and other musky oils will give me a headache. The first thing I do when I get my Vanity Fair magazine is tear out all the perfume ads.

[catgirl]

33. Unfortunately some oils now have synthetic fragrance

It's cheaper to create the scented oil product that way. There
should be a new labeling law at least. Musky oils bother me too.

[troubleinwinter]

39. My husband subscribes to Esquire...

You could smell from 10 feet away from the mailbox the day it arrived. He HATED it. Hated the intense scents wafting from the pages as he tried to enjoy reading. He called the magazine to say that he just didn't want to receive it anymore and why. They told him that he could simply request a 'fragrance-free' version! Now one has to actually OPEN the mailbox to see if it has arrived!

[otohara]

46. Men Fragrances

send me into a whirly state, then the headache comes. My kid went through a stage in high school where he and everyone of his friends were piling on the AXE. I nearly axed him from living here - Today he is older/wiser and besides that, he doesn't smell.

[shanti]

29. some places of employment

ARE fragrance-free. my sis worked for a company that had an employee with fragrance related allergies, so NOBODY could wear any in the office. when the employee left, they allowed them again! unreal, huh?

[catgirl]

34. It's great

And I think a town near Nova Scotia (?) has similar rules in office buildings. I saw
it featured on a 60 Minutes type show a while ago.

[Akoto]

10. I wouldn't have minded this in school.

Of course, I tend to be allergic to a lot of colognes/perfumes, so I'm biased. Sneezing all day and developing migraines sucks. ;)

[mac2]

17. When I went to school students or teachers didn't wear

heavy perfume. So it was not a problem.

I find it a problem in resturants and movie theaters.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

11. It's not a "possible" health issue and it's not the fucking SMELL that's the problem!

And it doesn't matter if it's a commonly accepted "good" smell or a "bad" smell. It's chemicals used to create the scents that cause the adverse reactions.

[catgirl]

14. Fragrance is one of the #1 asthma triggers. (nt)

[Gidney N Cloyd]

15. I'm definitely aware of that.

I don't have asthma myself but certain (not all) fragrances send me into coughing fits.

[tblue37]

18. I teach college English. I have asked my own students to avoid wearing

perfume in class, and I quit wearing even a touch of perfume myself many years ago.

A lot of people these days have developed chemical sensitivities because of all the crap we are exposed to. I have had to provide make-up in-class essays for students who couldn't sit in class because of the fact that their classmates' perfume was making them sick.

I don't forbid my students to wear perfume, but I remind them that we are in a closed space, and that their perfume could easily be causing others to suffer headaches, nausea, and asthma attacks. I have found my stuents to be strikingly cooperative on this issue.

The school could conduct a survey, with students anonymously indicating whether they found these fragrances attractive and wwhether they found them unpleasant or were made sick by them. I think the people who use them would be surprised to find out how many of their peers are turned off rather than turned on by their smell.

[Xithras]

32. I teach college CS. Perfume wearing students are asked to go to the back of the room.

I have a low tolerance for perfumes and colognes as they irritate my allergies. People are free to wear whatever they want, but when their odors are causing me to sneeze every five seconds and are disrupting the class, I have to send them to the back wall. I've had more than a few students get indignant and offended over the request (two have even complained to my dean), but it's my prerogative in my class and a students personal hygiene cannot be permitted to disrupt the class for all the other students. Whether it's Axe or Chantilly, they're sitting along the back wall. They can smell good as a group, as far away from me as possible.\

Interestingly, BO doesn't trigger my allergies the way perfumes and colognes do. BO still stinks, but there's something different about it.

[Warpy]

19. Oh, please

The bane of my existence in high school and the first year of college was Jade East (shows you how old I am), a heavy, cloying stench that males bathed in to become babe magnets. It made me nauseated and it was all I could do to hold onto breakfast, so I stopped eating it for the duration.

Eventually they got the message that there was a difference between smelling good and smelling to high heaven and moderated the amount they sloshed on.

The high school kids dousing themselves in Axe and the other clones will eventually get the message, too, as they see the targets of their consumerism hold their noses and edge away.

Nanny statism isn't needed here, just a life lesson from a nauseated girl or two.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

23. Again, it's not about the smell being heavy or 'icky.' It's a chemical issue.

The ever-increasing amounts of synthetic (and unregulated) ingredients being used in fragrances is causing more and more people to have serious adverse physical reactions. The tight buildings most of us work and live in these days just exacerbate the problem.

[otohara]

27. 20 Most Common Chemicals in 31 Fragrance Products

(and Other Scented Products)

These 3 are Main Ones in Most products people use everyday, shampoos, toothpastes, cleaning gels, deodorant and beauty products::

COCOAMIDE DEA (diethylalomine) TEA, MEA,-- detergent in most shampoos, moisturizers and more

PROPYLENE GLYCOL - industrial antifreeze- in deodorant, shampoos, shaving gels, moisturizers and more...

SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE-AND FLUORIDE garage floor cleansers, detergents- in shampoos, toothpastes, more...

1. ACETONE (in: cologne, dishwashing liquid and detergent, nail enamel remover)

On EPA, RCRA, CERCLA Hazardous Waste lists. "Inhalation can cause dryness of the mouth and throat; dizziness, nausea, incoordination, slurred speech, drowsiness, and, in severe exposures, coma." "Acts primarily as a central nervous system (CNS) depressant."

2. BENZALDEHYDE (in: perfume, cologne, hairspray, laundry bleach, deodorants, detergent, vaseline lotion, shaving cream, shampoo, bar soap, dishwasher detergent)

Narcotic. Sensitizer. "Local anesthetic, CNS depressant"... "irritation to the mouth, throat, eyes, skin, lungs, and GI tract, causing nausea and abdominal pain." "May cause kidney damage." "Do not use with contact lenses."

3. BENZYL ACETATE (in: perfume, cologne, shampoo, fabric softener, stickup air freshener, dishwashing liquid and detergent, soap, hairspray, bleach, after shave, deodorants)

Carcinogenic (linked to pancreatic cancer); "From vapors: irritating to eyes and respiratory passages, exciting cough." "In mice: hyperanemia of the lungs." "Can be absorbed through the skin causing systemic effects." "Do not flush to sewer."

4. BENZYL ALCOHOL (in: perfume, cologne, soap, shampoo, nail enamel remover, air freshener, laundry bleach and detergent, vaseline lotion, deodorants, fabric softener)

"irritating to the upper respiratory tract" ..."headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, drop in blood pressure, CNS depression, and death in severe cases due to respiratory failure."

5. CAMPHOR (in: perfume, shaving cream, nail enamel, fabric softener, dishwasher detergent, nail color, stickup air freshener)

"local irritant and CNS stimulant" ..."readily absorbed through body tissues" ..."irritation of eyes, nose and throat" ..."dizziness, confusion, nausea, twitching muscles and convulsions" "Avoid inhalation of vapors."

6. ETHANOL (in: perfume, hairspray, shampoo, fabric softener, dishwashing liquid and detergent, laundry detergent, shaving cream, soap, vaseline lotion, air fresheners, nail color and remover, paint and varnish remover)

On EPA Hazardous Waste list; symptoms: "...fatigue; irritating to eyes and upper respiratory tract even in low concentrations..." "Inhalation of ethanol vapors can have effects similar to those characteristic of ingestion. These include an initial stimulatory effect followed by drowsiness, impaired vision, ataxia, stupor..." Causes CNS disorder.

7. ETHYL ACETATE (in: after shave, cologne, perfume, shampoo, nail color, nail enamel remover, fabric softener, dishwashing liquid)

Narcotic. On EPA Hazardous Waste list; "...irritating to the eyes and respiratory tract" ..."may cause headache and narcosis (stupor)" ..."defatting effect on skin and may cause drying and cracking" ..."may cause anemia with leukocytosis and damage to liver and kidneys" "Wash thoroughly after handling."

8. LIMONENE (in: perfume, cologne, disinfectant spray, bar soap, shaving cream, deodorants, nail color and remover, fabric softener, dishwashing liquid, air fresheners, after shave, bleach, paint and varnish remover)

Carcinogenic. "Prevent its contact with skin or eyes because it is an irritant and sensitizer." "Always wash thoroughly after using this material and before eating, drinking, ...applying cosmetics. Do not inhale limonene vapor."

9. LINALOOL (in: perfume, cologne, bar soap, shampoo, hand lotion, nail enamel remover, hairspray, laundry detergent, dishwashing liquid, vaseline lotion, air fresheners, bleach powder, fabric softener, shaving cream, after shave, solid deodorant)

Narcotic. ..."respiratory disturbances" ... "Attracts bees." "In animal tests: ataxic gait, reduced spontaneous motor activity and depression ... development of respiratory disturbances leading to death." ..."depressed frog-heart activity." Causes CNS disorder.

10. METHYLENE CHLORIDE (in: shampoo, cologne, paint and varnish remover)

Banned by the FDA in 1988! No enforcement possible due to trade secret laws protecting chemical fragrance industry. On EPA, RCRA, CERCLA Hazardous Waste lists. "Carcinogenic" ..."Absorbed, stored in body fat, it metabolizes to carbon monoxide, reducing oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood." "Headache, giddiness, stupor, irritability, fatigue, tingling in the limbs." Causes CNS disorder.

11. a-PINENE (in: bar and liquid soap, cologne, perfume, shaving cream, deodorants, dishwashing liquid, air freshener)

Sensitizer (damaging to the immune system).

12. g-TERPINENE (in: cologne, perfume, soap, shaving cream, deodorant, air freshener)

"Causes asthma and CNS disorders."

13. a-TERPINEOL (in: perfume, cologne, laundry detergent, bleach powder, laundry bleach, fabric softener, stickup air freshener, vaseline lotion, cologne, soap, hairspray, after shave, roll-on deodorant)

..."highly irritating to mucous membranes"... "Aspiration into the lungs can produce pneumonitis or even fatal edema." Can also cause "excitement, ataxia (loss of muscular coordination), hypothermia, CNS and respiratory depression, and headache." "Prevent repeated or prolonged skin contact."

http://www.ourlittleplace.com/chemicals.html

[KT2000]

36. Thank you for posting

this.

[Duppers]

43. Thanks, otohara

I wouldn't have gone into the details I did posting above had I just scrolled and read your post.

But thanks. Folks need to know all of this.

[dipsydoodle]

21. Is farting banned too ?

:shrug:

[otohara]

24. Funny Ha, Ha

Chemical sensitivity is no laughing matter to those of us who suffer various side effects of toxic fragrances. Some are even sent to the emergency room for respiratory and migraine, all caused by the fragrance overkill in this country.

[Captain Angry]

25. When people stop being polite.

Not so long ago, you could tell somebody that the lotion they were slathering on their hands smelled so bad it was burning your sinuses.

I've had to breathe through my shirt to filter out the smell since I couldn't leave the room at the time.

It's called consideration, which is a dead art. Since people tend not to be respectful of people around them, silly and unenforceable laws hit the books.

[JCMach1]

26. The schools themselves are most likely more toxic to asthma sufferers than scents

Schools are a vast breeding ground for mold and everything else you can imagine!

[PDJane]

30. Local hospitals and clinics

already have that rule in place here, and have for years. I appreciate it, since anything at all with white lillies is a migraine trigger.

I don't take cabs if they have an "air freshener" in them, try to avoid public transit during school hours, and generally avoid malls as much as I can.

It's not as outrageous a ruling as it might sound at first; education is the key.

[orleans]

38. i spent my childhood growing up sneezing from the cloud of perfumes and

sprays my parents used.

i'd have a sneeze attack every morning, and blow my nose into perfume scented puffs. it took YEARS to figure out what was provoking the asthma and sneezing fits.

[Kerrytravelers]

41. As someone who use to be in the classroom, I think this is a pretty good idea.

Nothing is worse than being in a confined, small space with kids who don't wear deodorant but do wear a ton of fragrances.

I taught elementary, and even at that young of an age, both the girls and the boys are into fragrances. They like to sneak it to school and douse themselves in it. I actually had to go home one day because of the headache it caused me.

My grandmother was so allergic to fragrances, she couldn't walk down the laundry detergent aisle in a grocery store. I am just about that bad. I can't go inside Yankee Candle or any perfume area in a department store. There is very little I can wear.

[Mabus]

44. I'm not overly sensitive to smells but, sometimes people douse themselves

When you can smell someone's perfume or cologne five minutes after they've left the room, there is a problem. When you get two or three people who douse themselves in various scents and then put them in the same closed room for fifty minutes it can be hard for others to breath.

I've only had one problem with someone's perfume. I was in a class with a seating chart and I ended up behind a woman who just reeked of perfume. It was January and the we were in large enclosed classroom. Every time the heat kicked on everyone behind her would get blasted with perfume. At first, we cut her some slack. It was the beginning of the semester and we all hoped she would cut down on her perfume usage as time went by but she didn't.

Half way through the second week several of us who sat behind asked her if she could go a little lighter on it. She got all offended and said she had every right to wear as much as she wanted. The next day, out of spite, she came in just reeking of her perfume and paid for it. One of the girls sitting near me was pregnant. When the heat kicked on, the pregnant woman got blasted by the odor and started looking really sick. She stood up to leave but didn't make it. She threw up on the offender (and some of secretly cheered). The offender finally got the message and cut back on her perfume.

So, it isn't about controlling what people put on their bodies rather it's about common courtesy. When someone's artificial scent becomes a distraction or has the potential to cause injury to others then something needs to be done.

[TrogL]

45. What a great thread

This is the ammunition I need to get my next door cubicle mate to stop spraying her cubicle with perfume to get rid of a non-existent smell (cigarette smoke) she's hallucinating.

[otohara]

47. Air Fresheners

just in case your cube-mate agrees to stop with the perfume and switch to the much worse air fresheners, Walgreens recently agreed to discontinue selling those little cardboard things, shaped like pine trees, due to the health dangers these items cause.


Environmental groups petition U.S. to regulate air fresheners

A group of heavyweight environmental organizations is asking the federal government to crack down on air fresheners, products that scientific studies show can aggravate asthma and pose other health risks.

In response to the groups' petition filed Wednesday with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Walgreen Co. quickly pulled three of its air fresheners off the shelves of its 5,850 stores nationwide.

The Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club, Alliance for Healthy Homes and the National Center for Healthy Housing filed the petition asking the agencies to more strictly regulate the industry, which is expected to have $1.72 billion in sales this year.

Scented sprays, gels and plug-in fresheners offer no public health benefits yet contain harmful chemicals linked to breathing difficulties, developmental problems in babies and cancer in laboratory animals, according to the petition sent to the two federal agencies.

The environmental groups commissioned independent lab tests of some popular brands and also cited health studies that call into question the safety of some chemicals found in the air fresheners.

In spite of Walgreens' move, representatives of some companies that make air fresheners said their products pose no health risk and help contribute to a better quality of life in many households.

Scott Wolfson, a spokesman for the Consumer Product Safety Commission in Bethesda, Md., said his agency had received the petition. "We take it seriously at this time," he said.

The environmental groups argue that in houses, offices and restrooms, Americans suffer significant exposure "to a veritable cocktail of dangerous and potentially dangerous volatile organic compounds. In cases of mold and damp indoor environments, air fresheners may hide an indicator of potentially serious health threats to the respiratory system."

more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/09/20/MNTLS9GTF.DTL

[TrogL]

50. I already warned her about that

Fabreeze is another culprit. I have no idea why they aren't in court being charged with false advertising.

[windoe]

48. People have been smoking and using perfumes for ages-

but with all the chemicals added to cigarettes and personal products, it is now not just an issue of personal liberty. I can tolerate foreign cigarettes that are just tobacco, and natural perfumes, soaps and scents, natural candles and incense--this has never been a problem for me. These new colognes are another animal altogether- we had to find a way to ask a guest not to use 'high endurance' body wash and cologne since it stayed on towels, bedding, mattress, pillows, car seats and seat belts for a very long time afterward. I actually wondered if he lost his sense of smell.
The legal burden of these social challenges cannot only be on consumers, but on the companies using toxic carcinogenic ingredients in personal products. The increase in allergies is a direct result of an accumulation of indoor and outdoor toxic chemical exposure.
We need to clean up this country, on so many levels.

[eppur_se_muova]

49. ARTIFICIAL Scents are purely optional. Breathing is not.

If there's a conflict, breathing HAS to win.

We wouldn't need to legislate common sense, if only it were actually common.