Fragrances are chemicals and are the top cause of cosmetic allergies, the effects not limited to the user. Just like tobacco, there are "secondhand" implications to anyone within sniffing distance.
Artificial scents are showing up in just about everything (natural scents from flowers and essential oils can be lovely, and can have a very positive effect, but we’ll talk about those another time) and are a growing health concern.
Researchers from the University of West Georgia state that "30.5% of the general population reported scented products on others irritating, 19% reported adverse health effects from air fresheners, and 10.9% reported irritation by scented laundry products vented outside."
An article posted by Health Care Without Harm discusses the downside of fragrances specifically in the Health Care arena, but the problem is not limited to those areas. Artificial fragrances consist of chemicals, and are the top cause of cosmetic allergies. What is worse is that the effects are not limited to the user. Just like tobacco, there are secondhand implications to all those in sniffing distance.
While perfume and cologne are obvious sources, fragrances are often added to
The Problem
“To many people, the word "fragrance" means something that smells nice, such as perfume. We don't often stop to think that scents are chemicals. Fragrance chemicals are organic compounds that volatilize, or vaporize into the air, which is why we can smell them. They are added to products to give them a scent or to mask the odor of other ingredients. The volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) emitted by fragrance products can contribute to poor indoor air quality (IAQ) and are associated with a variety of adverse health effects.
Exposure to fragrance chemicals can cause headaches; eye, nose, and throat irritation; nausea; forgetfulness; loss of coordination; and other respiratory and/or neurotoxic symptoms. Many fragrance ingredients are respiratory irritants and sensitizers, which can trigger asthma attacks and aggravate sinus conditions.”
The Solution
At work, ask your employer to adopt a company-wide fragrance free policy for both employees and maintenance products.
At home, choose personal care products and cleaners that are free of chemical fragrances. The Environmental Working Group has a great website to help you choose.
For the complete Health Care Without Harm article, click here:
Researchers from the University of West Georgia state that "30.5% of the general population reported scented products on others irritating, 19% reported adverse health effects from air fresheners, and 10.9% reported irritation by scented laundry products vented outside."
An article posted by Health Care Without Harm discusses the downside of fragrances specifically in the Health Care arena, but the problem is not limited to those areas. Artificial fragrances consist of chemicals, and are the top cause of cosmetic allergies. What is worse is that the effects are not limited to the user. Just like tobacco, there are secondhand implications to all those in sniffing distance.
While perfume and cologne are obvious sources, fragrances are often added to
- Cleaning Products – bathroom and kitchen products, including toilet, glass and dish cleaners
- Laundry Care Products– detergents, fabric softeners and dryer sheets, all which linger on clothes
- Personal Care Products - hair care, skin care and beauty products
- Air Care Products - Scented candles and air “cleaners” (which don’t “clean” at all – just mask odors)
The Problem
“To many people, the word "fragrance" means something that smells nice, such as perfume. We don't often stop to think that scents are chemicals. Fragrance chemicals are organic compounds that volatilize, or vaporize into the air, which is why we can smell them. They are added to products to give them a scent or to mask the odor of other ingredients. The volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) emitted by fragrance products can contribute to poor indoor air quality (IAQ) and are associated with a variety of adverse health effects.
Exposure to fragrance chemicals can cause headaches; eye, nose, and throat irritation; nausea; forgetfulness; loss of coordination; and other respiratory and/or neurotoxic symptoms. Many fragrance ingredients are respiratory irritants and sensitizers, which can trigger asthma attacks and aggravate sinus conditions.”
The Solution
At work, ask your employer to adopt a company-wide fragrance free policy for both employees and maintenance products.
At home, choose personal care products and cleaners that are free of chemical fragrances. The Environmental Working Group has a great website to help you choose.
- For Cosmetics: EWG's Skin Deep Database
- For Cleaning Products: EWG's Cleaning Product Guide
For the complete Health Care Without Harm article, click here:
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