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Toxic Fragrance Chemicals Cause Over a Dozen Adverse Health Reactions

The AHA! Team — Wed, 29 May 2024 08:10:50 +0000

Lori Alton via NaturalHealth365 – The dangers of secondhand smoke are well known. But what about the dangers of “secondhand scents? According to a recent study published in The Science of The Total Environment, air fresheners can cause severe adverse health effects such as cardiovascular disease, systemic inflammation, and autonomic dysfunction. Another study showed that a stunning 34 percent of the American population suffers adverse effects after exposure to air fresheners and other scented products. Fully half of those affected experience health problems severe enough to be classified as “disabling.” Keep reading to discover how ordinary scented products can present serious risks to environmental quality and your health. Harm caused by fragrance products is at “epidemic” proportions In a population survey published in Air Quality, Atmosphere, and Health, researcher Professor Anne Steinemann examined the impact of common scented products on the health of 1,136 adults in the United States. Dr. Steinemann, an internationally recognized authority on environmental pollutants’ health effects, concluded that these problems’ adverse effects constituted an “epidemic.” Fragrances are found in a wide variety of commercial products, including laundry detergents, fabric softeners, cleaning supplies, air fresheners, shampoos, hair sprays, soaps, perfumes, and scented candles. Exposure also results from the practice known as “scent branding,” in which fragrances are wafted through the entire indoor environments of public spaces such as hotels, airports, and shops. In fact, Dr. Steinemann reported that 99 percent of Americans are regularly exposed to fragrance products – whether through their own use or through involuntary exposure from someone else’s use. The study revealed that almost a quarter of all Americans experience adverse effects from proximity to someone wearing fragrance products – such as perfumes, colognes, or lotions. 19 percent of the population has problems being in a room that has been cleaned with scented products, while a significant 14 percent experience health problems from the scent of laundry products being vented from homes or businesses into the environment. Reactions to fragrances can be debilitating Exposure to synthetic chemicals in fragrances can cause a range of symptoms, including migraines, dizziness, rashes, muscle cramps, mucosal symptoms, and gastrointestinal disturbances such as nausea or diarrhea. Immune system problems – such as swollen lymph glands, fatigue, and fever – can also occur, along with even more serious conditions such as anaphylaxis, loss of consciousness, seizures, and rapid or irregular heartbeat. Dr. Steinemann reported that the most common adverse effects were respiratory problems at 18.6 percent, congestion at 16.2 percent, and migraine headaches at 15.7 percent. Important note: When it comes to triggering asthma attacks, the Institute of Medicine has placed fragrances in the same category as secondhand smoke. For at least half of the individuals affected, the effects are severe enough to be potentially disabling – as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act. In other words, the adverse effects can substantially limit major life activities such as seeing, hearing, eating, walking, learning, reading, communicating, or working. According to the survey, 15 percent of the population reported losing workdays – or even jobs – due to the effects of fragrances. In addition, 22 percent reported having to avoid specific areas because of possible exposure to a fragrance that would sicken them. And 20 percent typically decide to leave an area upon detecting a fragrance. The word “fragrance” is used to disguise a witches’ brew of toxins Outrageously, manufacturers can use a single word – “fragrance” or “perfume” – on a product label in order to designate a cocktail of up to 100 noxious chemicals and synthetic compounds. An analysis of 37 fragrance products showed that they emitted 156 different VOCs (volatile organic compounds), 42 of which are classified as toxic or hazardous under U.S. federal law. Yet, fewer than 3 percent were disclosed on the products’ labels or websites. Fragrance chemicals include human carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, neurotoxins, respiratory irritants, and toxins such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, chloromethane, and ethanol. Toluene, a hazardous waste product that has been shown to damage the central nervous system, is often found in fragrance samples. According to Dr. Steinemann, even low-level exposure to these toxins can cause serious (unwanted) effects like asthma attacks, anaphylaxis, seizures, and unconsciousness. In addition, synthetic fragrances have been linked to adult and childhood cancers, neurological problems, immune system weakening, and autoimmune disorders. Are we really willing to sacrifice our health for the sake of a pleasing scent? Let the buyer beware: Deceptive labels conceal toxins Warning: a label claiming the product is “green,” “natural,” or “organic” is no guarantee of safety – as even products labeled in this way can emit hazardous environmental pollutants. In another example of deceptive labeling, “unscented” products often contain perfume – a “masking fragrance” that hides the telltale scent of the synthetic chemicals. Fortunately, safe alternatives to toxic cleaning supplies and personal care items do exist. Natural health experts advise using non-toxic standbys such as baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, white vinegar, lemon juice, and unscented castile soap – while substances such as rosemary, avocado, and olive oil can be used to create natural beauty products. Dr. Steinemann, who says her study has “important implications for businesses, schools, homes, and other private and public places,” strongly recommends the institution of “fragrance-free” policies. As her study makes clear, most Americans do not want to be assaulted by unwanted fragrances – and many have shown they are willing to vacate the premises to avoid these obnoxious irritants. Maybe businesses and manufacturers will take notice. Sources for this article include: NIH.gov Sciencedirect.com Link.springer.com Link.springer.com Link.springer.com Drsteinemann.com To read the original article click here.

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Unhealthy “Beauty” Products: The Reason You Need to Get Rid of Fragrances

AHA Publisher — Wed, 13 May 2020 07:00:38 +0000

Rhonda Cowan via NaturalHealth365 – Health and beauty products including shampoos, conditioners, makeup, and, most of all, fragrances of any kind are loaded with thousands of toxic chemicals, and America has banned only 9 of these from public use, even though 40 other countries have banned some 1,300 or more chemicals from their products. Why? Indeed, fragrances contain some of the most dangerous toxins to human health – and why use them, really, when there are healthy alternatives we can use to scent our homes and the air about us that do not endanger our health or the health of the planet? Why Would Flammable Ingredients and Formaldehyde Be Inside “Beauty” Products? Fragrances, whether found in perfumes, dish detergent, or air fresheners, typically contain some of the most dangerous and flammable ingredients known to mankind. Some of the big baddies in terms of chemicals are propane, butane, 1, 4-di-chloro-benzene (1,4-DCB), a proven carcinogen, benzene (a known cause of leukemia), formaldehyde (a well-known cause of respiratory cancers in humans), plus too many other chemicals that are not disclosed to the public or researched for their toxic effects on humans. One of the most shocking ingredients in air fresheners and “plug-ins” is naphthalene, a dangerous chemical found chiefly in mothballs and banned from the EU back in 2009. Naphthalene is known to cause aplastic anemia, hemolytic anemia, retinal hemorrhage, cataracts, and is strongly linked to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Synthetic “fragrances” are some of the worst inventions on the planet. They are linked to a long list of frightening health risks, including its neurotoxicity – which can trigger respiratory illnesses of all kinds, including asthma. They are also known hormone disrupting agents that can cause a long list of hormone-based cancers, from breast to prostate cancer. How can this be legal? Supposedly, the United States requires full disclosure of fragrance ingredients if they are used in cosmetics. Really? Well, because fragrance formulas are classified as “trade secrets,” individual components within the fragrance do not have to be disclosed. So either way, we are subjected to an onslaught of harmful chemicals no matter what kind of fragrance product we are using. Keep in mind, those air “fresheners” are completely unregulated. So, What Are Some of the More Dangerous Chemicals in Fragrance? The biggest offenders in fragrance today are: Phthalates: Fragrances contain harmful chemical called phthalates that act as preservatives, helping perfumes and colognes stay on the shelves longer. These phthalates cause numerous deadly health problems including endocrine disruption, decreased sperm motility, respiratory problems, birth defects, low birth weight, premature birth, miscarriage, and damaging children’s IQ in the womb. Parabens: Parabens like phthalates are preservatives that prevent molds in cosmetics. They have a long list of negative health impacts, but most of all, they’re highly estrogenic, meaning they can cause estrogen-based cancers including breast, prostate, and endometrial cancer. Styrenes: Styrene is used to make a wide variety of products, including fragrance. Styrene is also in cigarette smoke and auto exhaust. It is a known carcinogen. Synthetic Musks: Synthetic musks, including nitro-musks and polycyclic musks have been linked to cancer and harm to the nervous and reproductive systems. Healthy Alternatives to Dangerous Synthetic Chemicals in Fragrance The good news is that it’s easy to scent your home naturally. It’s called natural aromatherapy. For natural aromatherapy, you’ll need some 100% pure essential oils like lavender pure essential oil, lemon, orange, or grapefruit essential oil, eucalyptus pure essential oil, or rose pure essential oil – these are just some of the delicious scents you can buy at a low cost. These wonderful scents not only make your home smell great, they also improve human health with plant compounds like antioxidants and other constituents that can benefit health in a long list of ways from helping to ease harmful stress levels to helping to detoxify the home of viruses and bacteria. Think tea tree oil. You can use these pure essential oils in a environmentally safe (meaning, no plastic!) diffuser, dab them on light bulbs, or you can blend them with water and spray them about your home as a natural air freshener. You can also try spraying the fresh scents of lemon and water or pure lavender and rose oil onto fans and then let those scents go about the room. Another great trick is boiling homemade potpourri on the stove, which means basically some orange peel and cinnamon steeped in water. Bottom line: we don’t need the chemicals when we have such a great alternatives. To read the original article click here.

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