Letter regarding perfumes:I would like to address a health concern regarding the use of fragrances by (your staff, co-workers, you, etc.)
Many people are not aware of the grave danger of using synthetic fragrances. A study at Anderson Laboratories in Vermont concluded that fragrance chemicals caused a variety of acute toxicities in mice after an hour long exposure to breathing five commercial colognes. The researchers discovered "the emissions of these fragrance products caused various combinations of sensory irritation, pulmonary irritation, decreases in expiratory airflow velocity, as well as alterations of the functional observational battery indicative of neurotoxicity" (Anderson & Anderson, 1998).
A computerized test was used to detect decreases in expiratory flow velocity, indicating airflow limitation. Mice exposed to toilet water, rather than cologne, did not show any change in air flow velocity, pulmonary function, or neurological function.
"Neurotoxicity was more severe after mice were repeatedly exposed to the fragrance products. Evaluation of one of the test atmospheres with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry revealed the presence of chemicals for which irritant and neurotoxic properties had been documented previously". This confirmed the hidden presence of these chemicals in the colognes (Anderson & Anderson, 1998).
Many people do not realize that fragrances have changed over the years and are not regulated by law. Once pleasant and natural oil from a plant, fragrances are now made with many synthetic chemical ingredients that are harmful to human health and are not disclosed on the label due to trade secret laws.
When people wear these fragrances, they share them with everyone around them. Breathing second-hand fragrance is like breathing second-hand smoke. It has all the same effects, amounting to acute toxicity.
Wearing cologne affects all those who share the same air space, including pets and children who are at increased risk due to their smaller size. Asthmatics, respiratory patients, and the chemically sensitive can also be seriously injured by fragrances. The effects are not limited to these groups though. Even the wearer is sacrificing good health.
Would you please consider banning fragrances such as perfume, cologne, and fragranced lotion in the interests of our collective health?
I look forward to your reply.
Sincerely,
XXX
Cited Reference:
Anderson RC & Anderson JH. Acute toxic effects of fragrance products. Arch Environ Health. 1998 Mar-Apr;53(2):138-46.
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