Working Fragrance Free's topics - tribe.net

Cosmetics cause smog- Ohio EPA. Fwd from Barb Wilkie

2007-02-28T15:04:34Z

Dear Friends --

Yeah, I'm just kidding around w/that subject line. But the subject is very serious. How long before our representatives and senators wake up to the poisoning of America? Starting with our developing fetuses and then our newborns and carrying on to seriously affect our elderly if one looks at the increase in asthma rates among that demographic. Hook 'em right out of the oven on those petrochemical derivatives with flavored pacifiers, scented diapers and wipes, and all sorts of other scented baby products. Call them flavors and fool the parents. Good grief! And then, remember to wring one's hands over the MYSTERY ASTHMA EPIDEMIC. (Or "mystery" disease of your choice.)

Many of you will realize that southern California's Air Resources Board released a report in March 2003 stating that commonly used chemicals are a smog source second to tail pipe emissions. For those who missed that report, please take a minute to drop into Mindfully.org and check it out.

The California story acknowledges perfumes, not just scented aerosol products . . . The most telling line in the California story, for me, is this:

"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."

Goodness only knows how many times you've seen this from me, but I think it is important enough to include the lead part of the article here. I hope you copy it onto your computer for future use in your own area, for your jobs, your healthcare facilities, trying to educate your doctors, school officials, workplace management teams, places of worship, government entities. This is such important info . . .

Chemicals in Home a Big Smog Source
GARY POLAKOVIC / LA Times 9mar03 http://www.mindfully.org/Air/2003/Home-Chemicals-Smog9mar03.htm

[E]ven before the chemicals escape into
the environment, they contribute to indoor
air pollution, which typically is more
dangerous than smog because the
chemicals concentrate nearer to people.

Cleansers, cosmetics and other products pump 100 tons of pollutants daily into the Southland's air, ranking second to tailpipe emissions, studies show.

Ordinary 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."

The offending items include detergents, cleaning compounds, glues, polishes, floor finishes, cosmetics, perfume, antiperspirants, rubbing alcohol, room fresheners, car wax, paint and lawn care products.

On a typical day, about 108 tons of smog-forming fumes are emitted from such products used in houses and small businesses in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. The South Coast Air Quality Management District released those estimates last month as part of a new comprehensive plan to cut smog and haze in the region. ...

Now for one in, via a sharp-eyed individual. This story is still available online . . .

COMMON CHEMICALS
Smog-fighters focus on glue, hair spray ...
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Spencer Hunt
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
http://www.dispatch.com/print_template.php?story=dispatch/2007/01/28/20070128-A1-02.html

Cars and power plants are the prime culprits behind Ohio's smog problems.

But the state's latest effort to clear the unhealthful haze from summer skies focuses on such products as hair sprays, deodorants, furniture polish, glass cleaners and even urinal cakes.

Estimates indicate that these products release about 100 tons of smog-forming chemicals into Ohio's air every day.

Throw in cars and mowers, gas stations, dry cleaners and paint, and the amount grows by more than tenfold, says the Lake Michigan Air Directors Consortium, which offers technical assistance on air-pollution issues to officials in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin.

Smog can damage lungs, spurring asthma attacks and worsening lung diseases.

Faced with a federal mandate to reduce smog, environmental agencies in Ohio and several other states are thinking about ordering manufacturers to cut back on these chemicals.

"Consumer products are a significant contributor to smog," said Christopher Recchia, director of the Ozone Transport Commission, which helped draft proposed product limits for 12 eastern and northeastern states and its home base of Washington, D.C.

A manufacturers group, the Consumer Specialty Products Association, said that although it won't object to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency's plan, the proposed rules won't significantly clean the air.

"You're not going to see much difference," said D. Douglas Fratz, the association's vice president of scientific and technical affairs. "We are actually a very tiny percent of (smog) generation."

Mike Koerber, director of the Lake Michigan Air Directors Consortium, said the new limits would reduce product pollutants to about 81 tons per day.

The chemicals, called "volatile organic compounds," along with nitrogen oxides released by cars, power plants and factories, form smog when they are cooked in the air on hot, stagnant days.

Nitrogen oxide released by factories and power plants in Ohio has dropped from a daily average of 1,015 tons in 2002 to 697 tons in 2005, the most recent year for which figures are available.

But in 2004, the U.S. EPA declared that 33 Ohio counties failed a new health standard for smog and gave Ohio until June 2009 to pass.

The Ohio EPA has since asked the U.S. EPA to take 20 counties, including Franklin, Delaware, Fairfield, Knox, Licking and Madison, off the list.

Officials said new cars that pollute less and the reduction in powerplant emissions have helped reduce smog in central Ohio and elsewhere.

And they say that a reduction in chemicals in consumer products would help keep Columbus under the smog limit and reduce unhealthful levels in Cincinnati and Cleveland.

Washington, D.C., and states including New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia have proposed the same product limits, which California already enforces.

"We will ultimately be the first (state) to go ahead and implement this, other than California," said Bill Spires, a manager in the Ohio EPA's air-pollution control division.

Ohio's proposed rules, available for public comment through Monday, would make manufacturers reduce or eliminate smog-forming chemicals by January 2008.

Many of the proposed cutbacks are aimed at aerosol products - everything from glues and engine degreasers to insecticides and hair sprays.

Koerber said the cuts would be more effective when combined with Ohio's other plans to require cleaner paints and gasoline.

"You need to package all of these reductions together," he said.

Fratz said many products sold in Ohio already meet California's standards.

"To a large degree, they are going to get the benefits of these reductions whether they adopt it or not," he said.

Ohio EPA spokeswoman Heidi Griesmer said the proposed rules would cover products sold here but not in California.

Until then, "The rest of the U.S. isn't necessarily getting the cleanest products," Griesmer said.
shunt@dispatch.com

* Smog-makers
http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2007/01/28/20070128-A4-06.html

Included are the following products, but please go to the site of the Dispatch to see the percentage of reduction of smog-forming chemicals and do notice that fragrances in general are not listed although products that have synthetic scents in them are. How long before it is acknowledged that perfumed products pollute? When will it be understood that one should look beyond "aerosol" and look at "FRAGRANCE" . . . and for that matter, their twin, "FLAVORS"? -- barb

Air fresheners (aerosol)
Carburetor and choke cleaners
Engine degreasers
Fabric protectants
Furniture polishes
Hair sprays
Hair mousses
Insecticides (crawling bugs)
Insecticides (flying bugs)
Nail-polish removers
Antiperspirants (aerosol)
Deodorants (aerosol)
Sources: Federal Register, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency

At least it is a start for Ohio and something beats nothing. ETC.

Best to all of you!
barb wilkie
www.ehnca.org
=========
--

posted in Working Fragrance Free - 0 replies

Online Course for Fragrance Free Health Care Environments

2007-01-30T00:03:17Z

With Janet Brown's permission, this may be shared far and wide . . .

Best wishes,
barb wilkie
EHN president emerita
www.ehnca.org
============

NEWS FOR NURSES

(And Other Health Professionals)

NEW ONLINE COURSE FOR CE CREDIT FROM MNA:
"Fragrance Free! Creating a Safe Health Care Environment"

Course Description: Chemical fragrances may seem like a natural part
of modern American life, but in fact, they are anything but natural.
These petroleum-based products, many of which contain known
carcinogens, are produced with virtually no regulation by the FDA,
and their widespread use is turning the modern health care
environment-and the rest of the world-into Chemical Soup. Fragrance
Free! looks at the hidden costs of chemical fragrance use in the
health care industry, including the growth of allergies
and potentially debilitating conditions such as chemical sensitivity.

The course discusses how to recognize the beginnings of chemical
sensitivity, while offering alternatives to fragranced produces and common
sense steps to reduce chemical fragrances in the health care environment.

Introduction: Though we seldom give them much thought, fragrances pervade
our lives. We wear perfumes and colognes to make ourselves more appealing.
We wash our clothes in scented detergents and household cleaning products
are full of smell-pine and lemon, just to name two. But what goes into
them? It turns out that most of these fragrances are synthetic chemicals,
introduced into our environment with only minimal safety testing. Many of
the ingredients of these chemical fragrances are known to have negative
health effects. Respiratory and nervous system illnesses rise right along
with the use of chemical fragrances.

Learning Objectives: The goal of this program is to ensure a safe and
therapeutic environment for both patient and nurse to interact in. The
elimination of fragrance is a choice the nurse can make to help ensure a
healthier environment for both patients and workers. On completion of this
program, you should be able to:

1. Identify the most common chemicals used in fragrance products
2. Identify adverse reactions to scented and fragrance products
3. Define the concept of the "Chemical Soup" in the air we breathe
at
work and at home
4. Describe steps that can be taken to reduce reactions in
chemically
sensitive people

Accreditation: This online continuing nursing education activity is
provided by the Massachusetts Nurses Association, which is accredited as a
provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses
Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

Program Requirements: To successfully complete this program and receive
contact hours, you must read the entire program, take and pass the
Post-Test, and complete the Program Evaluation. To pass the Post-Test, you
must achieve a score of 80% or above.

Eligibility: Anyone can take the credit and convert to their disciplined
area of study. (For example, LPNs are using it). The credits are good
throughout the nation.

NOTE: Congratulations to our own TIP Board member, Chris Pontus, M.S.,
COHN-S, CCM, Health Educator with the Massachusetts Nurses Association, for
her hard work on preparing this course!

TO ACCESS THE COURSE: To register go to http://www.courseserver.com/mna/
and click on "REGISTER". The subscription code for members is mna001,
non-Members is mna002, and students is mna003. Fill out all of the fields
in the form and press submit. This information is also listed on the
Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) website at
www.massnurses.org/ce/onlineCE.htm For more information, contact the
Division of Health and Safety at 781-830-5723.
UPDATE: INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY -
ACCESSIBILITY POLICIES FOR PUBLIC FACILITIES

In cooperation with the RI Commission on Disabilities, TIP introduced
legislation in 2006 to require the RI Dept. of Health to establish minimum
accessibility standards for indoor environmental quality in public buildings
and necessary services. It would include fragrance-free policies, cleaning
products, pest control, low VOC materials, in hospitals, nursing homes,
schools, day care, etc. Although the bill did not pass last year, we were
able to obtain support for a Resolution addressing some of our concerns.
Also, the RI Dept. of Health representative at the hearings mentioned an
educational campaign as an option. We intend to follow up on that - if we
can cooperate with DOH and others to inform health care professionals and
the public about household chemicals and indoor air concerns, it would be a
great blessing! Our Hispanic Health Education initiative, below, has been
the first step in a broader campaign for that purpose.

HISPANIC/LATINO HEALTH EDUCATION INITIATIVE

A Collaborative Effort to Provide Information to Spanish Speakers on Toxics
in Everyday Life & Healthier Alternatives

Background: There is a lack of information and materials being provided in
Spanish to Rhode Islanders about the many toxic chemicals in everyday life
and products and on healthier alternatives. Those who are not fluent in
English are thus unaware of many factors that can affect their health and
that of their families - and how to protect themselves.

Strategy: At this time, we do not have available bilingual resource people
familiar with the concerns and information needed to carry out health
education on this topic. Also, we believe that those already working in the
Hispanic community, especially those providing health-related services, are
the best persons to carry out this additional outreach. Therefore, it
is
our aim to provide to these workers the information and training they need
to add toxics education to their programs. For this purpose we will:

1.Translate into Spanish or find through our research informational
materials in Spanish about toxic chemicals in everyday life and products and
healthier alternatives - including cosmetics, cleaners and pesticides.
Health problems connected with these substances, such as asthma, learning
disabilities, allergies and cancer will be covered by the articles chosen.

2.Establish a relationship with several organizations providing health
education and other services to Hispanics in RI and arrange to offer
training for individuals working with them to offer toxics information as
part of their programs. 3. Bring resource people from Massachusetts to
assist with the training, and provide the RI organizations with the
materials to use in their follow-up with their constituencies.

Partners: We have called the RI DOH Office of Minority Health about this
project, and they sent us a list of Minority Health Promotion Centers,
highlighting those that serve significant numbers of Hispanics. We
contacted the latter. Interest in receiving and offering this environmental
health information was expressed at Center for Hispanic Policy & Advocacy
(CHISPA), Progreso Latino, Genesis Center and Women's & Infants Hospital
(which does extensive training of various health professionals as well as
educating Spanish-speaking clients). We are gratified by the response so
far, and believe that several more organizations will become involved. We
have already distributed some materials through these partners. We
have
spoken with people in several Massachusetts organizations that give
presentations (some to Hispanics) on such topics as green cleaning, the
Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, and pesticide concerns - including MA Clean
Water Action, MA Breast Cancer Coalition & the Regional Environmental
Council in Worcester. Indications are that they are willing to help us with
the proposed training in RI, subject to scheduling convenience and personnel
availability.

Resources & Training: Interested health professionals, especially health
educators and nurses, are invited to keep informed on the progress of this
project and to receive resource materials when available. We expect to form
an ad hoc advisory group to help us determine details such as which articles
to translate, and the time, place and program for the training event.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THESE PROJECTS, CONTACT LIBERTY GOODWIN, TIP
DIRECTOR, AT: TEL. 401-351-9193, OR E-MAIL: liberty@toxicsinfo.org

Janet Brown
Partner Coordinator
Hospitals for a Healthy Environment
PO Box 3366
Amherst, MA 01004
413/253-0254
janet.brown@h2e-online.org
www.h2e-online.org

Janet Brown is a member of the Green Guide for Health Care (GGHC) Steering
Committee. For more information, visit www.gghc.org.
--

posted in Working Fragrance Free - 0 replies

Got Milk? Got Chemicals! -- Got Milk Ad campaign wants to scent bus shelters in SF

2006-12-09T02:42:01Z

Aloha kakou (greetings all),

I don't know why the "Got Milk" ad people think it makes sense to market milk, which they've positioned as a "healthy product," by then exposing people to airborne chemical toxins at Municipal Railway (MUNI) bus shelters, but that is apparently what's in the works in San Francisco. Five bus shelters are going to be scented to smell like chocolate chip cookies, using "scent infused adhesive strips" that will be attached to the shelters.

This is a stupid idea, which presents a disability access problem for anyone who uses public transport who has multiple chemical sensitivities, asthma, reactive airway diseases, etc. In bad weather, anyone who wishes to avoid such scents -- for health or other reasons -- will have to stand in the rain if they want to catch a bus at these locations. Anyone with mobility problems will also be forced to keep away from the shelters. Does this make sense? Read the article below and then join me, please, in protesting this stupidity. There are lists of contacts below the article link. I urge you to become very vocal about this now.

It is important to remember that this is a "test" campaign. Molly Ireland, the person apparently responsible for this idea, is quoted as saying, "...if it works there, it will work everywhere."

Click Here: Check out "SAN FRANCISCO / Ad firm with a first -- but will it whiff by mixing cookies, Muni?"

Strategy

1. Contact the people responsible and complain.

Molly Ireland, Senior VP, RL Public Relations and Marketing, Santa Monica
310-226-8600

Maggie Lynch, spokesperson for MUNI (SF Municipal Railway)
Pager 866-239-4326

CBS Outdoor Advertising, contractor for outdoor bus shelter ads
415-882-4949

Lynne Morgan, California Dept. Food and Agriculture Marketing Division
916-341-6005

Debby at Goodby, Silverstein & Partners Ad agency, developer of "Got Milk"
415-392-0669

I am still trying to get a contact number or email for Jeff Manning, California Milk Processor Board.

2. Let San Francisco City Government know:

Supervisor Tom Ammiano, quoted in the article as a MUNI rider, 415-554-5144

Mayor Gavin Newsom, 415-554-6141

Ken Stein, Mayor's Office of Disability, (415)554-6789 -- especially if the scented shelters make you sick!

3. Let Herb Levine at the San Francisco Independent Living Resource Center know you are concerned. (415)543-6222.
Call other Independent Living Centers in CA too.

4. Call or email the Chronicle writer, Rachel Gorden, at rgordon@sfchronicle.com or 415-777-1111.

5. Write letters to the editor.

6. Make friends with our natural allies, the organic milk producers. Buy their products.

I've been on the phone all morning calling organic dairies in CA. The people I've managed to speak with have been very concerned about this stupid idea.

Marcus Benedetti, President of Clover Stornetta in Petaluma has been especially supportive. He may not want to get an email blitz of thanks but if you feel deeply moved, let the company know and buy their products. www.cloverstornetta.com

Mark McAfee, president of Organic Pastures Dairy in Fresno has also been especially supportive. If you feel deeply moved, let the company know and buy their products. http://organicpastures.com

People at other organic dairies and dairy product companies have listened to me, and have expressed concern. They "get" the toxins issue!

7. Boycott conventional milk producers until this stupid idea is dropped. Other ideas could be a masked (we'll need ''em!) "milk in" at the scented shelters.

8. Give people the EHN website URL www.ehnca.org, so they can find out more about the impact of chemicals on our lives.

9. I'll be putting up a website later today called "Got Chemicals?" I'll forward the URL later.

Please circulate this information to your networks. Mahalo!!!
Warm aloha,
Amy Waihili Marsh

posted in Working Fragrance Free - 7 replies

FWD from Barb: Fragrance Labeling

2006-12-09T00:15:41Z

Another great forward from Barb Wilkie, president emeritus of EHN CA.
-------

Read The Label: Fragrances

We are enamoured of fragrances, and virtually every aspect of our
lives is touched by a fragranced product. But is it a touch too much?
Pat Thomas reports.

Date:01/09/2006 Author: Pat Thomas
http://www.theecologist.org/archive_detail.asp?content_id=676

A quick account of all the perfumed bodycare products we use is
sobering: soaps, creams and body lotions, ointments, talcs and bubble
baths, shampoos and sunscreens – just to name a few.

In an overcrowded market, where there is often little to
differentiate the performance of one product over another,
a product's scent is its unique signature and is often given greater
prominence in advertising than performance.

Our love affair with the way things smell has given manufacturers
free reign to manipulate our purchasing behaviour by linking the
scent of a product with a desired quality such as love, sexiness,
freshness, innocence and a wild, independent spirit. It's a tactic
used in the marketing of all bodycare products, but which is used to
particularly great effect in fine perfumes – witness how many are
named after emotions.

Once upon a time, perfumes were derived from natural plant and animal
ingredients. But these can be expensive
and subject to the variations of season and availability.

As science progressed, manufacturers found ways of producing
chemicals with `nature identical' smells, which could be produced in
high volumes without the need for worrying about the availability of
natural resources. Today, nearly all fragrance chemicals are
synthesised
almost entirely from petrochemicals, and while they can be made more
cheaply and the scent may linger longer than that of naturally
derived scents, they are problematical for human health.

First and foremost, many of these chemicals are considered hazardous
waste. As far back as 1986, the US National Academy of Sciences
identified fragrance ingredients as one of six categories of
neurotoxic chemicals that should be thoroughly investigated so that
we might better understand any potential harm to human health. This
placed these chemicals right up there with insecticides, heavy
metals, solvents and food additives
as primary causes of disease in humans. But government and industry
have been slow to demand or fund such research.

The word `parfum' is used to denote fragrance in a bodycare product.
Parfum is made up of dozens of chemicals containing solvents similar
to those used in adhesives, as well as benzene derivatives,
aldehydes and many other known toxins capable of causing cancer,
birth defects, and central nervous system disorders.

Inhaled fragrance chemicals can cause sore throat, runny nose, sinus
congestion, wheezing, shortness of breath, nausea and muscle pain.
They are also a major trigger for asthmatic episodes. Once in the
body, they easily breach the blood brain barrier – the protective
membrane designed to keep toxins away from sensitive brain cells –
and produce symptoms resonant with central nervous system (CNS)
disruption - headache, mental confusion, listlessness, inability to
concentrate, irritability, seizures, restlessness, agitation,
depression, sleepiness.

Many bodycare products are heavily perfumed, and at least one study
has demonstrated links between heavy
perfume exposure during pregnancy, and learning disabilities and
behaviour disorders in children. Studies have also shown that
inhaling fragrance chemicals can cause circulatory changes in the
brain.

In addition to being inhaled, fragrances can be absorbed through the
skin – especially through children's skin, which is thinner than that
of adults. The greater the emollient quality of the product you are
using (think skin creams, roll on deodorants, etc) the greater the
absorbency. While fragrance chemicals can be quick to saturate the
blood, they are slow to clear from the body. When they penetrate the
skin they can cause discoloration of internal organs. They can also
be toxic to the liver and kidneys. Still others accumulate in fatty
tissue and leech slowly back into the system, or are passed on to our
children through breast milk.

Fragrances add little to the function of the product. They are
unlikely to provide the `aromatherapy' experience promised,
especially if they are synthetic. Yet we are obsessed with them.
While it's an unhealthy obsession, it's not an inevitable one. Each
of us has the power to reduce the number of synthetic fragrances we
come into contact with on a daily basis. Start by reading the label.

Labelling rules have changed in the last couple of years and
manufacturers of cosmetics – and household cleaners – must list any
of the 24 fragrances that the EU's Scientific Committee on Cosmetic
Products and Non-Food Products (SCCNFP) has identified as common
contact allergies.

So now it's easy enough to avoid these. But the fragrances not listed
on the label are still potentially powerful enough to trigger more
subtle emotional symptoms or longer-term health problems. Even some
natural essences can cause allergic reactions in some individuals,
though these are rare because natural essences are derived from the
whole plant, and are believed to contain a variety of naturally
occurring chemicals that mitigate any potential allergic reactions.
If in doubt, or if you are very sensitive, you may wish to avoid
scented products entirely.
__._,_.___

posted in Working Fragrance Free - 0 replies

FWD: Fragrance Free Bio-Beetle ECO Rental Cars

2006-11-30T06:27:04Z

Again, many thanks to Barb Wilkie for this info.
-------------

HI!

I am with Bio-Beetle ECO Rental Cars, the worlds GREENEST and first all BIODIESEL rental car company.

We had a recent renter who was chemically sensitive and chose us because we do not use toxic chemicals to clean our cars. She suggested I explore that area because it is hard to find rental cars that donít have a lot of chemicals used.

We are basically a regular rental car company. We are located right next to the airports in Mau and Los Angeles, and are expanding. We have regular cars, 2 door, 4 door, automatic and standard transmission...

The biggest difference between us and the big guys is our cars are earth /human/animal friendly, plus we give better and more personalized customer service....

We wash our cars with an ECO dish soap, and clean spots and such with vinegar or baking soda.

We would love to reach out to let more people know about us, particularly those who have special needs, besides caring for the planet, and I thought perhaps you could help.

Please, check out our website and/or let us know if you have any questions or information we might find helpful too.

If you have a spot on your website or in a newsletter that you could mention us in would be fantastic!

Thanks for your help!

http://www.bio-beetle.com
Pamela
"Pamela- Veganwolf" <mrs_howl@excite.com>

posted in Working Fragrance Free - 0 replies

FWD from Barb: Do Cosmetics Cause Airway Allergy?

2006-11-30T06:25:06Z

Another good one, fwd'd by Barb Wilkie, former president of the Environmental Health Network.
---------

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology
Volume 5 Page 76 - March 2006
doi:10.1111/j.1473-2165.2006.00227.x
Volume 5 Issue 1
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1473-2165.2006.00227.x?cookieSet=1

Letter to the Editor
Do cosmetics cause airway allergy?
Devinder Mohan Thappa

To the Editor
Cosmetics are an important part of our daily life and have been used for thousands of years. Many of us take cosmetics for granted when using soaps, shampoo, and toothpaste for the hygiene of our body. Others expend a great deal of thought, expense, and time in using cosmetics to enhance their physical beauty with make up, hair color, and perfumes. Basically, cosmetics are intended for cleaning, beautifying, and otherwise altering the appearance of skin. The present-day anti-aging generation is determined to look young and sexy until death, which has led to increased use of various cosmetics.1 Nowadays, reactions to cosmetics constitute a small but significant proportion of the cases of contact dermatitis.2 Approximately 10% of the adult population may suffer adverse reactions to cosmetics.3 These adverse cutaneous reactions to cosmetics are varied, including subjective and objective irritation, allergic contact dermatitis, contact urticaria, dyspigmentation, nail dystrophy, hair breakage, and acne. Half of the reported cases of cosmetic dermatitis occur on the face including the eyelids (airway not far away), and 80% of these cases occurs in females. The top three cosmetic allergens are perfumes, preservatives, and hair dyes.2 Skin care and hair products are the most common causes of contact dermatitis from cosmetics. Now the question comes, do cosmetics cause airway allergy. The answer is yes. Contact sensitization to fragrances is one of the commonest causes of contact allergy in the general population as well as among patients with eczema.4 Skin exposures to fragrances, exposure to volatiles from consumer products, or from other people wearing perfume, are everyday occurrences; however, they may cause eye and airway symptoms. Individuals with perfume contact allergy and/or hand eczema as opposed to those without have more frequent and more severe eye or airway symptoms after exposure to fragrance products. 'Having hand eczema has the greatest impact on reporting eye and airway symptoms by fragrance products' was the highlight of the recently published study in the British Journal of Dermatology.4 Airborne exposure to potent allergens such as the preservative kathon in sensitized individuals has been reported to result in systemic reaction with contact eczema and immediate respiratory symptoms.5 As yet the mechanism remains undetermined. Fragrance ingredients cause nonimmunological immediate reactions in the skin,6,7 but no data suggest that such symptoms are related to contact allergy. Elberling et al.,4 however, showed consistent and significant associations between perfume contact allergy diagnosed by patch testing and symptoms elicited by fragrance products from the eyes and airways. The symptoms were mostly reported as elicited within seconds or minutes after airborne exposure to fragrance products. The markers of perfume contact allergy used for patch testing were balsam of Peru, colophony, and fragrance mix composed of alpha-amyl cinnamic aldehyde, cinnamic aldehyde, cinnamic alcohol, eugenol, geraniol, hydroxycitronellal, isoeugenol, and oak moss absolute.

Exposures to high concentrations of gases, vapors, and fumes may cause respiratory symptoms and bronchoconstriction by various pathophysiological mechanisms.8,9 This has been found in workers with high exposure to organic dust and paint, including welding. Employees in a hairdressing salon are periodically exposed to various chemicals in permanent oils, hair dyes, and hair lacquers capable of producing respiratory symptoms.9 In a questionnaire-based study on hairdressers in Bergen, Norway, it was found that hairdressers reported significantly more wheezing, breathlessness, runny eyes, and blocked or runny nose from exposure to hair dyes, permanent oils, bleaching powders, and other chemicals used in a hairdressing salon, compared with the office workers.8 Some of these chemicals are considered to be allergens; other chemicals are irritants, and both may cause acute, nonspecific respiratory tract reactions shortly after exposure. Persulfate salts and hair dyes have for example been associated with chronic and recurring asthma in hair dressers and chemical workers.8,9 Experimentally, hair bleach induces airway hyper-responsiveness in rabbits after a single short-term (4 h) exposure to concentrations of persulfates of around 5-10 mg/m2.10

Hairdressers are exposed to several reactive agents with potentially irritant and sensitizing effects on the airways.9 In a clinical study of hairdressers, hair bleach and the use of aerosol hair sprays were the most provocative factors to increase the respiratory symptoms, and 90% of the diagnosed occupational respiratory diseases were judged to be caused by persulfates in bleaches.11 In a Swedish nationwide study in female hairdressers, an increased risk of asthma was related to exposure to persulfates, and possibly also hair spray.9 Thus, authors suggested that an occupational etiology should be considered when asthma is diagnosed in a hairdresser. In order to overcome the problem from persulfates, a change from powder to less dusty paste, or granular preparations of hair bleach has been suggested. Installation of exhaust ventilation in the mixing areas of bleaching powder and peroxide and improvement of the general ventilation in the salon may help to overcome this problem.

To address this issue of airway allergy as a result of cosmetics, especially with perfumes and fragrance products (skin care lotions, cleansing agents, soap, air fresheners), hair bleaching agents, hair sprays, etc., in addition to being labeled as hypoallergenic, another label pasted may say whether they are suitable for asthmatics or those with airway disease. Maybe in the future, we may have to undertake some kind of predictive test to find the potential of cosmetic products to produce airway symptoms and/or allergy before they are launched in the markets.

Devinder Mohan Thappa

References Go to:
1 Kligman AM. Cosmetics - a dermatologist looks to the future: promises and problems. Dermatol Clin 2000; 18 (4): 699-709.
2 Maibach HI, Engasser PG. Dermatitis due to cosmetics. In: AA Fisher, ed. Contact Dermatitis, 3rd edn. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger; 1986: 368-93.
3 Rietschel RL, Conde-Salazar L, Goossens A, Veien NK. Atlas of Contact Dermatitis. London: Martin Dunitz; 1999: pp. 185.
4 Elberling J, Linneberg A, Mosbech H et al. A link between skin and airways regarding sensitivity to fragrance products? Br J Dermatol 2004; 151: 1197-203.
5 Bohn S, Niederer M, Brehm K et al. Airborne contact dermatitis from methylchloroisothiazolinone in wall paint. Abolition of symptoms by chemical allergen inactivation. Contact Dermatitis 2000; 42: 196-201.
6 Bhalla M, Thami GP. Acute urticaria due to dental eugenol. Allergy 2003; 58: 158.
7 Mathias CG, Chappler RR, Maibach HI. Contact urticaria from cinnamic aldehyde. Arch Dermatol 1980; 116: 74-6.
8 Hollund BE, Moen BE, Lygre SH et al. Prevalence of airway symptoms among hairdressers in Bergen, Norway. Occup Environ Med 2001; 58: 780-5.
9 Albin M, Rylander L, Mikoczy Z et al. Incidence of asthma in female Swedish hairdressers. Occup Environ Med 2002; 59: 119-23.
10 Mensing T, Marek W, Raulf-Heimsoth M et al. Acute exposure to hair bleach causes airway hyper-responsiveness in a rabbit model. Eur Respir J 1998; 12: 1371-4.
11 Leino T, Tammilehto L, Hytonen M et al. Occupational skin and respiratory diseases among hairdressers. Scand J Work Environ Health 1998; 24: 398-406.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology
Volume 5 Page 76 - March 2006
--

posted in Working Fragrance Free - 0 replies

CELL PHONES are a health hazard, too!!!!

2006-11-30T06:18:25Z

Anybody ELSE find cell phones hazardous and irritating? Gee, I should get some URLs of "reputable sources" and send them to my friend, Mikal, who's skeptical (like a lot of people)!

posted in Working Fragrance Free - 1 reply

FWD from Barb: Conference on Environmental Toxins and Human Reproduction

2006-11-30T06:17:21Z

Dear Folks --

This in and I'm circulating widely as requested. Maybe some of you
can plan to attend; for others, it's information.

barb wilkie
-----

Date: Mon, 27 Nov 2006 16:57:41 -0800
Subject: UCSF-CHE Summit - Environmental Challenges to Reproductive Health
and Fertility
X-Antivirus: checked in 0.018sec at lanfill.lmi.net ([66.117.140.10])
by smf-clamd v1.2.1 - http://smfs.sf.net/

--Please circulate widely--

The University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine,
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences and
the Collaborative on Health and the Environment (CHE) announce the:

UCSF - CHE SUMMIT ON ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
AND FERTILITY

January 28-30, 2007
UCSF Mission Bay Conference Center, San Francisco, CA

20.5 AMA PRA Category CME

Program, registration and more info: http://www.ucsf.edu/coe/prhesummit.html
(space is limited, so register soon; first come, first served policy)

~ Discover why environmental health science is critically relevant to
reproductive and developmental health.

~ Join multidisciplinary stakeholders in a pioneering, national
conference to explore and set new directions.

Preeminent researchers will present overviews of the science on
environmental contaminant impacts on male and female reproductive
health and fertility/pregnancy, including focus on:

~ Periconceptional/fetal origins of adult and pubertal disorders; and
developmental health

~ Adult exposures of concern

~ Contaminants of concern

~ Gene-environment interactions

~ Critical research directions

Multidisciplinary topics include:

~ Translation of research data to the clinic, wider public health and
policy, and disease prevention

~ Patient advocate and community health concerns

~ Integration with health professional education

~ Federal environmental reproductive health priorities

This summit is designed for clinical researchers and clinicians (in
practice or in training); scientists; allied and public health
professionals; policy makers, government; patient advocacy, women’s
health, community health, environment, reproductive advocacy, and
environmental justice leaders; environment/health funders.

This is not a typical data presentation conference, but rather an
unusual “hybrid,” trans-discipline effort to raise awareness and
promote collaboration as we convey broad overviews and perspectives
on science linking environmental contaminants with male and female
reproductive health and fertility compromise. We’ve planned plenty of
time for interaction and discussion. We expect participation from a
wide range of environmental reproductive health stakeholders,
including clinicians; physician-scientists; allied and public health
professionals; basic and environmental health scientists; community
groups; infertility, women’s health and reproductive health support
organizations; and health and environment policy makers and funders.
We hope to encourage all of these stakeholders to become better
informed and to work in concert to promote enhanced environmental
reproductive health research agendas and education.

Co-Chairs: Linda C. Giudice, MD, PhD, MSc, Professor and Chair,
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences;
Founding Director, Program in Reproductive Health and the
Environment, UCSF, and Philip R. Lee, MD, Founding Chairman,
Collaborative on Health and the Environment; Chancellor and Professor
(Social Medicine) Emeritus, UCSF; Former US Assistant Secretary of
Health, Education & Welfare. Co-Directors: Alison Carlson,
Facilitator, CHE Fertility/Pregnancy Compromise Work Group; Dixie
Horning, Executive Director, UCSF National Center of Excellence in
Women’s Health; and Tracey Woodruff, PhD, Research Scientist, UCSF
Institute for Health Policy Studies (on sabbatical from US EPA)

www.ucsf.edu/coe/prhesummit.html

This Summit grew out of and expands upon a February 2005 preliminary
workshop at the Vallombrosa Center, titled “Understanding
Environmental Contaminants and Human Fertility Compromise: Science
and Strategy.” Find proceedings at
<http://www.healthandenvironment.org/working_groups/fertility>www.healthandenvironment.org/working_groups/fertility.
They include a scientific consensus statement on contaminants and
infertility, and a companion lay monograph titled Challenged
Conceptions. Links to articles summarizing the scientific
presentations at Vallombrosa, in a special June 2006 issue of
Seminars in Reproductive Medicine, are also provided at the url above.

The University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine is
accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical
Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The
University of California designates this educational activity for a
maximum of 20.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s) TM. Physicians should
only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation
in the activity.

posted in Working Fragrance Free - 0 replies

Birth Defects linked to Phlalates in Common Products

2006-09-16T03:30:32Z

From: Independent (UK), Sept. 12, 2006
CAN CHEMICALS IN OUR HOMES CAUSE DEFORMITIES?
By Hannah Duguid

At 16 weeks pregnant, Isobel Lockwood had an ultrasound and was told
she was carrying a baby girl. Soon afterwards, DNA taken from the
foetus during an amniocentesis showed it was a boy. The doctor, who'd
never made such a mistake before, was astonished but thought nothing
further of it.

When Isobel eventually gave birth, the reason for the mix-up became
clear. Her son's penis was tiny and split down the middle.
The immediate diagnosis was hypospadias -- a birth abnormality where
the hole in the penis lies underneath the shaft, or in more severe
cases, at the base of the penis or underneath the scrotum. In some
cases the penis is very bent and will grow back on itself, in the
shape of a doughnut. In severe cases, it is difficult to identify a
penis at all.

At best the problem is largely cosmetic and can be rectified in a
single operation. At worst (and with modern surgery these cases are
rare), boys are left infertile and unable to have sex.

Of every 150 to 200 boys born in this country, one will have
hypospadias -- and doctors believe that cases have doubled over the
past 25 years. It happens during the first three or four months of
pregnancy and is a result of incomplete masculinisation.

Basically, we all begin life in the womb as female, but with
hypospadias something disrupts the hormonal changes a foetus goes
through to become male. What that "something" might be turns out to be
fairly chilling.

Research in Denmark points to a group of chemicals -- phthalates -
found in objects and everyday products all around us. They are in
plastic, carpets, fabric, make-up, food packaging, perfume, cosmetics,
milk, vegetables, pesticides and sun cream. Known as endocrine
disrupters, it is believed they upset the delicate balance of hormones
during the early stages of pregnancy.

Related to this is the general crisis in male fertility in the West.
One in six boys born today will have a low sperm-count. Hypospadias
sufferers are part of a much wider problem which has seen male
fertility drastically decline over the past 50 years.

Professor Richard Sharpe of the Medical Research Council's Human
Reproductive Sciences Unit suggests that there's a link between
incidents of hypospadias, undescended testes, low sperm-count and
testicular cancers. "We don't yet know the exact cause of these
problems, but they are all inter-related. It seems that the increase
in these abnormalities is to do with environmental and lifestyle
factors. It is something that has only happened recently," Sharpe
says.

Aivar Bracka, a consultant genito-urethral plastic surgeon at Russells
Hall Hospital in Dudley, operates on hundreds of cases of hypospadias
every year. "I would be surprised if there wasn't an environmental
cause for it. It is difficult to explain any other way. In particular,
it explains cases of identical twins where one is born with
hypospadias and the other isn't. This means that genetics doesn't
account for everything."

Hereditary factors do, however, play a part in some cases. It is not
unusual for more than one male in a family to have hypospadias. If the
father and grandfather has it, there is a one in three chance that the
next male in line will have it.

But mostly, it happens out of the blue. "I had no idea what
hypospadias was," says Sue Phipps, mother of identical twins Henry and
Charlie, 11, both born with the condition. "I didn't notice
immediately as I had not had boys before. The nurse pointed it out.
Both of them had their hole half-way down the underneath of their
penis, and both had a hooded foreskin. They had to sit on the toilet
to pee, or it went everywhere.

"We were told they would need one operation, but after a series of
operations their penises were a mess. The pain was so severe they were
on morphine. Going to the loo was dreadful for them; Henry urinated
from three holes and Charlie from five."

A traumatic two years culminated in Sue Phipps threatening to sue the
surgeon. One of the problems when local plastic surgeons operate on
hypospadias patients is that they are not sufficiently experienced in
the delicate technique required and end up making the problem worse -
one-third of cases operated on by Bracka are repair jobs.

Once referred to Russells Hall Hospital, the boys needed just one
"salvage" operation to give them a penis that looked normal and
worked. Both were able to get erections.

But Phipps does not yet know whether her boys will be fertile. There
is a small but significant chance that they won't be. Studies have
shown that boys with hypospadias tend to have a slightly lower sperm-
count. The twins' testicles are normal, though. One in 10 boys with
hypospadias is also born with undescended testicles. If one testicle
descends there is, again, a small but significant increase of
infertility. If both fail to descend, that likelihood shoots up to 80
per cent.

The other reason hypospadias sufferers may struggle to have children
is if their abnormality makes it difficult to have sex. A penis with a
270-degree bend can be surgically corrected, but if it is not
penetration is almost impossible -- as is normal ejaculation if the
hole is at the base of the penis. Ham-fisted surgery leaves the
urethra "baggy", causing weak ejaculation where sperm dribbles rather
than shoots out.

A penis that doesn't look or behave like everybody else's is upsetting
for a boy, too. Their penises tends to be smaller than usual and,
apart from embarrassment with potential sexual encounters, there is
"locker room syndrome", when boys face the rough judgements of their
peers.

Peter Cuckow, consultant paediatric urologist at Great Ormond Street
Hospital and the Institute of Urology, says: "People are much more
critical of their anatomy now, which means operations take place that
wouldn't have years ago. I have known families where all the men had
hypospadias but the older generations had not had operations because
all that was wrong was that their penis looked strange. It still
worked, so it wasn't a problem."

Isobel Lockwood says: "I am most worried about how to talk to my son
about his penis. I don't want there to be any shame about it, but
there's no point pretending nothing's wrong. You want them to be the
same. But I do worry about what will happen when he reaches puberty."

Sometimes it is fathers who find it difficult to cope. "I suppose it's
because they see it as their manhood," says Dionne Smith, 38. "When my
boys went into hospital to have their operation, my ex-partner told
his friends that the boys were on holiday. I didn't like that. I told
him it wasn't a disease -- or anything to be afraid of."

What is important is that for most boys born with hypospadias, one or
two operations when they're very young will correct the condition. It
is also true that surgeons expect to see more cases in the future -
and unless something changes there is nothing we can really do about
it.

Support group: www.hypospadias.co.uk Some names have been changed

Phthalates: what you need to know

What are phthalates?
Phthalates (pronounced "thal-ates") are a group of chemical liquids
used as "plasticisers" -- substances that modify the physical
properties of materials. Resembling vegetable oil, odourless, they
belong to a family of workhorse chemicals that have been in use for 50
years. They are created by the simple reaction of alcohols with
phthalic anhydride and the elimination of water.

How do they work?
They are most commonly used to soften polyvinyl chloride (PVC), thus
creating a soft and flexible texture.

What are they used for?
Items such as footwear, electrical cables and stationery, as well as
medical devices such as tubing and blood bags. The larger-molecule
variety is what gives flexibility to some vinyl flooring and
children's toys. The smaller-molecule type serves as a fixative for
perfumes to slow evaporation and help the scent to linger. Nail
varnishes, adhesives and safety glass gain more supple textures thanks
to phthalates.

The European Parliament will be finalising legislation this autumn on
the use of toxic chemicals in household products. Greenpeace, which is
locking horns with the chemical industry lobby over this issue, is
working to ensure that the legislation is strong enough to make a
difference.

The environmental campaign group wants to see the use of phthalates, a
group of chemicals that may be responsible for disrupting hormones
during pregnancy, restricted and safer ones used. It also wants the
chemical content of products to be clearly stated on labels so that
consumers know what to avoid.

Sarah Shoaka of Greenpeace says: "These chemicals are so widespread.
We're using ourselves as an experiment and by the time we know the
results, it will be too late."

Whether Greenpeace can succeed against the might of the chemicals
industry remains to be seen -- and no one knows for certain that, even
if they do, the rise in conditions such as hypospadias can be
reversed. But it does seem clear that some lifestyle and environmental
factors must be addressed.

For a list of products to avoid, see
www.greenpeace.org.uk/products/toxics

posted in Working Fragrance Free - 0 replies

FWD: Eco Alert from American P.I.E. -- Cosmetics

2006-09-13T22:21:18Z

EcoAlert from American P.I.E.

Title: Every body should care.

Date: 13 September, 2006

The cosmetics and personal care industry avoids telling us that some of the
chemical ingredients used in its products are health hazards. Industry also
shares no information about the environmental costs of flushing chemically
rich potions down shower and sink drains. "Every body should care"...about
the trouble brewing for people and Earth.

Cosmetics are the least regulated products under the Federal Food, Drug, and
Cosmetics Act (FFDCA). The FFDCA does not require premarket testing or
approval; and the FDA pursues enforcement action only after a new item
enters the stream of commerce and product-related injuries surface...tens of
thousands annually in the United States.

Who would think that personal care products represent an environmental
health hazard? Flowers and herbs have pleasured bodies, especially the
olfactory senses, for thousands of years. Throughout time, cosmetics have
been used to achieve beauty and power. Both men and women used them to
attact lovers,to disguise effects of aging and physical imperfections and to
intimidate enemies. Early cosmetics, however, were made from a variety of
Earth's minerals and natural compounds.Today, sweet smelling products are
made from a caldron of synthetic compounds - usually derived from petroleum
- including known toxins capable of causing cancer, birth defects, central
nervous system disorders and allergic reactions. Personal care might more
accurately be called 'chemical care.'

An unsettling fact...89 percent of the ingredients in mainstream cosmetics
haven't been safety tested by an independent agency. The FDA states on its
website that "neither cosmetic products nor cosmetic ingredients are
reviewed or approved by FDA before they are sold to the public...FDA cannot
require companies to do safety testing of cosmetic products before
marketing." The FDA also reports that less than 40 percent of the nation's
2,500-3,000 cosmetic manufacturers are even registered.

The consequences of this failed oversight are worrisome; for instance, the
National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health reports 884 toxic
substances used in the fragrance industry are capable of causing breathing
difficulty, allergic reactions, and particular difficulties for people
suffering from asthma, e.g., toulene (methyl benzene), known to trigger
asthma attacks, was detected in fragrance samples collected by the EPA.
Toulene, listed by the Household Hazardous Waste Project as a hazardous
waste, is "volatile, flammable...and attacks the central nervous system,
eyes, blood, liver, kidneys, and skin."

Thoughtful consumers will read labels, boycott products with harmful
ingredients, and campaign for safe cosmetics, refer
<http://www.safecosmetics.org/>. Every body should care.

Act today on this EcoAlert, and thank you for your environmental
responsibility.

Thanks, too, for considering support for the work of American PIE. Become a
member at <http://www.americanpie.org/own_a_piece_of_pie.html>.

American P.I.E.
Public Information on the Environment, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization
P.O. Box 676
Northfield, MN 55057-0676
Telephone: 1-800-320-APIE(2743); fax 507-645-5724
E-mail: Info@AmericanPIE.org

EcoAlert subscribe/unsubscribe at our website: http://www.AmericanPIE.org
American P.I.E. does not sell, rent or otherwise share addresses of EcoAlert
subscribers.

posted in Working Fragrance Free - 1 reply

The Story of 'Eau'--Confessions of a Fragrance Junkie

2006-06-11T19:21:12Z

THE NEW REACTOR
This story appeared in The New Reactor,Vol 10, No. 2: Mar-Apr 2000

The Story of 'Eau'--Confessions of a Fragrance Junkie
By Petra Kemical©

When my kids were little, they used to cry every time I hit the bottle. Then I'd get mad and yell. After all, I didn't really feel properly dressed without my favorite fragrance. Didn't I have a right, just like anybody else?

Back when we were newlyweds, my husband would give me perfume on special occasions. It made me feel so glamorous, so loved. So I couldn't understand it when he started telling me to "go easy on the stuff." "What's wrong with smelling good?" I'd say, and put on a little more.

He started coming home from work late. Then he got interested in camping and fishing. I wasn't very interested in the outdoor life and our kids were too little. So he went on trips by himself. Eventually, it seemed like he was never home, and when he was there, he seemed edgy and angry.

I still wanted to feel loved and glamorous and I wanted our home to be a pleasant place. I read how smells create memories and how men really like the smell of vanilla, so I began to fill our house with vanilla scented candles and "stick-ons" in the bathroom and in the kitchen. I hoped he would realize how nice it was indoors, and spend the weekends with us for a change.

We're divorced now. I never realized that it was actually my addiction to fragrances that was driving him away. Now I know why he always had a headache whenever I wanted to cuddle. Now I know why he was always opening windows in the bedroom and making the house all drafty and cold.

My kids always had a lot of ear infections and colds, so I used a lot of antibiotic cleaners, trying to kill the germs that made them sick.

My oldest daughter had asthma. Even when she told me she couldn't breathe when I sprayed stuff around the house, I'd just tell her to go outside and play, get some fresh air. We took her to the emergency rooms a lot when she was a kid. It always seemed to happen when my husband and I were going out for a night on the town. I'd be getting all dressed up and next thing I knew, we'd be phoning the babysitter to cancel. I just refused to believe that the expensive stuff in the pretty bottles could really make her sick. She almost died once, when she was in her teens, and it was probably my fault. I actually sprayed her in the face and told her to just try it for once, she'd probably like it.

I'll never forget what happened next. Her skin got all red and blotchy. She looked at me like she couldn't believe what I'd just done, and started gasping for air. I'd forgotten to get a refill on her inhalator, and we only just made it to the emergency room in time. But the doctors never asked what caused her attack, and I was too ashamed to admit to what I'd done. My husband didn't speak to me for two whole days.

He moved out after that. And even though we tried counseling, hoping to reconcile a couple of times for the sake of the children, it never worked. I'd always forget, and show up at the sessions wearing some cologne--even though he told me right in front of the counselor that the stuff I was wearing was making him sick.

After the divorce was final, my oldest daughter, the asthmatic one, told me she wanted to live with her dad. I was stunned. I'd always been there for her. But when I asked her why, she said, "You think more of your smelly old perfume than you do of me." I felt like slapping her.

I wish I could say that's when I started to change. But it wasn't.

I got a little job, working as a part-time clerk in a grocery store. My co-workers kept their distance. No one seemed to like me much, even though I tried to be pleasant. They'd always find some excuse to leave whenever I'd come over to talk. I never met such an unfriendly bunch. So I started shopping on my lunch hour instead of hanging around the employee lounge. An aroma therapy store opened up around the corner and I started going there. The lady who owned the store said aroma therapy could help my depression and it really seemed to work for me.

But when I started using it at the grocery store, you know, pouring a little oil to pep up at the end of a long day, someone complained about the smell. The manager asked me to stop, and then told me that some of my co-workers had been complaining about my excessive use of perfume. At first I felt really angry. "What business is it of theirs?" I asked.

"We all share the air," he said, "Don't you think you could do without your perfume at work?"

"No," I snapped. And that's when he handed me the little booklet that changed my life: "Twelve Steps to A Solvent Free Life."

And that's why I'm talking to you tonight. Living fragrance free has changed my life. It was hard to give it up at first. I threw out all my scented candles. I got rid of my fancy fragrances. I switched to unscented everything. And I was hell to live with for a while. I got headaches and mood swings. I thought I was going through early menopause! But, what I didn't realize was that I would go through a detoxification phase--and that I would get so sick while it was happening! I had no idea I'd been absorbing all those chemicals through my skin.

It was hard to give up fragrances. I never realized how much I'd come to depend on them for a sense of identity, for a way to control how I was feeling. But even harder than giving them up was having to realize how much I'd been hurting all the people I loved. I was an addict, and I never even knew it!

My children are all grown. But even my asthmatic daughter comes to visit me now. We're closer than we ever were. Even my ex has become a good friend and my co-workers have gotten a lot nicer. And it's all thanks to Fragrance.

Abusers Anonymous!

Editor's note: I'm sure you all recognize the humorous touch of our own Amy Marsh. Her "cover" was blown by other newsletters, so I, too, will give credit where credit is due. -- barb

For more information on Fragrances http://users.lmi.net/~wilworks/ehnlinx/f.htm#Fragrance

Fragrance-Free
http://users.lmi.net/~wilworks/ehnlinx/f.htm#Fragrance-free

posted in Working Fragrance Free - 0 replies

Death by Perfume? A Case for Sherlock Holmes

2006-06-11T19:17:42Z

Hi all,
I wrote this public health message spoof back in 1997. It was published in my first Working Fragrance Free newsletter and later in the Environmental Health Network's newsletter, the New Reactor. It can be found online at the EHN website, www.ehnca.org, under WFF, in the "W" links.
Enjoy!
Waihili
------------------
Death by Perfume?
-- by A. Marsh with apologies to A. Conan Doyle

"What do you make of it, Watson?"

The body sprawled next to a toppled chair on the floor of a dingy solicitor's office not far from our lodgings at 221 B Baker Street. Sadly, it was a handsome young solicitor's clerk who lay at our feet, one hand clutching at his cravat, the other holding a crumpled page. I knelt amidst the strewn papers of what appeared to be a singularly lengthy legal snarl and conducted my examination.

"There are no external signs of violence, Holmes." I rose from the floor. "The body is still warm. He seems to have been stricken quite suddenly, perhaps even in the last half hour. From his expression and the position of his limbs, I say he appears to have died gasping for breath...."

"Bravo, Watson! And what say you to this?" Holmes retrieved a small brown vial which had rolled under the desk. I glanced at the label.

"Arsenicum? I couldn't say. That is scarcely my medical specialty." As you very well know, I might have added. As a wounded former Army surgeon I'd had no occasion to add a study of homeopathy to my professional repertoire.

"Arsenicum, Watson, is commonly prescribed for those poor unfortunates who are quite literally in danger of breathing their last."

"So you would venture a diagnosis of status asthmaticus?" I asked.

"Quite so," Holmes was triumphant. "And do you notice nothing else?"

"Why, nothing at all." Aside from the corpse, and the disorder of the papers and chair, I could detect nothing unusual about the room.

"Breathe, Watson. Inhale. Do you not find the air laden with alcohol vapors and curiously heavy with scents of rose and musk? You may wish to inspect a little tract I have recently composed on the chemical composition of common perfumes and their devastating effect upon the human body."

From the beginning of our acquaintance, Holmes had exhibited a profound knowledge of chemistry, which, along with his keen powers of observation, often served him well during the course of an investigation.

He continued, "I have no doubt that our young clerk's final moments were spent with a woman, a woman with more money than taste. An overly fashionable person, as heavy-handed in her use of finery, as she is in her application of scent. No subtleties, Watson, no subtlety at all."

Now he crouched beside the body and deftly extracted the foolscap document held so tightly between the dead man's stiffening fingers. He handed it to me with that imperious gesture I'd come to know so well.

"Do me the favor of reading it aloud. And please, omit nothing."

Holmes went to the window and looked out upon the bustle of Baker Street as I began:

"Dear Friend,

"Pure air is one of the requisites of good health and yet today many people work and suffer in an atmosphere which rivals that of 19th century London. Formaldehyde fumes from carpets, ammonia and chlorine from cleaning products, ink fumes from copy machines..."

I paused. "What the devil are copy machines, Holmes?"

"Merely a mechanical contrivance of the twentieth century. It is of no matter. Pray continue."

"...even the solvents in ordinary perfumes and cosmetics combine to form an atmospheric 'chemical soup,' which, through repeated exposure, may ultimately endanger the health and safety of numerous employees.

"People may react to office pollution with a variety of symptoms, including an increase in colds and sinus congestion, fatigue, headaches, confusion, rashes, watery or irritated eyes, depression and even seizures. These symptoms may be temporary and acute, or they may become chronic and debilitating. But for those who suffer from a medical condition known as asthma, exposure to common chemicals can prove fatal.

"Asthma is a literal struggle for breath. A wide variety of triggers are known to cause inflammation and swelling of the bronchial tubes, often within seconds of exposure. Every asthma attack has the potential to suffocate. And in this country, the death rate from asthma is climbing.

"Perfume is a well-known asthmatic trigger. Those who suffer from asthma or experience other symptoms of chemical sensitivity cannot afford to underestimate the dangers of perfume exposure. And yet daily exposure is virtually a given for any working adult.

Often, the only option for many of these otherwise able-bodied workers is to give up their jobs and other activities in order to avoid all possible opportunities for exposure. Hardworking and talented people must retreat from the work force years before their time. Clearly, employers and employees alike must be educated. The use of perfume and fragrant cosmetics in all but the most intimate settings must begin to be as carefully considered as the act of smoking is today..."

"Enough!" Holmes motioned for me to cease.

"Come, Watson, there is nothing more to be done for this poor wretch. Inspector Lestrade will soon arrive. Indeed, I have already sent for him. We go," he said, snatching another paper from the floor, "to bring to bay this ... this careless creature, who has poisoned the very air with her habits of vanity!"

In the long course of our association, never have I seen Holmes so afflicted.

"To think," he murmured, "that this poor devil must have expired during the commonplace execution of his clerical duties, and in the very manner spoken of in this letter!"

He shook his head. "Death by perfume, indeed." ©Amy Marsh, 1997

-----------------
Real Death By Real Perfume (by Barb Wilkie)

And now for a sad note. Death by perfume does happen. We just don't hear about it generally, as cause of death will be given as asthma, or whatever death-causing illness resulted from a severe reaction to perfume.

Should I die of a reaction to a fragrance product, including if it's from a header I take when fabric softeners are polluting the ambient air, I've requested that that be duly noted in my obit. I suggest we all take a lesson from the obituary notice of Samantha Snyder Turner
-- barb

Washington Post

Obituaries
Saturday, March 16, 2002; Page B

Samantha Snyder Turner

Nurse Practitioner

Samantha Turner, 52, a nurse practitioner who specialized in obstetrics and gynecology for the Kaiser Permanente HMO in Reston, died Feb. 28 at Inova Fairfax Hospital. She died of complications from an allergic reaction to perfume.

************

Acute asthma - acute tachycardia - anaylactic reactions caused by Fragrance & Perfume
" In January of 1995 11 young Algerians deceased, ..."
http://www.tox-doc.de/englisch/duft.htm

posted in Working Fragrance Free - 0 replies

Lightbulb Overkill? Fight Global Warming

2006-06-10T14:34:32Z

Aloha kakou,
I'm probably dating myself if I ask if anyone here remembers the Tuxedo Moon song, Lightbulb Overkill, but that's the phrase that popped into my head when I read about this campaign from the Environmental Defense Fund. It's so simple in concept, so elegant in execution, so inexpensive, and so very doable...
I've also included their guide to compact fluorescent bulbs.
Let's get lots of our fellow Tribe members to make the switch!
Cheerleading wale no... (just cheerleading)
Waihili
------------

Pledge to Switch a Light Bulb!

It's not too late to add your light bulb pledge to the campaign.
Take a small step for big results.

Join the Effort:
http://www.environmentaldefense.org/page.cfm?tagid=483&campaign

Dear Friend,

Wow! The Environmental Defense community has really stepped up.
Already, 50,000 light bulb swaps have been pledged, preventing
more than 50 million of pounds of global warming pollution.

But it's just the beginning of our Make the Switch Campaign to
reduce global warming pollution through the use of energy-saving
compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs).

Join the effort and switch a light bulb in your home:
http://www.environmentaldefense.org/page.cfm?tagid=483&campaign

Our goal for the Environmental Defense community is to switch
ONE MILLION light bulbs over the next year. This will cut global
warming pollution by more than ONE BILLION pounds.

Swapping out just one standard 100w bulb for a just-as-bright
CFL reduces global warming pollution by more than 1,300 pounds!

Here's what you need to know:

* Changing a light bulb makes a difference. If every US
household replaced three 60-watt incandescent bulbs with CFLs,
it would be like taking 3.5 million cars off the roads!

* CFLs save you money. A 20-watt CFL, which screws into an
ordinary light socket, is just as bright as a 60-watt
incandescent.

* Today's CFLs are dramatically better than a few years ago. You
won't miss your incandescent bulbs.

We're asking every member of the Environmental Defense community
to pledge to switch at least one bulb in the coming year.

But don't just stop at one bulb! If you and two friends pledge
to change out all the bulbs in your homes, we'll easily beat our
million-bulb goal!

Please take the first step today. Pledge to switch at least one
bulb in the coming year:
http://www.environmentaldefense.org/page.cfm?tagid=483&campaign

Sincerely,

The Global Warming Team at Environmental Defense
------------------
How to Pick a Better Bulb

Though we call them light bulbs, traditional incandescent bulbs are actually small heaters that give off a little bit of light—something you know if you've ever touched a bulb that's been on for a while. These bulbs were technological wonders when they were patented in 1880, but today they are inefficient dinosaurs. They waste energy and money, and they are responsible for millions of tons of global warming pollution.
The next generation of light bulbs

Fortunately, the next generation of bulbs is here: Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) now give off high-quality light using a fraction of the electricity. Using CFLs puts less strain on the electric grid and saves you money. If every household replaced just three 60-watt incandescent light bulbs with CFLs, we would reduce as much pollution as if we took 3.5 million cars off the roads!

If you were disappointed by CFL bulbs in the last couple years, it's time to try again. The design of the bulbs and quality of light have improved dramatically. Also, though the price of a CFL is higher than traditional bulbs, CFLs save in the long run. They lower your electric bill and last up to 15 times as long as the old-fashioned bulbs. Here's how to make the switch:
1. Start with one bulb.

For your first compact fluorescent purchase, buy just one to make sure that it throws the kind of light you want. Light from yesterday's fluorescent lights, common in offices and schools, can seem "cold." Light from CFLs is different and better—CFLs can achieve the same kind of lighting you're used to from incandescent bulbs. Look for packages labeled "2700 degrees Kelvin" or "warm-white."
2. Know your watts and lumens.

We are used to choosing bulbs by how much electricity they use—a 40-watt incandescent bulb is on the dim side and uses less power, and a 100-watt bulb is bright and uses a lot of juice. CFL bulbs have much lower wattage numbers than their incandescent cousins, but don't let that fool you. CFLs provide much more light at a fraction of the wattage of traditional bulbs. Because of this, CFLs are often categorized by lumens. Lumens measure the amount of light a bulb gives off, and they are a more accurate way to tell how bright the new bulbs are.

Incandescent CFL Lumens Cost Savings CO2 Savings
40W 11-14W > 490 $39-$44 507-572 lbs.
60W 15-19W > 900 $62-$68 806-884 lbs.
75W 20-25W > 1,200 $76-$83 988-1,079 lbs.
100W 26-29W > 1,750 $107-$112 1,391-1,456 lbs.
150W 38-42W > 2,600 $163-$169 2,119-2,197 lbs.

Calculations for cost and CO2 savings assume 15,000-hour life for CFL.

If you don't want to print this page out, remember this rule of thumb: CFLs use about a quarter of the wattage to produce the same light. So to replace a traditional 60-watt bulb, buy a 15-watt CFL: 60-watt incandescent / 4 = 15 watts.
3. Get the right shape and size.

Many stores will let you return a bulb if you find it doesn't fit properly, but keep an eye on two factors to save yourself an extra trip.

First, some CFLs have a larger bulb, which can be too big for some lamps. Depending on where you're going to install your CFLs, be sure to know how big the shade is (to know how big a bulb it can accommodate) and whether or not the bulb will show.

Many CFLs have a coiled bulb, but there are now versions available that have the same shape and size as an old-fasioned bulb. These newer CFLs aren't available in many stores yet, but you can order them on a number of web sites. One vendor is offering a special discount on these bulbs in support of this campaign. (See the discounted bulb.)

Second, most CFLs screw into standard light sockets; however, on some bulbs, the plastic piece above the screw part is slightly wider and might not fit in every lamp. Avoid the modular bases that terminate with pins.
4. Buy Energy Star to save the most energy.

The most energy-efficient CFLs carry the Energy Star label, the imprimatur of the government-backed energy efficiency program.
5. Be careful choosing CFLs for a dimmer.

There are exceptions to this rule, but the majority of CFLs are not made for dimmers yet. There are a few that already do work, but scrutinize the package to make sure. Look for bulbs labeled "cold-cathode" and be sure the package says "for use in dimmers."

Even the bulbs made for dimmers should only be used with sliding dimmer switches, not the round, rotating dimmer switches.
6. Check for indoor or outdoor use.

CFLs are designed for both indoor and outdoor use. Check the packaging to make sure you get the kind you need.
7. Dispose of your bulbs properly.

All compact fluorescents contain trace amounts of mercury. Recycling your burned out bulbs is the best option. Contact your local government (Household Hazardous Waste program) to see if recycling is an option in your area.

But don't worry -- changing to a compact fluorescent bulb will result in less mercury being released. Your reduced electricity use means far fewer mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants.

posted in Working Fragrance Free - 0 replies

FWD article: Want a full-time job? Live chemical-free

2006-06-03T21:58:40Z

Much thanks to "Evil Mike" for sending this along...
========

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060531.wxchemicals01/BNStory/specialScienceandHealth/home
Want a full-time job? Live chemical-free

MARTIN MITTELSTAEDT

Globe and Mail Update

From Thursday's Globe and Mail — In Barbara Harris's home, you won't find air fresheners, non-stick pans or mattresses containing harsh flame retardants. That's by design: Ms. Harris tries to create a lifestyle that minimizes the chances she'll come into contact with harmful chemicals found in everyday products.

“I have a very simple, very scent-free, and very low-chemical household,” she declares.

Ms. Harris, who lives in Springhill, N.S., is part of a grassroots effort to minimize exposure to chemicals contained in dozens of consumer items, substances that a growing body of research suggests may pose health risks.

Along with others at the Environmental Health Association of Nova Scotia, she's used her experiences to help put together an Internet self-help guide (www.lesstoxicguide.ca) for those who want to cut potentially harmful substances out of their lives, and may be confused about how to go about it.

“It's more than a full-time job for individuals to try to figure out what's in the products that they're using,” Ms. Harris says of the difficulties.

Efforts to minimize exposures to chemicals in ordinary products are arising because many everyday household items contain substances such as a bisphenol A, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and perfluorochemicals, compounds that recent research has linked to a host of health problems, ranging from cancer to attention-deficit disorders and declining sperm counts.

The use of these chemicals wouldn't be a problem, except for another recent discovery. The chemicals used to make many consumer goods are migrating from products into the environment, and are now being detected in practically the entire population.

PBDEs, for instance, widely used in mattresses and computers as flame retardants, are found in the bodies of Canadians at the second highest level in the world, just after readings in the United States. Almost all Canadians also carry in their bloodstreams measurable quantities of perfluorochemicals, very persistent pollutants that are used to make non-stick pans and stain-repellant clothing.

The federal government is also looking at many chemicals in long-term use, and is expected to declare later this year that about 4,000 of them may present enough of a threat to either human health or to the environment that they should be given detailed safety reviews.

The chemicals are among 23,000 substances grandfathered in 1988 when the country adopted its modern anti-pollution rules. At the time, Canada decided to require in-depth safety evaluations only for new substances as they were introduced into the marketplace, and put off a decision on reviewing chemicals already used in commerce.

Worry about exposures to poorly regulated chemicals is why, in her home, Ms. Harris has looked at practically every consumer item, trying to select products with the lowest health risk. In her bed, is “a very expensive organic cotton mattress. There is really no choice in between for me,” she says, a step that has avoided PBDEs.

For household cleaners, she uses mild soaps, baking soda and vinegar. In the kitchen, forget about non-stick pans and the perfluorochemicals that are used to make them; she cooks on cast iron or stainless steel pots and pans, after finding that the fumes from non-stick cookware made her ill.

When she pops food into the microwave, it's never in a plastic container. She uses glass or pottery, a step taken to minimize the chances of chemicals from the hot container leaching into food.

She also advises consumers to relax a bit about the standards they set. For instance, she doesn't buy stain-resistant clothing, and was miffed recently when one of the large U.S.-based mail-order clothing companies began advertising T-shirts with chemical coatings that make them more impervious to dirt.

“You know, stains above brains,” she says.

“I think it's absurd that we put stain-resistant coatings on things where we don't need them.”

The federal chemical review effort could have wide-ranging implications for common products in homes and offices because of the thousands of potentially harmful substances under review, many which are used in consumer products.

One of the most commonly used substances that is expected to be reviewed is bisphenol A, a chemical that resembles a synthetic version of the female hormone estrogen. It's used to make polycarbonate, the hard plastic found in water bottles and compact discs, as well as the dental sealants commonly used on children's teeth.

Other common chemicals to be placed under additional scrutiny are some perfluorochemicals used to make stain-resistant and non-stick coatings for cookware, fast-food packaging, clothing and furniture, along with substances used to soften plastic in children's toys.

Even when the federal government announces its decision on the chemicals selected for review, it will likely be a lengthy process before assessments are done and harmful substances banned or restricted.

Ms. Harris says one of the common beliefs held by consumers is that if products are in stores, all the chemicals used to make them must automatically be safe because regulators have vetted them. The fact that thousands of chemicals need detailed reviews suggests to her that this view is mistaken.

“There is this misconception that Health Canada is protecting us from anything that could be toxic,” she says. “We think it's not true.”

Another approach some environmentalists are using to help people minimize chemical exposures is to monitor what companies say is in their products, then disseminate this information widely.

Clean Production Action, an environmental organization based in Montreal, has set up a website (www.safer-products.org) to do just that. It evaluates products that may contain potentially harmful chemicals, ranking them by corporate name.

“We often get calls from people saying, ‘Well, what am I supposed to buy and who can I trust to buy from?'” says Beverley Thorpe, a spokesperson for the organization.

By its rankings, some of the best companies are IKEA, the Swedish-based home-furnishings chain — which was one of the first to pull PBDEs from its products — and Dell, the big U.S.-based computer maker that also distanced itself from the chemicals.

PBDEs have been linked in laboratory animal experiments to behaviour changes similar to attention deficit and hyperactivity in human children.

For cars, it ranked Volvo the best because it has prohibited the use of several PBDEs in its vehicles, along with phthalates, chemicals used to soften plastic. There are also listings for furniture companies, cosmetics makers and retailers.

In the retail clothing sector, Ms. Thorpe considers H&M Hennes & Mauritz to be a cut above because the Swedish-based chain doesn't allow solvents or other hazardous chemicals to be used in the production of its garments, and all suppliers must sign a statement confirming that they don't use any of the substances that it prohibits.

Although many environmentalist are urging consumers to take matters into their own hands, some researchers say there is a limit to what an individual can do.

Dr. Ana Soto, a breast-cancer researcher at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston who is one of the world's leading authorities on bisphenol A, says many chemicals are almost impossible to avoid.

The only way to be sure of eliminating exposures is “don't eat, don't drink and don't breathe, and you cannot do that,” she says.

Although consumers can take steps to cut exposures, she doesn't know how successful these efforts will ultimately be because of the wide range of products involved.

“When you're being extremely careful, at the end of the day did you decrease the exposure by 5 per cent or 95 per cent? I cannot answer that,” Dr. Soto says. In her view, the most effective way to reduce exposures would be better regulation.

This is the last of five stories in the Toxic Shock series.

posted in Working Fragrance Free - 0 replies

FWD from Barb Wilkie, EHN: "Evidence Based Medicine

2006-04-21T16:10:26Z

Dear Friends --

I hadn't seen the following before. I have Kathleen's permission to share this, but not her email address . . . so please don't ask me for it.

Perhaps this will lead you to more information on "evidence-based medicine."

In any case, I hope you find the info and the idea helpful.

Hoping you have a wonderful weekend.

hugs,
barb wilkie
www.ehnca.org
=============

Hello, All-- Excuse me if this has already been posted, but, as a lawyer, I gotta love this endorsement of "evidence-based medicine." It gets to the heart of the elements of proof in PREVENTION cases, whether we are engaged in administrative advocacy or litigation or administrative rules-making.

All cases for "reasonable accommodations"--whether under s504, the ADA, or the various federal, state and local Fair Housing Acts--are prevention cases (not liability cases). As I discussed in my earlier post, evidence-based testimony--from doctors, family, friends and the petitioner her/himself--is the credible alternative to futile efforts to satisfy Daubert criteria--which should be recognized as legally irrelevant in prevention cases. (Until that happy day, a record packed with evidence-based testimony will allow you to distinguish Daubert on narrower grounds.) This is a good abstract to give your lawyers, along with a reminder to parse the statutory language and get an abundance of evidence-based testimony into the record.

If anyone (perhaps one of the doctors on this listserve?) can post the full text of this research, I would be grateful.

Kathleen

Abstract: Explanatory and pragmatic perspectives regarding idiopathic physical symptoms and related syndromes
ImmuneSupport.com

04-04-2006

CNS Spectr. 2006 Mar;11(3):225-32.
Engel CC.
Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine of Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA.

In recent years, research-methods literature mainly addressing controlled clinical trials has arisen regarding explanatory and pragmatic treatment trials. Explanatory trials tend to examine causal mechanisms and questions of efficacy and value internal validity (creating optimal study conditions) over generalizability (using study results to understand treatment effects in real-life patient populations).

In contrast, pragmatic trials value "external relevance" (generalizability) of study results over "internal elegance" so that clinicians and health policymakers can better understand how treatments might impact their patients and policies.

This review draws inspiration from these contrasting explanatory and pragmatic perspectives and develops them for clinical and research pertaining to idiopathic physical symptoms and related syndromes (eg, somatization disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple chemical sensitivities, irritable bowel syndrome).

Explanatory and pragmatic perspectives are used to examine these idiopathies with regard to causation, case definition, labels, and treatment. It is concluded that idiopathic symptom syndromes are fundamentally pragmatic clinical and research challenges.

For epidemiologic and methodologic reasons, the complex explanations for these syndromes remain largely elusive. Even so, scientific and clinical pragmatism offers the opportunity to reduce disagreement between competing medical disciplines and between clinicians and affected patients with regard to irreconcilable etiologic questions and to remain evidence-based in the care of patients.
PMID: 16575379 [PubMed - in process]

posted in Working Fragrance Free - 0 replies

Fabric Softener Fumes-Costco will investigate/FWD from Barb Wilkie

2006-03-24T17:50:47Z

Another important FWD from Barb Wilkie, EHN:
--------------

Dear Friends --

From time to time, you've heard from me on the subject of fabric softeners. I've asked that you contact the Consumer Products Safety Commission, I've also given you a code number to use in that contact. Frankly, I've gotten busy with my own health issues and have fallen down on following up on the fabric softener issue, just one of many I might add.

However, my EHN friend Marsha has not.

This is an opportunity for you to act and for you to share this information with others.

NOW is the hour for you to make your complaints and accompanying information available where it might do some ultimate good. Nothing moves quickly when we Davids take on the Goliath of our era, but we've got to keep plugging along . . . as long as we are still breathing.

hugs to you all,
barb wilkie
www.ehnca.org
===============

Marsha writes:

After experiencing horrible fumes from detergents and fabric softeners at the Costco store in Mountain View, CA earlier this week, I contacted their corporate headquarters and said the chemical fumes (and residues) were dangerously high, and are probably coating all the nearby fruits, vegetables, meat and baked goods packages, which pose a major health issue. I got a call back from the Executive VP of Merchandising (responsible for products and safety) who not only acknowledged this as something he experienced, but thought that I was raising "very valid points." He wants me to send him lots of information about product safety issues. He also said that he may call for chemical testing in the stores, AND he's going to make P&G, Heuish (their supplier of detergent and fabric softener products), and other vendors "accountable" for product safety information. He said that Costco is P&G's second largest customer, and that "they listen to him!"

This is an open door everyone, so please send me any new information you may have about the chemicals in laundry products that are posing health risks. I'm really going to push for them (1) relocating products further away from food, (2) ventilating those areas better (he said a firm "no" to closing up the area), (3) offering fragrance-free varieties in a safer location, and (4) realizing that if these chemical residues are being deposited on food (which we all know they are), that they could be liable.

Please forward this to any MCS/EI related group in the United States (and Canada, if Costco is there). Thank you.

Marsha Miliman
mmiliman@earthlink.net

posted in Working Fragrance Free - 0 replies

Several Fragrance Articles/FWD from Barb Wilkie

2006-03-23T14:12:05Z

Hi all,
The following is a forward from Barb Wilkie, president of the Environmental Health Network of CA. Enjoy!
Amy
----------------------------------
From Barb:

1) A GRIST article . . . at http://www.grist.org/news/maindish/2006/03/17/hymas/index.html?

(For me and my old computer, this comes up on Internet Explorer but not Netscape.)

Sense and Sensitivities
Multiple Chemical Sensitivities can drive sufferers into poverty as well as ill health

By Todd Hymas 17 Mar 2006

"Consider the trappings of modern life: Calvin Klein Eternity, gasoline, Gore-Tex, Aveda hairspray, paint, particle board, polyurethane iPod cases.

"Now imagine that you are virtually allergic to all of them. ..."

Read then write if you've time and energy. We all have something to say!

Write to the Editor of GRIST . . .

Letters to the editor can be sent to letters@grist.org, or you can fill out the form below. Tell us where you're from and which article motivated you to respond. Also, please include your phone number so we can confirm that you aren't a jealous editor of a competing online environmental magazine. Letters may be edited for length, clarity, and grammatical boo-boos.

Check out missives from other readers in our Letters section.

Please note that only letters intended for publication should be sent via the above address or the below form. If you've got comments, compliments, complaints, or questions that you don't want published, send them to grist@grist.org.

2) A Boston Globe article at http://www.boston.com/news/education/k_12/articles/2006/03/08/on_cape_air_of_worryover_student_fragrances/

On Cape, air of worry over student fragrances
By Kathleen Burge and Janice Nickerson, Globe Staff And Globe Correspondent | March 8, 2006

"BOURNE -- As age-old teenage mating rituals play out in his
school's hallways, Barry Motta detects a menace. It smells like Axe
body spray and Deliciously Kissable Love Potion Fragrance. ..."

3) My DNA at http://www.mydna.com/resources/news/news_20060220_perfume_allergies.html

New thoughts on office allergies
Fri 10 Mar 2006 03:49 PM CST
WASHINGTON DC (myDNA News)

"Dollars and scents

"At $6 billion, the U.S. fragrance market is the largest in the world. But for individuals with chemical
and scent sensitivities, this sweet smell of success translates to breathing difficulties.

"The adverse effects of fragrances, perfumes, and scented personal care products and household
cleaners can be numerous. Studies conducted by organizations like the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) have found that inhaling or ingesting fragrances in large amounts can lead to
shortness of breath and circulatory changes in the brain that may trigger migraines, dizziness and
fatigue. ..."

Contact via: Ask Dr. DNA -- http://www.mydna.com/resources/askdrdna

Dear Steve Poceta, M.D. (aka Dr. DNA):

4) And, SouthCoast Today brings us . . . http://www.southcoasttoday.com/daily/03-06/03-08-06/03topstories.htm

About face, Tommy Girl: Local school looking to ban
perfume, scented deodorant
By JOSEPH R. LaPlante, Standard-Times staff writer
Date of Publication: March 08, 2006 on Page A07

" Is body wash the next peanut butter?
" Can that splash of cologne you smack on your kisser this morning be the
kiss of death to an unsuspecting allergy sufferer who gets a whiff of you later
today?
"The Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical School in Bourne isn't taking any
chances. The school wants to ban the use of cologne, perfumes and other
fragrances.
"The Institute of Medicine (of the National Academies) has placed
fragrances in the same category as secondhand smoke in triggering asthma
in children and adults," the school advised parents recently.
"The School Committee has referred the proposed policy to a subcommittee
for review. If adopted, it would be included in the school's handbook.
"But, can Chrome or Polo Sport or Curve cause the same distress as Jiffy or
Skippy?
"'No,' says Dr. John McGuire of Allergy Associates of 49 State Road, North
Dartmouth. 'It is more of an irritant to people with allergic rhinitis and
asthma. These people are more likely to have a reaction to it. It is an irritant
to the sinuses and lungs.' ..."

Contact Joseph R. LaPlante at jlaplante@s-t.com

----------------------

Aren't we glad that we don't see doctors like Dr. John McGuire of Allergy Associates? Good gracious, we could die from an exposure to fragrances and he'd not have a clue as to what caused our death. Perhaps our demise would be listed as "Asthma" but based upon the above, he'd never get it that petrochemical-derived fragrances poisoned us and sent us to our premature eternity and that asthma was just one of the many different symptoms that can be expressed by our poisoned bodies.

Best to all of you . . .

barb wilkie
www.ehnca.org
=============
--
It IS the combinations of chemicals,
states UC Professor Tyrone Hayes
in Oakland Tribune article about pesticides.

It IS the environment states
Breast Cancer Action and Breast Cancer Fund
in an Oakland Tribune article about breast cancer.

It IS the combination of fragrance chemicals,
as well as individual petrochemically derived chemicals,
state Betty Bridges, RN (FPIN) and Barb Wilkie (EHN)
since petitioning the FDA May 11, 1999.
Write to the FDA . . . tell them to protect your health
by regulating the flavors and fragrance industry.
Put Docket Number 99P-1340 on your subject line.
E-mail FDA Dockets at fdadockets@oc.fda.gov

posted in Working Fragrance Free - 0 replies

Chemically Sensitive Artists

2006-03-20T02:08:57Z

Hello Everyone,
I'm new here and also a visual artist. I noticed my sensitivity about 8 yrs ago. Sometimes it's challenging since I love oils! Is anyone else here an artist?

Thanks for having me here,
Sugati

posted in Working Fragrance Free - 4 replies