Teens Turning Green

Fragrance is increasingly cited as a trigger in health conditions such as asthma, allergies and migraine headaches. A recent Institute of Medicine study sponsored by the EPA in the United States put fragrances in the same category as second hand smoke as a trigger for asthma in school-age children. Up to 72 percent of asthmatics report their asthma attacks are triggered by fragrance.

Fragrances are now used in almost every cleaning, laundry, and personal-care product on the market!  Read ingredient lists for the word Fragrance.

What you need to know:

• Synthetic fragrances contain many, many toxic chemicals. 

• More than 4,000 chemicals are used in fragrances. Of these, 95% are made from petroleum.

• More than 5,000 different fragrances are used in perfumes and skin products, in hundreds of chemical combinations, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.   

• The fragrance industry does not have to reveal the exact chemicals involved, because this is considered a trade secret.

• Among the commonly-used chemicals used in perfumes that are known to  cause cancer, birth defects, infertility, nervous system damage, or other injuries are propylene glycol, (considered an immumotoxic chemical) ; cyclohexanol, (depressive action on the central nervous system); linalool, (depression and respiratory disturbances;) methyl ethyl ketone, (can induce unconsciousness, emphysema, congestion, eye, nose, and throat irritation, and numbness of the extremities; and formaldehyde, (a known carcinogen, with many other damaging traits), diethyl phthalate (suspected hormone disrupter with ability to  accumulate in the fatty tissues of the human body through skin absorption); phenols (suspected carcinogens, may cause reproductive harm); benzene ethanol (rated toxic, readily absorbed via skin, central nervous system effects); synthetic musks (substances which accumulate in human and animal tissues) and skin and respiratory irritants. 
• Search for products that do not contain the word "fragrance" in their ingredients list -- rather than those that claim to be "unscented."  "Unscented" products can still contain chemicals used as "fragrance-maskers." 

• Labels that claim a product is "natural" or "biodegradable" do not mean that it is necessarily free of synthetic fragrances or other chemicals.

•  Most products which list  "essential oils" or "botanical essential oils" are acceptable.

• Fragrances are volatile compounds, which add to both indoor and outdoor air pollution. Synthetic musk compounds are persistent in the environment and contaminate waterways and aquatic wildlife.

• These chemicals go directly into the bloodstream when applied to our skin and are also absorbed into the skin from our clothing.  

• Many people are "bothered" by perfumes - developing headaches, sinus problems, and even asthma from exposures.

  More information about fragrance: Download: Not So Sexy, The Health Risks of Secret Chemicals in Fragrance , by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.

Is perfume the New Second Hand Smoke , Huffington Post, May 6, 2010