- “About one-third of the Canadian population is sensitive to fragrances. So it’s becoming a more common issue,’ said Nancy Bradshaw, community outreach co-ordinator of the Environmental Health Clinic at Women’s College Hospital in Toronto” http://www.womenshealthmatters.ca/health-centres/health-information/resources/feature-article/why-fragrance-free-works-at-work-%28womens-health-matters-article%29
- “Perfume today is not made from flowers but from toxic chemicals. More than 4,000 chemicals are used in fragrances. Of these, 95% are made from petroleum. No agency regulates the fragrance industry, yet perfume chemicals are as damaging to health as tobacco smoke” http://wp.psacbc.com/categories/health-safety/scent-free-policy/
- “30 percent of Canadians, including people with and without existing lung conditions, report strong scents adversely affect their health … More than five thousand fragrance chemicals are used in personal care products alone … Just one perfume can contain more than 500 chemicals. A common ingredient in scents is toluene. Toluene triggers asthma attacks and is known to cause asthma in previously healthy people” http://www.bc.lung.ca/mediaroom/scents.html
- “The problem with scented products is not so much the smell itself as the chemicals that produce the smell … Most (95%) of the chemicals used are synthetic compounds made from petroleum. These include chemicals made from benzene, aldehydes and many other known toxins and sensitizers. One commonly used chemical is diethyl phthalate, which is used to make scents last longer. It can cause allergic skin reactions (contact dermatitis) and is classified as a skin sensitizer and a reproductive toxin” http://sct.poumon.ca/protect-protegez/pollution-pollution/indoor-interieur/scents-parfums_e.php
- ” … recent Canadian regulation publishes a “Hot List” of ingredients not allowed in cosmetics as well as requirements for labelling of cosmetic ingredients … neither the list nor the labelling requirements, includes any phthalates, including DEHP, classified as CEPA-toxic. Likewise, BBP and DBP, both classified by European and California authorities as developmental and reproductive toxins, are not on the Hot List. DBP and DEHP have both been banned from cosmetics in Europe since 2003″ http://www.cela.ca/publications/regulating-toxic-substances-consumer-products PDF file, p. 7
- “”There is increasing evidence that phthalate exposure is harmful to children at all stages of development,” said Stephanie Engel, PhD, lead study author and Associate Professor of Preventive Medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. “We found a striking pattern of associations between low molecular weight phthalates – which are commonly found in personal care products – and disruptive childhood behaviors, such as aggressiveness and other conduct issues, and problems with attention. These same behavioral problems are commonly found in children diagnosed with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Oppositional Defiant Disorder, or Conduct Disorder. Phthalates are part of a group of chemicals known as endocrine disruptors, that interfere with the body’s endocrine, or hormone system. They are a family of compounds found in a wide range of consumer products such as nail polishes, to increase their durability and reduce chips, and in cosmetics, perfumes, lotions and shampoos, to carry fragrance” http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-01/tmsh-msf012710.php & See research paper, Prenatal Phthalate Exposure Is Associated with Childhood Behavior and Executive Functioning: http://ehsehplp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.0901470
- “213 commercial consumer products representing 50 different product types were analyzed for endocrine disruptors and asthma-associated chemicals. 55 compounds were detected, “indicating a wide range of exposures from common products. Vinyl products contained > 10% … DEHP <a type of phthalate> … In other products, the highest concentrations and numbers of detects were in the fragranced products … and in sunscreens” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3404651/
- “If you want to talk phthalates, the go-to expert is, without a doubt, Dr. Shanna Swan from Mount Sinai School of Medicine … “Nail polish is bad, but perfume is the worst,” said Swan, referring to recent studies demonstrating more uptake of phthalates from perfume than from any other personal care product” (Toxin Toxout: Getting Harmful Chemicals out of Our Bodies and Our World by Bruce Lourie & Rick Smith, p. 34 & 36)
- “Exposure to perfumes and other scented products can trigger serious health reactions in individuals with asthma, allergies, migraines, or chemical sensitivities … the impact … can be quite severe, resulting in great difficulty in work and study activities” http://www.ehs.utoronto.ca/resources/HSGuide/Scent.htm
- “Even very small amounts of scents and perfumes have been cited as a trigger to attacks in those with allergies, asthma or multiple chemical sensitivities … Fragrances can induce or worsen respiratory problems such as asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, and allergies because of their irritant effect. The National Academy of Sciences reports that 95 per cent of the chemicals used in fragrances are synthetic compounds derived from petroleum. They include benzene derivatives, aldehydes and many other known toxics and sensitizers— capable of causing cancer, birth defects, central nervous system disorders and allergic reactions. The Ontario Federation of Labour issued an Allergy Alert that cited perfume as a serious health risk” http://leddy.uwindsor.ca/scent-free-guidelines
- “If you are wearing a scented product and you are approached by someone who is chemically sensitive or someone acting on their behalf: Do not take the request to refrain from using scented products as a personal affront – this is about the impact of chemicals on people, not about you. Work with others to find out what product or products are causing the reaction. Become part of the solution and switch to fragrance-free products” http://www.dal.ca/dept/safety/programs-services/occupational-safety/scent-free.html
- “It may at first seem that asking people to use scent-free personal care products touches on a personal and private matter. But when the scents from these products affect the health and well-being of other people, it then goes beyond just being a matter of private concern. The goal of this awareness campaign is not to target people personally or to criticize people’s preferences. Rather, it’s to prevent real harm to real people” http://www.confederationc.on.ca/fragrancefree/faq
Smart About Scents 