Letters
to the Editor
MCS America News,
Volume 3, Issue 2, February 2008.
How do we motivate people to understand that the use of scented products has
become so pervasive that it poses a serious air pollution problem in our
schools, our homes, at shopping malls and individual stores, and even in
outdoor air?
Because the fragrance chemical industry is unregulated, users of fragranced
products may believe that if you can buy them, they must have been approved by
government agencies. But the fragrance industry is unregulated and does
not have to disclose what is in their products.
All fragrance chemicals give off volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that
disperse into the air and into our lungs. What is really surprising, and
still under the radar of many, is that they also contain many of the same
toxic, carcinogenic chemicals that are in tobacco smoke.—such as formaldehyde,
benzene, toluene, and other persistent organic compounds that do not break
down, but build up in our environment—just like plastics.
Like plastics, fragrances also contain dangerous phthalates, the
hormone-disrupting chemicals that are known to affect gender development in
fetuses and can also cause early puberty and other sexual development issues,
including infertility. On top of these serious toxins, fragrance
chemicals are also carcinogenic and are severe respiratory irritants.
Asthma is the number one reason for school absenteeism and emergency room
visits in children. The American Lung Association states that a majority
of asthmatics cite fragrances as a trigger—just as cigarette smoke and wood
smoke are triggers.
At a time of much ado about “going green,” we need only to look at our number
one source of toxins that are everywhere if you stop to take notice—in scented
laundry detergents and fabric softeners, scented lotions, perfumes, hair gels,
scented candles and air fresheners, (which many Walgreens stores have
recently pulled off their shelves in light of increasing evidence of harm).
Let’s clean up the air by buying unscented laundry products and personal care
products. For until we do, it is getting hard to find
“fresh air” inside and outside. Everyone deserves to breathe free!
Especially those whose lives may depend on it, which may be yours!
Julie Mellum
Copyrighted © 2008 MCS