In response to "Homer Simpson" --

Let's not think of it as self-righteous, but self-protection. IF synthetic fragrances were made as they were in Biblical times and IF synthetic scents weren't gratuitously added to a large array of household and janitorial cleaning and maintenance products (including pesticides so people don't object to the odor of the small percent of toxins they are allowed to know about), as well as to personal care products, THEN maybe you could think of those who complain as whiny people. But I assure you, we are not whiny and we are not a small handful. Industry flacks and apologists would have you believe that, but there are millions upon millions of people adversely affected by synthetically scented products used in public venues.

The fragrance industry is unregulated, and is further protected by trade secret laws so they don't have to tell you what's in their products. Interestingly, trade secret status does not protect the industry from "rip-off" scents being manufactured and sold, but it does shield the industry from an informed consumership. But that isn't enough protection of the industry . . . it is still further protected in being able to label a product "unscented" or "fragrance-free" while it contains synthetic scent as a "masking scent." How little toxin is little enough for the already chemically injured?

Analyses performed in 1999 are part of a Citizens' Petition before the Food and Drug Administration, which is still open and receiving letters and documentation about "adverse events" suffered as a result of synthetic fragrances used by self or others. As tobacco smoke leaves the user to affect the health and well being of others without regard to underlying health conditions, so do synthetically scented products.

People who use synthetically scented products are generally outgassing a variety of scents starting with their soap and shampoo, right on up through their layers of cologne and perfume, to that final spritz that they walk into to let settle all over their bodies and clothing.

Synthetic scents are recognized as "Common Indoor Air Pollutants" by NIEHS -- http://www.niehs.nih.gov/external/faq/indoor.htm

The Sierra Club has a resolution against the excessive use of fragrances in public places -- http://tamalpais.sierraclub.org/chapters/sanfranciscobay/policy/december1998.htm

The US Access Board has developed a fragrance-free policy --
http://www.access-board.gov/news/fragrance.htm

Until our experts can prove to us that synthetic scents are safe for pregnant women, infants and children, the elderly, those with compromised immune systems, people living with asthma, cancers, migraines and other severe headaches, various central nervous system disorders, etc., I suggest doing your own research. You can start with websites like Fragranced Products Information Network at http://www.fpinva.org or that of the Environmental Health Network of Larkspur, CA at http://www.ehnca.org

The FDA states:

"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 their cosmetic products before marketing. If, however, the safety of a cosmetic product has not been substantiated, the product's label must read 'WARNING: The safety of this product has not been determined.'" http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/cos-206.html

What product carries "'WARNING: The safety of this product has not been determined.? Because the FDA does not enforce its own regulation already on its books, both FPIN and EHN sites host the FDA Petition. Check out that information, which includes analyses of a few popular scents ... http://users.lmi.net/wilworks/FDApetition/bkgrinfo.htm

You may also wish to visit Perfumers World at http://www.perfumersworld.com/chems/material.htm

An interesting study would be to compare the information available from Perfumers Word and their raw "Materials of Perfumery" with an advertisement by the Canadian industry's Scented Products Education and Information Association of Canada (SPEIAC). Their ad was published following their press conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia, June 20, 2000 -- "COMMON SENSE ABOUT SCENTS." See http://www.scentedproducts.on.ca/hdnad.jpg

And then after reading the ad, check out Alcohol through NIOSH's "Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards" --
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/pgdstart.html See Ethyl alcohol - CAS # 64-17-5; Synonyms & Trade Names: Alcohol, Cologne spirit, Ethanol, EtOH, Grain alcohol

The industry uses thousands of chemicals in their formulations (estimated between 3,000 and 5,000 chemicals), yet there is precious little known about many of the individual chemicals and the industry does not adequately test chemicals used in combination. The most studies done revolve around dermatology, but then the dermatologists have not widely broadcast the fact that one can suffer severe eczema and adult onset acne from simply breathing in the chemicals from scents used by others. No one knows the synergistic effects of those chemicals as they volatilize from any one individual, let alone from many individuals. Add warm temperatures and you have people having to think, to work, receive healthcare, worship, ... in a toxic soup of an environment. What we do know is that synthetic fragrances contain known irritants and sensitizers as well as known or suspected neurotoxins, carcinogens and teratogens (adversely affecting embryonic and fetal development).

Sadly we do not have adequate labeling. If everything were really OkeyDokey and safe, you should think the industry would be happy to label their products. Hope for a change with public health in mind will come with support of Rep. Jan Schakowsky's (D IL) bill before the 107th Congress: HR 1947; co-sponsored by Rep Shelley Berkley (D NV) See Thomas and key in hr 1947 to get info on SNIFF - Safe Notification and Information for Fragrances Act - <http://thomas.loc.gov/home/thomas.html>http://thomas.loc.gov/home/thomas.html

IF YOUR health and the health of YOUR loved ones is important to you, write to your representative and your senators and ask them to support the work of representatives Schakowsky and Berkley. And you will write to the FDA telling them you want them to enforce the regulation already on their books, which states



-- barb