Toxins go up your nose and into your brain. ▼









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Back in 1986 the US National Academy of Sciences identified fragrance ingredients as 1 of 6 neurotoxic chemical categories that should be thoroughly investigated. That put fragrances right up there with insecticides, heavy metals, solvents and food additives as primary causes of disease in humans.

Many compounds in fragrance are human toxins. Numerous are proven carcinogens or are under suspicion. In 1989, the US National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) evaluated 2,983 fragrance chemicals for health effects. They identified 884 of them as toxic substances.

The EPA found that 100% of perfumes contain

toluene

which can cause liver, kidney and brain damage in adults and additional damage to a developing fetus.

Synthetic fragrances are a known trigger of asthma attacks. Inhaled fragrance chemicals can cause

• Sore throat
• 
  
• Runny nose
• 
  
• Sinus congestion
• 
  
• Wheezing
• 
  
• Shortness of breath
• 
  
• Nausea
• 
  
• Muscle pain

Symptoms reported to the FDA from fragrance exposure have included

• Headaches
• 
  
• Dizziness
• 
  
• Rashes
• 
  
• Skin discoloration
• 
  
• Violent coughing
• 
  
• Vomiting

Fragrance is a common skin allergen.

Once inside the body, fragrance chemicals cross the blood-brain-barrier. Clinical observations have shown that exposure to fragrances can affect the central nervous system, causing

• Mental confusion
• 
  
• Depression
• 
  
• Hyperactivity
• 
  
• Listlessness
• 
  
• Irritability
• 
  
• Inability to cope
• 
  
• Other behavioral changes

Acute affects include

• Liver and kidney toxicity
• 
  
• Seizures
• 
  
• Pulmonary failure
• 
  
• Death

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Chemical-based air fresheners and deodorizers do not remove anything in the air -- instead they add chemicals to the air.

These products work by various mechanisms which include



They use a variety of chemicals including



Aerosol air fresheners release small particles that can be inhaled deeply into lungs and transferred into the blood stream. Plug-in air fresheners emit even smaller particles.

Airborne toxic particles inhaled into the lungs can be detected in the blood in as little as 60 seconds.

While fragrance chemicals can be quick to saturate the blood, they are slow to clear from the body.

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Using air fresheners or aerosols is significantly correlated with adverse effects on mothers and infants.




Fragrance chemicals can accumulate in fatty tissue and leach slowly back out. In women the chemicals can be passed on through breast milk.

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Air fresheners and consumer cleaning agents (such as Pine-Sol) yield high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including glycol ethers, terpenes, and limonenes that react with ozone to form a variety of secondary pollutants including formaldehyde and ultrafine particles.

Significant particle concentrations can be produced indoors as a result.

Research has shown there is a correlation between indoor air quality (IAQ) and student scores, health, and overall performance.

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Children are more susceptible to air fresheners than adults because particles tend to concentrate at lower heights.

A child can be exposed to 25% more particles than an adult standing in the same room.

Fetuses, infants and children are the most vulnerable to toxins in the air.

Plus, fragrances can be absorbed through the skin – especially through children’s skin which is thinner than adult skin.

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This study found 30% of people across all demographic groups have adverse reactions to fragranced products, with more than half of them experiencing breathing difficulties and other health problems when exposed to air fresheners. There is significant overlap between some forms of asthma and chemical hypersensitivity.

Reaction to a chemical might be obvious right away, but often the sensitivity develops over time without any noticeable symptoms. Then one day acute symptoms suddenly appear. This can make it difficult to recognize the correct cause of illness.

     

SPECT scan of MCS patient's brain before and after challenge with perfume inhalation.

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During the 5-year period from 1996-2001, deliberately inhaled air fresheners accounted for more than 25% of all Volatile Substance Abuse deaths in children 19 years old and younger.

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Phthalates are used in fragrances and can be inhaled easily.

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Two carcinogens commonly found in air fresheners -- naphthalene and para-dichlorobenzene (PDCB) -- have been observed to inhibit cell death (apoptosis) thereby demonstrating a mechanism for cancer growth.

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'Fragrance' on a label can indicate the presence of up to 4,000 separate ingredients, most of which are synthetic.

For example, here are two 'simple' perfumes -- each one incorporates more than 100 synthetic chemicals.

It is predictable that many fragrance chemicals amplify the toxic effects of the others. Specific studies to find out have not been done. However, searching PubMed for pairs of chemicals will inevitably reveal studies that describe synergy, especially if the chemicals appear on the TRI list.

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Synthetic musk fragrances are added to countless consumer items -- lotion, shaving cream, shampoo, conditioner, detergent, fabric softener, air freshener, household cleanser, even some "unscented" products. They are present in any consumer product that "smells good".

Nitromusks and polycyclic musks enable toxins to enter cells that normally would be kept out. This effect continues long after exposure to the musk has stopped.

Consider how that can impact the placenta and developing fetus.

Also, the levels of synthetic musk compounds in breast milk are quite high, especially in U.S. mothers. This will continue to adversely affect children during their early growth.

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Just like 'fragrance' can represent a mixture of toxic chemicals designed to influence your sense of smell, "flavor" can represent a mixture of toxic chemicals designed to influence your sense of taste.

Here is an example given for a fast-food 'strawberry' milkshake. The ingredients are given as

The 'artificial strawberry flavor' contains


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Air fresheners can hide the presence of mold, pests, and sewage. These are health threats that should be dealt with and not masked.

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The EPA, FDA, and CPSC are not required to oversee the combination of ingredients in fragrances nor how they interact in homes, schools, restrooms, businesses, or other spaces.

There are no laws requiring manufacturers to disclose specific fragrance ingredients. There are no laws requiring safety tests involving fragrance ingredients. No warnings are required to alert people of the hazards inherent to these chemical cocktails.

Terms such as "unscented", "fragrance free", "hypoallergenic", "natural", "green", "floral", "outdoor fresh", or "environmentally friendly" have no legal definition and no consistent meaning across products.

In September 2007 the Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club, Alliance for Healthy Homes and the National Center for Healthy Housing filed a petition with the EPA for regulation of air fresheners. The coalition asked the government to



The EPA denied the petition in December 2007. The coalition is considering a law suit.

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Synthetic fragrances have been shown to persist and to accumulate in the environment.

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Interested in finding out more? Try these starting points

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