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What’s That Smell? Hidden Fragrance Found in Cleaning Products
Healthy Child
Thursday, June 17, 2010
In the first report examining the health effects of fragrance chemicals in cleaning products, the national non-profit, Women’s Voices for the Earth, has drawn attention to top-selling detergents, air fresheners and spray cleaners. These products contain secret fragrance chemicals that are not required to be listed on the label, and which are linked to allergic reactions, respiratory disorders, reduced fertility and birth defects.
"People need to understand the hazards of fragranced products to themselves, to others, and to the environment. This important report provides illuminating evidence of these widespread hazards,” says Anne Steinemann, Ph.D, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Professor of Public Affairs, University of Washington.
The report “What’s That Smell” points to a number of scientific studies that demonstrate the potential of fragrance chemicals to cause long-term health impacts, casting doubt on their safety. TWEET THIS The presence of these chemicals in everyday cleaners, which impact almost all Americans, shows that chemicals remain largely unregulated due to weak laws governing their use and safety.
For this report, Women’s Voices for the Earth compiled 37 peer-reviewed scientific studies, and highlighted the chemicals that pose significant risk: phthalates and synthetic musks. Phthalates have been associated with hormone disruption, sperm damage, birth defects and feminization of boys. Synthetic musks have been found to enhance the effects of other chemicals entering the body.
- Estimates indicate that fragrance usage in the United States has more than doubled since 1990.
- The report found that the highest level of synthetic musks were found in laundry detergent, furniture polish and fabric softener.
- The report points to a study that found that 75% of patients diagnosed with fragrance allergies were women, most of whom developed skin rashes when exposed to fragrances. Women still do 70 percent of the housework in the average home, according to WVE.
“The industry needs to use safer alternatives,” says WVE executive director Erin Switalski, “so that consumers aren’t taking a risk with their health when they clean.”
“There’s no reason to be putting the health of American consumers at risk because of a legal loophole. We need to update our laws so that moms and dads can get the information they need to make choices about what they bring into their homes,” says Senator Al Franken (D-MN). “That’s why I’ve introduced legislation that would require full labeling on the products for cleaners—much like what we have for food and drugs. It’s just common sense.”
This report comes at a time when the industry is facing unprecedented changes at the federal legislative level, with Congress considering Senator Franken’s Household Product Labeling Act and the Safe Chemicals Act, which would require that chemicals be evaluated for safety before being included in products. The current law governing chemicals used in the marketplace is over 30 years old. Thousands of chemicals have been introduced to market since then without independent safety testing. WVE advocates for a strong version of the Safe Chemicals Act to be passed.
The report contains information on how to reduce usage of fragranced products as well as suggestions for non-toxic cleaning alternatives.
So what CAN you do?
Take a minute right now to tell cleaning product companies to come clean! Click here to demand that Proctor & Gamble, Reckitt Benckiser (makers of Easy Off & Lysol), SC Johnson (makers of Windex), Clorox, and Sunshine Makers (makers of Simple Green) remove harmful ingredients and list all fragrance ingredients directly on the product label, where it helps you the most!
Women’s Voices for the Earth (WVE) is a national organization that engages women to advocate for the right to live in a healthy environment. WVE seeks to reduce and ultimately eliminate environmental pollutants that cause health problems for women, their families and communities. To this end, WVE creates opportunities for women to influence environmental decision-making. For more information, visit www.womenandenvironment.org.
Find Out More:
- Tips to Avoid Overexposure to Fragrances
- Make a Call for Safer Chemicals!
- Get the NEW Guidebook for Parenting!
Posted by Lisa Redford on 07/06/2010 at 10:27 AM
Why do people use highly-scented fabric conditioners? Why use fabric conditioners at all? If you want to soften your clothes, use a capful of white vinegar in your last wash. I often feel sick when I sit next to someone who has used scented fabric conditioners on their clothes - the smell is overwhelming and bears no resemblance to the smell of real flowers or plants. Just a couple of drops of Essential Oil in your rinsing water will have a safer effect. I think they should ban these artificial fragrances. I wonder if the rise in Eczema in children has anything to do with it?
Posted by Jo douglas on 07/02/2010 at 10:50 PM
This is fabulous. It is wonderful that the focus on the dangers of chemicals in our personal and cleaning products is intensifying.
I wonder whether, in the future, we may look upon the dangers of synthetic fragrances in a similar manner to passive smoking. I get horrible irriation in my nostrils when I breath in chemical based perfumes and fragrances.
I had the most amazing experience with perfumes recently. I was at the launch of a range of botanical perfumes made without a single synthetic chemical. Even so, I presumed I would need to leave the room and couldn’t believe it when I realized that my nose wasn’t irritated.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you are interested in completely chemical free, organic products.
Posted by Lisa Redford on 07/02/2010 at 04:59 AM
After many months of painful blisters and cracks on my feet and fingers, patch tests showed that I was allergic to fragrance and perfume in skin products and washing powders etc. I’ve discovered that fragrance and coloring is now put in nearly all skin products. Why do we have an obsession with smell? Why cant a product be natural without the use of these added chemicals?
Posted by Margot Boyd on 07/01/2010 at 05:21 PM
Thank goodness!
What a battle it is to keep my kids, one of whom has developed asthma in reaction to Downy and Bounce, away from these overwhelming fragrances. And I firmly believe he is the ‘canary in the coal mine,’ as the products are unhealthy for all of us. I have known about these toxins for several years now, and it’s so frustrating to be able to do nothing about it. My children’s classrooms smell overwhelmingly some days. I feel terrible leaving them there.
Thank you to the Women’s Voices for the Earth.
Margot
Posted by Andrea on 06/18/2010 at 09:04 AM
I always break out into a rash if I use Victoria Secret lotions or any detergent (even eco-friendly brands) except for All Free&Clear;. I am the perfect example of what is being spoken of in this article. Susceptible to fragrance allergies.
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Posted by Kathryn Brooks on 07/16/2010 at 03:01 PM
My 3 yr. old beautiful granddaughter has life threatening allergies, chemical sensitivities and Celiac Disease. She can not go out to eat anywhere nor can she eat most processed foods.
She cannot go to stores, recreation centers or anywhere where there is chemicals or chemical fragrances. She will break out in HIVES. This leaves very few places to go. She cannot wear clothes that come from stores that shoot out that horrible fragrance every 15 minutes from a box mounted on the walls in the bathrooms. (Are they are trying to kill us.?) This fragrance gets on everything and stays, you cannot even wash it out. I have been living in my home without any chemical cleaners or fragrances for more then 15 years and I try to stay away from the rest of the world, but you can’t get away from it. This and GMO foods I believe are the cause of the allergies on the rise. These children are suffering everyday and the parents live in fear daily. On a positive note my granddaughter eats Organic unprocessed foods made with Love and she wears Organic clothes, plays with safe toys, goes to safe parks and libraries.
What can I do to make a difference and bring awareness?