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Hormone Disrupting Effects
A study by Greenpeace in 2005, discovered that 36 well-known perfume brands contained two toxic, man-made chemicals, phthalate esters and synthetic musk, as in the "old" days the perfumes were derived 100% from botanical plants. Phthalates are known estrogen and testosterone hormone disrupters and effect DNA, male sperm and restricts lung function in men, while synthetic musk can attack living tissues. Phthalates have been associated with thyroid disorders, premature breast development in baby girls, and abnormal sexual development in male fetus and infants. They are also found in the blood of pregnant women, in breast milk, and can cross the placenta. Diethyl phthalate, commonly used in fragrances and other personal care products, damages the DNA of sperm which can lead to infertility in adult men. Phthalates can change peoples mood and behaviour, and as they can disguise unpleasant odours, are often found in cleaning products, in hospitals (seems today one of the most dangerous place on earth) and nursing homes.
Some fragrance chemicals can alter the skin's surface tension, facilitating the absorption of other chemicals into the skin. Fragrances can lead to allergies, eczema, psoriasis, contact dermatitis and other skin conditions. It is estimated that 1 – 2% of the North America population may have a skin allergy to fragrances as these can easily volatilize. And, as manufacturers use long lasting fragrance chemicals and invent new powerful potent ones, they can linger in the air, settling and sticking to skin, hair, clothes, furnishings, everything!
Fragranced laundry products provide constant exposure, infants' skin being especially susceptible to absorbing chemicals directly from diapers. Fragrance chemicals can also accumulate in fabrics and are very difficult to remove. Laundry will even absorb fragrances if other people have used fragrance detergents in their wash.
Neurological Effects
Fragrance chemicals affect brain and the central nervous system, with some effects being immediate and transitory, while others are chronic and long lasting. Fragrances can modify brain blood flow, alter blood pressure, pulse and mood, and trigger migraine headaches. When inhaled, some have potent sedative effects and some like AETT and musk ambrette are neurotoxic. Specially formulated fragrances are used to control public behaviour.
Respiratory Effects
Fragrance chemicals can induce or worsen respiratory problems, and lower airway irritation occurs in 15% of people. These respiratory irritants, which cause inflammation and increase mucus production, make the airways more susceptible to injury and allergens, as well as trigger and exacerbate such conditions as asthma, allergies, sinus problems and other respiratory disorders. In school aged children, fragrances can trigger asthma, a chronic illness afflicting 9 million American children. Among adults, asthma rates have doubled since 1980, with one in fourteen suffers from asthma, and with 72% of asthmatics citing fragrance as a trigger.
Environmental Effects
Fragrance are volatile compounds. The widespread use (and they are banned already in some clinics, hospitals and other public buildings) and vast numbers of fragranced products used cause extensive indoor and outdoor pollution. Many people find it difficult to enter public buildings, attend public events, stand near people or walk outdoors due to fragrances released in the air. A Norwegian study even found synthetic musk compounds in outdoor air in a remote area.
Fragrances are dispensed through ventilation systems in many buildings. They are designed to add a "pleasant" scent to the air (for example, using food smells in shopping malls and floral scents in stores to increase sales). Scents can cover up poor air quality due to odours from cigarette smoke, exhaust fumes, pesticides, mould and chemical off-gassing from furniture, carpet, glues, cleaning products etc. They can also cover up insufficient fresh air ventilation present in many offices, restaurants, hotels, airports etc.
An estimated 292 million Americans regularly wash and dry their clothes using fragranced laundry products!
Waste water treatment facilities do not remove fragrance chemicals, many of which are persistent and accumulate in the environment. The documented presence of fragrance chemicals in even drinking water, in streams and in lakes could adversely affect the health of people, animal and plant life.
For more information on the hazards of synthetic scents, refer to: www.ourlittleplace.com/perfume.html, www.herc.org/news/perfume/risks.htm.
A variety of fragrance-free natural products are available in the market place, just make the effort and carefully read all the labels. If you can't pronounce the ingredients, don't buy it!
Words of Wisdom
You cannot cheat nature, however much you may cheat your fellow man.
Galilei (Italian Professor and Natural Scientist, 1564 – 1642)
References: (books)
Focus on Fragrance and Health, Louise Kosta
Our Toxic World, Doris Rapp, MD
Acute Toxic Effects of Fragrance Products, Rosalind & Julius Anderson
Less Toxic Alternatives, Carolyn Gorman
Healing the Planet, A Primer in Environmental Medicine, Jozef J. Krop, MD
Dispatches, From the war zone of environmental health, Helke Ferrie
100.000.000 Guinea Pigs, Dangers in everyday foods, drugs and cosmetics, Arthur Kallet & F.J. Schlink, first published January 12, 1933!
About the author
Klaus Ferlow, herbalist, innovator, lecturer, researcher, writer, founder, President and co-owner of FERLOW BOTANICALS, Div. of Ferlow Brothers Ltd, Vancouver, B.C., manufacturing, distributing TOXIN free medicinal herbal and personal care products to professional health & wellness practitioners and selected stores with practitioners on staff since 1993. , www.ferlowbotanicals.com
His educational articles have been published in dozen of Health Magazines, Magazines, Newspapers, Newsletters in Canada and numerous websites around the world.
Disclaimer: This information is offered for its educational value and should not be used in the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of disease, please contact your health care practitioner.
=> ESSENTIAL versus FRAGRANCE OILS. Part 1: What is a Pure Essential Oil?
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