Green Calgary

No Scents Makes Good Sense (encore)

Reader Question

Ashley,

My workplace recently adopted a fragrance-free policy and while I don’t disagree with it, I’m wondering what it is exactly that causes some people to react to fragrances. I’d like to know your thoughts.

Blessings,
Eleanor

Ashley's Answer

Hello Eleanor,

The multi-billion dollar fragrance industry is a self-regulated behemoth and because of its might, it is virtually impossible to go a day without having our olfactory glands assaulted by hundreds, if not thousands, of smells, many of which are synthetic. Fragrances exude from perfumes, laundry products, candles, hand creams, shampoos, air fresheners and thousands of other products. Many fragrances elicit deep psychological feelings – reminders of a sunny beach vacation, a home-cooked meal, or a first date – but an increasing number of studies are drawing connections between synthetic fragrances and poor human health.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reported that fragrances account for 30% of all allergic reactions, and 70% of asthmatics develop respiratory difficulties when exposed to perfumes. Other symptoms arising from exposure to fragrances include headaches, dizziness, rashes, skin irritation and discolouration, as well as coughing and vomiting. Debra Lynn Dadd, author of Home Safe Home, writes, “Clinical observations by medical doctors have shown that exposure to fragrances can affect the central nervous system, causing depression, hyperactivity, irritability, inability to cope, and other behavioral changes.” These findings correlate with many of those popping up in the peer reviewed literature and while it is obvious that synthetic fragrances are making some people sick, trying to avoid them is not so easy.

A label containing the word “fragrance” or “parfume” is likely alluding to a concoction of as many as 100 synthetic chemicals. The specific details are protected as trade secrets, making it nearly impossible for shoppers to make informed decisions about the products they purchase. This is deeply troubling as many fragrances contain phthalates - a hormone-disrupting chemical suspected of contaminating breast milk and causing damage to the kidneys, liver, lungs and reproductive organs.

In 2002, Environmental Health Perspectives published a study that linked diethyl phthalate (DEP), a phthalate commonly added to fragrances and other personal care products, to damage caused to the DNA of sperm in adult men at current levels of exposure. And recently, comprehensive product tests carried out by The Campaign For Safe Cosmetics found DEP in nearly every fragrance tested in the United States; yet, manufactures are not required to list if DEP has been added to its products. In fact, most manufactures of personal care products only list the bare minimum of ingredients as required by law, and good luck finding the ingredients on household cleaners and laundry products. Manufactures are simply not required to label them. But not all companies agree with this logic, as some are choosing voluntarily to label their products so that their customers can make conscious and informed decisions.

Seventh Generation has been a true leader is this area, disclosing all of the ingredients in all of their products so that people can be confident in the purchases they make. This, I feel, is the mark of a good company: disclosing all of its ingredients even though they are not required to do so. I feel so strongly about this point that I only buy cleaners and personal care products that fully list their ingredients. My thinking is that if a company has nothing to hide, why then would they hide it? Transparency is paramount.

I will finish by saying that I, like millions of other Canadians, suffer from sensitivities to synthetic fragrance and this leaves me feeling like a canary in a coalmine. Many of the personal care and cleaning products that are used by millions of Canadians contain products that are either known or suspected to be detrimental to human health. We can do ourselves, and all of those that we share our homes, workplaces and public spaces with, a big favor by selecting products that are scent-free and supporting companies that are transparent in their labeling.

For more information to help you navigate the overly complicated world of personal care products check out the Skin Deep Cosmetic Database. The Good Guide is another invaluable resource that ranks tens of thousands of commonly used products, while The Guide to Less Toxic Products is an outstanding resource to help identify less toxic and scent-free personal care and cleaning products. And, last but not least, if you’d like to learn more about implementing a fragrance-free policy at your workplace, please visit the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety.

Unscently,
Ashley

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