what are people talking about when they say I should be fragrance free?
Many people have developed an intolerance to chemical fragrance, and those chemicals are on, or "may" be on. . . you.
Empower Your Mind
Fragrance Free Toolkit
UCLA has created a wonderful resource, the "Accessible Spaces: Fragrance Free Toolkit", available in both an e-format and as a downloadable PDF. Access it here: https://csw.ucla.edu/toolkit
The American Lung Association also provides wonderful guidance regarding clean air at https://www.lung.org/clean-air including sample policies for workplaces
Scented products are air pollution. Do we really need scented trash bags?
"Exposure to scented products can impact the health of all individuals, not just those with asthma, allergies, migraines, or chemical sensitivities.
Individuals can experience sinus congestion, sore throat, wheezing, coughing, runny nose, shortness of breath, headache, dizziness, anxiety, anger, nausea, fatigue, mental confusion, and an inability to concentrate."
Repetitive exposures exacerbate symptoms. Avoidance is key.
Where should I start?
A review of personal products:
What products are part of your daily routine?
Soaps? scented soaps?
Shampoo? scented shampoo?
Hair conditioner? scented?
Shave cream/gel? scented?
Hair Styling products? scented?
Lotions/Skin moisturizers? scented?
Deodorant? scented?
Clothes . . . washed in detergent? scented?
dried in clothes dryer? with scented fabric softener?
and please pretty please don't . . .
Perfume?
Now consider how many people you will share space with today.
at work.
at the store.
home.
The indoor air we share is being polluted by personal preferences.
The outdoor air is being polluted by personal preferences.
Please consider preferring something new.
one change that makes a whole neighborhood healthier . . . replacing scented laundry products with fragrance free options because when we go outside for fresh air, we are not getting it. Dryer vents multiplied by # of homes in neighborhood = fabric softener scents where fresh air was
Please choose fragrance FREE laundry products.
Invisible Barriers
Chemical Awareness
An introduction
There are over 13,000 chemicals hidden behind the word "fragrance". Over 6,000 of those are known carcinogens. When these chemicals converge in shared spaces, we create additional biohazards . . . and people with chemical intolerances are instantly affected. That doesn't mean you aren't too, and given a long enough exposure of a high enough potency, and you'll be starting a website asking for consideration soon yourself. You'd likely first feel the effects as a headache, harder time concentrating, or it could be as hard to identify as just a general change of mood.
Once the intolerance develops, the reactions increase to include, among other things, cognitive impairment, respiratory distress, nausea, vomiting, heart palpitations . . . the list goes on and no two people experience the effects in exactly the same way. The effects of exposure continue long after the person leaves the space, impacting bodily functions for hours to days later. This means we are no longer able to be in shared workplaces due to fragrance on coworkers and scented devices. We are unable to access health care due to office staff that won't adhere to fragrance policies. We are excluded, or exclude ourselves, from family gatherings. Social interactions cease. We need YOUR help to make spaces breathable again. Thank you for being here, learning more and know that every little change you make IS appreciated.
Resources to learn more about monitoring agencies and the toxins of primary concern:
California passed legislation that requires companies to disclose known carcinogens. The full list of chemicals can be viewed and filtered down here:
https://oehha.ca.gov/proposition-65/proposition-65-list
PDF versions are also available for download.
CDC overview of how these chemicals are destroying our health and future
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/exposure-history/Organ-Systems-Are-Affected.html
Health and societal effects from exposure to fragranced consumer products
Research article: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5122698/
Fragrance is just one of many ways we are exposed to these chemicals. Here is another:
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