· Up to 95% of chemicals used in fragrances are
synthetic compounds derived from petroleum and coal tar. These include
VOCs (volatile organic compounds) such as benzene derivatives, aldehydes,
ketones, alcohol denaturants and other known toxics & sensitizers - capable
or suspected of causing cancer, birth defects, central nervous system disorders
& allergic reactions. 1-7
· Research now shows that chemicals including VOCs
have direct, quick access to the brain through the nasal passages.8,9 Drug
companies developing intranasal drugs are required to use strict FDA guidelines
to prove safety with full ingredient disclosure10, while industries that
make fragrances (with a 75-95% VOC content) are self-regulated, not
required to do any safety testing or to reveal any ingredients .5-7
· A fragrance is typically comprised of 30-500 of
the 3,000-5,000 fragrance chemicals in use. 5-7 A non-profit group
called Research Institute for Fragrance Materials (RIFM) 11 which the International
Fragrance Association (IFRA)12 and FDA defer to for voluntary safety testing
has tested 1,300 single ingredients but only for safety on skin.5-7 Thus,
virtually none of these single or combined ingredients are tested for central
nervous system safety despite the fact that many of the individual chemicals
in fragrances are known to be neurotoxic and/or carcinogenic. 2,5-7
· Labels such as “unscented,” “fragrance-free,”
or “hypo-allergenic” have no legal, safety or regulatory meaning. In fact
such products often contain “masking–fragrances” that may not be listed or
labeled as a fragrance (which is required by FDA). Furthermore these masking-fragrances
have been reported to cause sensitivity reactions in consumers who thought
they were buying and using products free of fragrances.5,13-15
· Examples of the lack of safety, self-regulation
and enforcement in the fragrance industry: Two ingredients (AETT and musk
ambrette) were found to be neurotoxic by independent researchers. However,
AETT had been a “safety tested” ingredient according to RIFM and had already
been in use in fragrances for over twenty years. Musk ambrette which
was supposedly voluntarily withdrawn by the industry (and on the “prohibited”
list by IFRA) was discovered in fragranced products still being produced
and sold 6 to 7 years later. 5-7, 13
· There is no “right to know” for fragranced products:
Ingredients in fragrances are considered to be “confidential business information”
and “trade secrets” and do not have to be revealed to the consumer
even when the product has been reported to cause human health problems. 3,5-7,
14
· Fragrance is now recognized as a common trigger
of asthmatic attacks, migraine headaches, allergy reactions and sinus problems.
5-7, 13,16-18 Fragrances are now more common than ever in household
& personal care products. Recent health reports indicate that asthma,
migraine headaches, allergy and sinus problems have all increased
dramatically in the past 10 years and many organizations speculate that there
is likely a causal link between these increases and the increased use of
fragranced products.6,13,16-18 Further, fragranced products are now listed
as a common source of indoor air and environmental pollution.6,13,19 Even
the EPA states that the use of fragrances should be minimized, yet the fragrance
industry remains self-regulated and with voluntary standards. 20, 6,7
Clearly the self-regulatory process for fragranced products is seriously
flawed. At best it is inadequate and at worst dangerously misleading.
Fragrances are used daily in personal care, household and cleaning products
by millions of men, women and children and while most may believe they are
using safe products the truth is that the actual safety of fragranced
products remains uncertain and largely untested.
References
1 Neurotoxins: At home & the workplace (1986) Report by Committee
on Science & Technology,
U.S. House of Reps Report 99-827.
2 Environmental Defense www.scorecard.org
3 Kosta, L.A. (1998)
Fragrance and Health. Published by Human Ecology Action League (HEAL).
4 Anderson RC et al (l998) Acute toxic
effects of fragrance products. Arch Environ Health 53 (2):138-46.
5 Fisher, BE (1998) Scents & sensitivity
Environ Health Perspect (106)12.
6 Bridges, B (2002) Fragrance: Emerging health & environmental
concerns. Flavour &
Fragrance Journal 17 (5): 361-371.
7 Bridges, B (1999) Fragrances and health. Environ Health
Perspect 107 (7).
8 Thorne,RG, et al. (1995) Quantitative analysis of the
olfactory pathway for drug delivery to the brain.
Brain Res 692 (1-2): 278-282;
9 Inhalant Abuse (2002) NIDA (National Institute on Drug
Abuse) www.nida.nih.gov
10 Medicines are the only chemicals
that have to be proven safe. Why? (2002) CCHE
www.childenvironment.org
11 RIFM- Research Institute for Fragrance Materials
(see www.ifraorg.org)
12 IFRA International Fragrance Association www.ifraorg,org
13 Perfume Hazards Safety & Testing, Health
Concerns www.consumeraffairs.com
14 Lundquist, P. (2002) Fragrances:
What your nose needs to know. Children’s Health Environment
Coalition, www.checnet.org
15 Scheinman, PL (1997) Is it really fragrance-free?
Am J Contact Dermat 8(4): 239-242.
16 AAAAI American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology
www.aaaai.org
17 American Lung Association (ALA) offers indoor
air tips for people with allergies and asthma
(1997) www.lungusa.org
18 Shim, C & Williams, M H (1986) Effects
of odors in asthma Am J Med , 80 (1): 18-22.
19 Common indoor air pollutants (2002) National Institute
of Environmental Health Sciences,
NIH www.niehs.nih.gov
20 EPA , Environmental Protection Agency
www.epa.gov