[FPIN] US cities are banning artificial fragrances in public places (fwd)

[Guest guest]

All I can say is its about f'ing TIME!

" If having endured much, we at last asserted our 'right to know' and if,

knowing, we have concluded that we are being asked to take senseless and

frightening risks, then we should no longer accept the counsel of those

who tell us that we must fill our world with poisonous chemicals, we

should look around and see what other course is open to us. "

Carson

" My toxicasa (world) is your toxicasa (world). "

Judith Goode

---------- Forwarded message ----------

Date: 09 Nov 2004 16:55 GMT

From: schuetz-lohmar@...

Reply-520020231544-0001@...

FPIN

Subject: [FPIN] US cities are banning artificial fragrances in public places

Trouble in the air

First it was smoking, now US cities are banning artificial fragrances in

public places. But, as Kate Hilpern discovers, our love of perfumes

really could be making us sick

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health_medical/story.jsp?story=580858

Perfume is the new tobacco. The effects of fragrance chemicals have

become the focus of a new health scare, with campaigns against " passive

smelling " becoming increasingly common.

For some people, second-hand scent is more serious than second-hand

smoke, says to McManus of Allergy UK. The onset of symptoms are

quicker and can be debilitating, she explains. " Whilst some people might

get a mild headache from getting a whiff of perfume from someone walking

down the street, others may be very ill for several days. "

She reports that a growing number of helpline calls are from sufferers

of " fragrance sensitivity " , with symptoms including dizziness, fatigue,

rashes, hives, watery eyes, sore throat and chest tightness. Fragrance

sensitivity has even been blamed for learning disabilities and

depression. " Normally the blood expels anything toxic, " explains

McManus. " With fragrance-sensitive people this may not happen and it can

affect the nervous system. "

Like many sufferers, Josh Devonshire, 32, believes his condition becomes

worse with continued exposure. " I used to enjoy wearing aftershave in my

early 20s, " he says, " but now I can't even tolerate others around me

wearing perfumes, colognes or soap. It's particularly bad in the winter,

when the cold weather dries out my nasal membranes and the chemicals

seem to get into my system even quicker. "

Department stores, theatres and even aeroplanes have become no-go areas,

he explains. " At work, I've asked everyone to make my desk a scent-free

zone, but that hasn't worked and, on a few occasions, I've had to go

home because my chest feels so tight and I can't concentrate, " he says.

Medications aiming to deal with allergies don't work, he claims.

The US, as well as Canada, takes the problem far more seriously than

Britain does. In Halifax, Nova Scotia, a policy of " no scents makes good

sense " discourages the wearing of cosmetic fragrances in municipal

offices, libraries, schools, hospitals, courts and public transport.

Santa Cruz in California has banned fragrances from public meetings,

whilst neighbouring Marin County boasts a growing number of restaurants

with fragrance-free sections...

For information on the health effects of fragrances, Please visit:

http://www.fpinva.org