Fw: SAFETY CONCERNS AND TESTING FRAGRANCE MATERIALS

[Guest guest]

>The 4th in a series of articles on concerns on fragrance safety is now

>up at the " Flipside " Website. These articles can be printed out and

>freely used. Flipside has an open policy on the use of materials put

>up at their site. As the author of the articles, I also give

>permission for them to be freely used.

>

>These articles take an indepth look at concerns over lack of

>regulation, inadequate testing, health, and environmental concerns.

>They summarize much of the information I have compiled over the past 5

>years.

>

>Anyone that cannot access the " Flipside " Website, can drop me a line

>and I will send the articles in e-mail messages.

>

>

>

>SAFETY CONCERNS AND TESTING FRAGRANCE MATERIALS (4)

>

> " A substance can be in wide spread use for more than 20 years before

>any testing occurs outside the company producing the material. " By

>Betty Bridges, RN bcb56@...

>

>The Research Institute for Fragrance Materials (RIFM) is responsible

>for testing the safety of raw materials. The RIFM is a major facet of

>the self-regulatory process of the fragrance industry.

>

>According to Ford, Ph.D. of the RIFM,

>

> " Over the approximately 30 years since its inception, RIFM has tested

>virtually all important fragrance materials in common use. (It has

>always been the policy of RIFM that if a material is used by only one

>company, it is that company's responsibility to see that the material

>is adequately tested and evaluated.) " ( A. Ford, " RIFM

>Activities in the Safety Assessment of the Dermal Effects " page 184 of

>the book Fragrances: Beneficial and Adverse Effects)

>

>This is quite a surprising statement since only around 1300 of the

>more than 3000 materials in use have been tested. The clarifying

>statement in parenthesis raises further concerns over the extent of

>the RIFM's testing.

>

>While fragrance formulas may not be patented, fragrance chemicals may

>be. During the time the patent is in force, the company holding the

>patent normally has control over the production of the materials. A

>patent is generally in force for around 20 years; the actual time may

>vary depending on the country the patent is filed in.

>

>To see the whole article:

>http://www.flipside.org/vol2/oct99/99oc22a.htm

>

>For the other articles.

>

>HALIFAX LEADS THE WAY WITH FRAGRANCE FREE POLICIES (1)

>http://www.flipside.org/vol2/sep99/99se22a.htm

>

>SELF REGULATION OF THE FRAGRANCE INDUSTRY IS INADEQUATE AT BEST (2)

>http://www.flipside.org/vol2/oct99/99oc02a.htm

>

>SYNTHETIC COMPOUNDS NOW MAKE UP MORE THAN 80-90% OF THE MATERIALS USED

>IN FRAGRANCES (3)

>http://www.flipside.org/vol2/oct99/99oc13a.htm

>

>

>

>Betty Bridges, RN

>Fragranced Products Information Network (FPIN)

>For information on health effects of fragrances, visit:

>http://www.ameliaww.com/fpin/fpin.htm

>

>SUPPORT THE PETITION TO THE FDA

>Docket # 99P-1340

>Send comments to: fdadockets@...

>

>For more information visit:

>http://users.lanminds.com/~wilworks/FDApetition/bkgrinfo.htm

>http://www.ameliaww.com/fpin/petition%20index.htm

>

>