THE UNREGULATED HEALTH HAZARD OF SCENTED PRODUCTS
Why Are Scented Products A Problem For Many People?
Perfumes and scented products have been around for centuries. So why are they now a problem for a lot of people, when they weren’t a problem before? The reason is that centuries ago perfumes were made very naturally using plant oils, flower petals, herbs and spices.
Today, perfumes and scented products are made in a chemical factory by chemists. Over 4,000 synthetic chemicals are used in the perfume and scent industry. Most of these chemicals are very toxic, and they can negatively affect the various different system of the body. These toxic chemicals are classified as volatile organic compound (VOCs).
Sometimes when a person wears perfume, cologne, or some other scented product, the person considers it their own "personal" scent. However, since the toxic chemicals that make up that scent are VOCs, that scent will infiltrate all the surrounding air, causing everyone around them to be breathing that scent as well. Consequently, the person’s "personal" scent is no longer personal. It can and does affect others, who have to breathe that scented air.
Can Scented Products Really Be Considered A Health Hazard?
Yes. Toxic chemicals in the air that we breathe have direct access to our brain and our nervous system through the neural pathways in the nose. (Please see the article: The Nose-Brain Connection.) Since scented products are designed to vaporize into the air, the toxic chemical ingredients of those scented products will be in the air that is breathed. Through these neural pathways, those toxic chemicals will have direct access to the brain and nervous system of everyone who has to breathe that scent.
Many scented products contain chemical ingredients that are classified as neurotoxins, which means that they are chemicals that are poison to the nervous system. By inhaling scented products containing neurotoxins, those neurotoxins (poisons to the nervous system) are delivered to their intended target – the brain and the entire nervous system.
If the scent is in the person’s hair, the individual will be breathing in those toxic chemicals 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you are a parent or someone who cares for young children, you also need to know that the scent that is on your person will be breathed in by your infants and toddlers whenever you are holding them, and the toxic chemicals in that scent can negatively affect their brains, nervous system and other systems of their body.
Is The Government Regulating This?
Sadly, no. It is an unregulated health hazard. Frequently, the governments don’t even know what the ingredients are that make up the scented product. The manufacturers are not required to list their ingredients, as the ingredients are protected under “trade secrets”.
Additionally, the majority of scented products contain many toxic chemicals that have never undergone any toxicological testing of any kind, and the toxic chemical ingredients that have undergone toxicological testing, have been tested for dermatological effects, but not inhalation effects. Yet, inhalation is the way that most people are exposed to the toxic chemicals in scented products. Plus the synergistic effects of all the toxic chemicals that go together to make up a particular scent have not been tested, as to their effect on human health.
Even though inhalation is the primary route that scented products enter the human body, the governments have not insisted that the product’s ingredients go through inhalation testing. The omission of this inhalation testing for products that are designed to be inhaled is irresponsible and demonstrates an incredible disregard for the value of human health and life.
How Are People Made Ill By Scented Products?
There is a growing number of people who are becoming intolerant of exposures to scented products. This intolerance is characterized by having toxic reactions upon exposure to scented products. The people might experience some or all of a wide range of adverse symptoms, including, but not limited to: headache, migraine, cognitive difficulties, dizziness, tingling or numbness sensation, muscle spasms, muscle or joint pain, nausea, vomiting, asthma, shortness of breathe, extreme fatigue, and so on.
Upon exposure to even a tiny amount of scent, the Chronic Chemically Injured person will probably have some of the above mentioned toxic reactions. Therefore it is vitally important to them to avoid exposure to even tiny amounts of scent.
For a Chronic Chemically Injured person, signs that say “No Scent” mean no scent at all, of any kind, anywhere on your entire person – no scent of any kind on your skin, on your hair, and on your clothes.
Consequently, wherever and whenever one sees the signs “No Scent”, it must be taken very seriously.
Will Covering My Scent With Another Product Be A Safe Solution?
No. That is actually a very dangerous solution for the Chronic Chemically Injured person. Never use the products that claim to cover, mask or “remove” all scent or odour. A Chronic Chemically Injured person becomes ill by the toxic chemicals that produce the scent, not by the smell itself. Using another product to cover, mask or “remove” all scent does not get rid of the toxic chemicals that are the problem.
Additionally, many of the products that claim to cover, mask or “remove” all scent are also made up of toxic chemical ingredients – some of which are neurotoxins. Instead of being a safe solution, using these products make the situation much worse.
These products are very dangerous for Chronic Chemically Injured individuals for a few reasons:
-
They are now exposed to both the toxic chemicals of the scented products and the toxic chemicals of the product that claims to cover, mask or “remove” all scent or odour. So their toxic chemical exposures will be even greater, and their toxic reactions will be even worse.
-
Since Chronic Chemically Injured individuals can’t smell the scent, they are unaware that they are being exposed to toxic chemicals, until it is too late.
-
Since the Chronic Chemically Injured individuals can’t smell the scent, they can’t take action to protect themselves.
-
Consequently, they will probably have very severe toxic reactions, which will be much worse than just being exposed to only the scent of the original product.
A Safe And Effective Solution Is Making Wise, Healthy Choices
In conclusion, a safe and effective solution is to decide to change the products one is using – to make the wise, healthy choice to use only non-scented products for personal care, laundry, cleaning, and so on. This safe and effective solution is one that will successfully prevent exposure to scented products and the negative health effects that they cause.