Monday, March 3, 2008

Fragrance Health Risks

There is an overwhelming amount of cosmetic and body care products on the market. Even more overwhelming is the task of selecting safe products. Manufacturer's labeling is often not clear and not completely forthcoming with all of their ingredients. To help protect consumers and assist us with safe product selections the Environmental Working Group along with the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has developed the Skin Deep cosmetic database.

Recently, the risk that perfume causes to environmental health has come under fire. Many people believe that the chemicals used in perfume are dangerous to inhale. While there aren’t many clinical studies that have been published on the subject, the number of people who complain about the irritation has certainly raised a few eyebrows.



Though it is hard to think of perfume as being dangerous, the fact is that some perfumes do contain toxic chemicals. Most scented products now on the market, including perfume, are made up of synthetic chemicals derived from ingredients such as coal tar and petroleum. When someone wears perfume, they are essentially wearing these chemicals on their skin. As the chemicals vaporize into the air, they can cause sneezing, coughing, watery eyes, breathing problems, headaches, dizziness, and nausea.


It is estimated that twenty to thirty percent of the world’s population has physical or allergic reactions to one or more synthetic substances. However, many people go undiagnosed and never realize that they have an allergy problem. Even so, the concern over environmental illness is becoming widespread enough that many offices, schools, and other workplaces have banned the use of perfumes.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), discount fragrances are considered the leading cause of cosmetic contact dermatitis. As a health problem, this sensitivity alone affects more than 2 million people, and studies suggest that sensitivity is on the rise.

(What do you do when faced with fragrance sensitivity or allergy? Talk with others on the Health Cafe board.)

Fragrances and Our World
Experts theorize that one reason fragrance allergies appear to be increasing is that fragrances themselves have become such a prominent part of our world. According to the AAD, some 5,000 different fragrances -- and countless other fragrance combinations -- are used in products today. And they can be a powerful, toxic brew.

Principal chemicals found in scented products are:

ACETONE (in: cologne, dishwashing liquid and detergent, nail enamel remover) - On EPA, RCRA, CERCLA Hazardous Waste lists. "Inhalation can cause dryness of the mouth and throat; dizziness, nausea, incoordination, slurred speech, drowsiness, and, in severe exposures, coma." "Acts primarily as a central nervous system (CNS) depressant."

BENZALDEHYDE (in: perfume, cologne, hairspray, laundry bleach, deodorants, detergent, vaseline lotion, shaving cream, shampoo, bar soap, dishwasher detergent) - Narcotic. Sensitizer. "Local anesthetic, CNS depressant"... "irritation to the mouth, throat, eyes, skin, lungs, and GI tract, causing nausea and abdominal pain." "May cause kidney damage." "Do not use with contact lenses."

BENZYL ACETATE (in: perfume, cologne, shampoo, fabric softener, stickup air freshener, dishwashing liquid and detergent, soap, hairspray, bleach, after shave, deodorants) - Carcinogenic (linked to pancreatic cancer); "From vapors: irritating to eyes and respiratory passages, exciting cough." "In mice: hyperanemia of the lungs." "Can be absorbed through the skin causing systemic effects." "Do not flush to sewer."

BENZYL ALCOHOL (in: perfume, cologne, soap, shampoo, nail enamel remover, air freshener, laundry bleach and detergent, vaseline lotion, deodorants, fabric softener) - "irritating to the upper respiratory tract" ..."headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, drop in blood pressure, CNS depression, and death in severe cases due to respiratory failure."

CAMPHOR (in: perfume, shaving cream, nail enamel, fabric softener, dishwasher detergent, nail color, stickup air freshener) - "local irritant and CNS stimulant" ..."readily absorbed through body tissues" ..."irritation of eyes, nose and throat" ..."dizziness, confusion, nausea, twitching muscles and convulsions" "Avoid inhalation of vapors."

ETHANOL (in: perfume, hairspray, shampoo, fabric softener, dishwashing liquid and detergent, laundry detergent, shaving cream, soap, vaseline lotion, air fresheners, nail color and remover, paint and varnish remover) - On EPA Hazardous Waste list; symptoms: "...fatigue; irritating to eyes and upper respiratory tract even in low concentrations..." "Inhalation of ethanol vapors can have effects similar to those characteristic of ingestion. These include an initial stimulatory effect followed by drowsiness, impaired vision, ataxia, stupor..." Causes CNS disorder.

ETHYL ACETATE (in: after shave, discount cologne, perfume, shampoo, nail color, nail enamel remover, fabric softener, dishwashing liquid) - Narcotic. On EPA Hazardous Waste list; "...irritating to the eyes and respiratory tract" ..."may cause headache and narcosis (stupor)" ..."defatting effect on skin and may cause drying and cracking" ..."may cause anemia with leukocytosis and damage to liver and kidneys" "Wash thoroughly after handling."

LIMONENE (in: perfume, cologne, disinfectant spray, bar soap, shaving cream, deodorants, nail color and remover, fabric softener, dishwashing liquid, air fresheners, after shave, bleach, paint and varnish remover) - Carcinogenic. "Prevent its contact with skin or eyes because it is an irritant and sensitizer." "Always wash thoroughly after using this material and before eating, drinking, ...applying cosmetics. Do not inhale limonene vapor."

LINALOOL (in: perfume, cologne, bar soap, shampoo, hand lotion, nail enamel remover, hairspray, laundry detergent, dishwashing liquid, vaseline lotion, air fresheners, bleach powder, fabric softener, shaving cream, after shave, solid deodorant) - Narcotic. ..."respiratory disturbances" ... "Attracts bees." "In animal tests: ataxic gait, reduced spontaneous motor activity and depression ... development of respiratory disturbances leading to death." ..."depressed frog-heart activity." Causes CNS disorder.

METHYLENE CHLORIDE (in: shampoo, cologne, paint and varnish remover) - Banned by the FDA in 1988! No enforcement possible due to trade secret laws protecting chemical fragrance industry. On EPA, RCRA, CERCLA Hazardous Waste lists. "Carcinogenic" ..."Absorbed, stored in body fat, it metabolizes to carbon monoxide, reducing oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood." "Headache, giddiness, stupor, irritability, fatigue, tingling in the limbs." Causes CNS disorder.

a-PINENE (in: bar and liquid soap, cologne, perfume, shaving cream, deodorants, dishwashing liquid, air freshener) - Sensitizer (damaging to the immune system).

g-TERPINENE (in: cologne, perfume, soap, shaving cream, deodorant, air freshener) - "Causes asthma and CNS disorders."

a-TERPINEOL (in: perfume, cologne, laundry detergent, bleach powder, laundry bleach, fabric softener, stickup air freshener, vaseline lotion, cologne, soap, hairspray, after shave, roll-on deodorant) - ..."highly irritating to mucous membranes"... "Aspiration into the lungs can produce pneumonitis or even fatal edema." Can also cause "excitement, ataxia (loss of muscular coordination), hypothermia, CNS and respiratory depression, and headache." "Prevent repeated or prolonged skin contact."

With increased usage and exposure, problems have emerged regarding fragrances. There are concerns for both those that use scented products and those exposed from others' use. Many of the concerns regarding skin allergies are well recognized. Other concerns, such as those surrounding phthalates as possible hormone disrupters and its impact on respiratory health, are emerging issues in which there are limited data available.

Skin

The vast majority of medical literature available on health effects of scented products is in the realm of dermatology. Fragrances have been long recognized as skin allergens and irritants. The skin was thought of as the primary route of exposure from scented products and up until the late 1970s the skin was thought to be an effective barrier to fragrance materials entering the body. Most health and safety concerns related to fragrance were focused on effects on the skin. It is now recognized that the skin is not an effective barrier to many substances. The skin is an entry point for materials into the body. Once entry has been gained, there is potential for systemic effects.

Fragrance ingredients can be irritants, allergens, photosensitizers, photo toxins, and they can have other negative effects on the skin. In spite of the fragrance industry's focus on skin safety of fragrance materials, dermatologists are usually the ones to pinpoint problematic materials. Actual real use situations reveal much more than tightly controlled laboratory testing of singular materials.

The incidence of skin allergy to fragrance has increased with exposure. A conservative estimate is that 1 -2% of the population has skin allergy to fragrance. There is a direct correlation between use of scented products and development of skin allergy to fragrance.12

Fragrances are complex mixtures of substances whose interactions with the skin are affected by many factors. Even though there may be sensitization to a specific substance, other substances can impact penetration, distribution, metabolism and interaction. Singular materials may have a far different effect than complex mixtures.

Some materials used in perfumes alter the surface tension of the skin and thus can more deeply penetrate the skin. Combinations of materials can have an impact on absorption. Materials commonly used in fragrance formulas can increase penetration of the skin. Some terpenes have been found to significantly enhance dermal absorption of pharmaceuticals. It is thought that they disrupt the stratum corneum to allow increased penetration of the skin. Terpenes are common in scented products and are likely to increase absorption of other materials in products and in the fragrance portion of the product.13

Testing by the RIFM is usually done on healthy adult volunteers whose skin is intact. It fails to account for more vulnerable populations. One in ten eczema patients have allergies to fragrances. The rate has doubled since 1979.

Perfume allergy is one of the most frequent types of contact allergy among children with eczema. Children, especially children with eczema, should not use perfume, to avoid developing perfume allergies. Generally pediatricians and dermatologists recommend scented products not be used on children. And yet there are many scented products available for children, many of which contain known skin allergens, sometimes at levels that exceed industry's recommended use level.14

In addition children are exposed to fragrance in many of the same products as adults such as soaps, laundry products, and toiletries, and should, particularly if they have perfume allergies, avoid scented products. Also, as is the case with adults, those with eczema should avoid skin contact with perfumes to avoid developing fragrance allergies.

It has been found that there is an additive and probably synergistic effect when multiple allergens are used in fragrance. By changing testing protocols so that similar materials were not tested on the same panel, the RIFM has missed an opportunity to better evaluate real use situations. In actual use formulas may contain several known sensitizers, and in some instances higher than industry recommended levels are used. Such formulations increase the potential for allergies to develop. Further use of multiple products can expose the skin to numerous combinations and levels of allergens.

It has also been found that inhalation of some fragrance materials alter the immune response of the skin. Interestingly it was found that application of the materials to the skin did not have this same effect.

There is widespread use and exposure to scented products. While there are frequent clinical and anecdotal accounts of adverse effects, there is limited research outside of the area of dermatology. The available information is widely scattered and needs to be considered as a whole. Fragrance is clearly an emerging health and environmental concern that needs to be tackled. Make sure to do your research before selecting a name brand fragrance from an Online Perfume and Cologne Fragrance Store.

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