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By Betty Bridges, RN
Fragranced Products Information Network (FPIN)
The effects of fragranced products are important emerging
health and environmental issues. There are increasing numbers
of people that are negatively impacted by others' use of fragranced
products. There are other concerns as well relating to safety
of the products for users, impact on the environment, and improper
labeling of perfumes and toiletries.
For those whose health is negatively impacted by fragrances,
life is very difficult. It is difficult to work and function
in public environments due to the widespread use of fragranced
products. Since these products are volatile and get into the
air it is impossible to avoid exposures.
While fragrances have been used for centuries, it has only
been since World War II that they have been made primarily of
synthetic materials and only in the past few decades have become
ubiquitous in our environment. Specific changes in formulations
that occurred in the mid-1980s seem to be connected with the
increasing complaints of health effects.
While natural materials are not inherently safer than synthetic
ones, they do have a longer history of use. Fragrance industry
testing revolves around effects on the skin. There is no testing
for respiratory, neurological, or systemic effects. Only about
half the materials in common use have even been tested for skin
effects.
There are so many aspects to this issue. I have tried to pull
together many of the concerns and provide references in an article
that is available at http://www.ameliaww.com/fpin/Commentary2.html
I will try to provide some pertinent sources of information
for key points. This will help give an overview of the information
available. The key issues involved are:
1. Regulatory issues, labeling, enforcement,
etc.
2. Fragrance Materials, Safety, and
Testing
3. Health concerns related to fragranced
products
4. Environmental concerns related to fragranced products
5. Accommodation of those for which fragrances cause, trigger
or exacerbate illness
SUPPORT THE PETITION TO THE FDA Docket # 99P-1340 Send comments
to: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
For more information visit: http://users.lanminds.com/~wilworks/FDApetition/bkgrinfo.htm
http://www.ameliaww.com/fpin/petition%20index.htm
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