Poisons in the shower
Symptoms provoked by fragrances include:
Watery or dry eyes, double vision, sneezing, nasal congestion, sinusitis, tinnitus, ear pain, dizziness, vertigo, coughing, bronchitis, difficulty breathing and or swallowing, asthma, anaphylaxis, headache, seizure, fatigue, confusion, disorientation, incoherence, short term memory loss, inability to concentrate, nausea, lethargy, anxiety, irritability, depression, mood swings, restlessness, rashes, hives, eczema, flushes, muscle and joint pain, muscle weakness, irregular heart beat, hypertension, swollen lymph glands, anger.
The chances of anyone important enough to make a difference reading this is very small and anything I put here is probably preaching to the converted.
However, I am on a bit of a crusade here because you don't much see in any of the media about the poisons that are in every day perfumed products. Therefore all I can do is put information out there and gather information as well.
As far as I am aware there is no data about how the increase of asthma can be attributed to perfumes/fragrances, likewise how headaches costing lost time or productivity can be put down to these chemicals, or how depression and even violence can caused by exposure to perfumes and fragrances.
The thing is that is very difficult to avoid perfumes and fragrances.
In the daily shower, there is the body wash, the hair shampoo, the hair conditioner, hair removal products. On the clean, fragrant body goes the deodorant, body lotion, hair gel. And the make for those who use it and the extra perfume just to round it all off.
On go the clothes washed in chemicals that may have a fragrance that lasts for 14 days! Only clothes are changed almost daily! And to make the clothes soft they are subjected to a chemical fabric softener.
Into the toilet fragrant toilet paper - blowing your nose requires inhalation first, so there is another lungful of chemicals - and of course there is the air freshener!
In the lounge there is the electronic air freshener.
The kitchen, for those of us who wash dishes, there is the dishwashing liquid.
In the car, the special air freshener again.
Then the nasties - Cleaners that reduce the need to scrub.
Then you go to bed and the sheets retain the perfume of the washing process.
We are bombarded with these chemicals and there is no authority to control the use of such chemicals.
Where are those who campaigned against the use of 245T , 1080, and against Monsanto? Does nobody realise the dangers these fragrances/perfumes.
Looking back men seldom wore much in the way of perfume and Parmolive started it all with their gold soap. 'Don't wait to be told, you need Parmolive Gold'.
The chemical companies have done their consumer research and advertising until men (certainly young men) wear as much smelly stuff as women do.
Personally, I call perfumes, fragrances and cleaners 'stinky stuff' and rate it worse than dog feces or cat urine, worse because those to things, while unpleasant do not make me cough or give me a headache.
This is not to say that all perfumes are bad - a woman used to come into the nursery and smelt of flowers. Whatever she put on seemed harmless, but these days natural products are outrageously expensive to produce so synthetics are used - chemicals with side effects.
So what is in some of this stuff?
There are these three:
Cocoamide DEA (Diethylalomine): used in detergent, shampoos and moisturizers. A Group 2B carcinogen causing dermatitis, miscarriages or deformed fetus.
Propylene Glycol (Industrial antifreeze): used in deodorant, shampoo, shaving gel and moisturizers. A solvent and carrier. Alters skin structure to allow penetration to carry chemicals that eventually reach the bloodstream.
Sodium Lauryl Sulphate: used in garage floor cleaners, detergents, shampoos, toothpastes. A surfactant and emulsifier based on oils from coconut/palm oils with chemicals added. Is a skin irritant and cumulative effects include organ/reproduction damage.
Then there are the others:
Acetone - this is used in cologne, dishwashing liquid, and nail polish remover. 'Inhalation causes dryness of the mouth and throat, dizziness, nausea, in-coordination, slurred speech, drowsiness - acts primarily as a central nervous system depressant'.
Benzaldehyde - this is used in perfume, cologne, hairspray, laundry bleach, deodorants, detergent, vaseline lotion, shaving cream, shampoo. bar soap, and dishwasher detergent. 'This is a narcotic and sensitizer. Local anesthetic, central nervous system depressant, causes irritation to the mouth, throat, eyes, skin, lings and GI tract causing nausea and abdominal pain. May cause kidney damage.'
Benzyl Acetate - this is in perfume, cologne, shampoo, fabric softener, stickup air freshener, dishwashing liquid and detergent, soap, hairspray, bleach, after-shave, and deodorant. 'Carcinogenic (linked to pancreatic cancer) as a vapor irritant to eyes and respiratory passages - causing coughing. Can be absorbed through the skin causing systemic effects.'
Benzyl Alcohol - this is in perfume, cologne, soap, shampoo, nail polish remover, air freshener, laundry bleach and fabric softener, lotions and deodorant. 'Irritation of the upper respiratory tract, headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and a drop in blood pressure. Also central nervous system depression.'
Camphor - this is in perfume, shaving cream, nail polish, fabric softener, dishwasher detergent, air freshener sticks. 'Local irritant and central nervous system stimulant, readily absorbed through body tissues, irritation to eyes and throat, dizziness, confusion, nausea, muscle twitch even convulsions. Vapors are dangerous.'
Ethanol - this is in perfume, hairspray, shampoo, fabric softener, dishwashing liquid and detergent, laundry detergent, shaving cream, soap, lotion, air fresheners, nail polish and remover, paint and varnish remover.
'Fatigue, eye irritation, irritation to upper respiratory tract (even at low concentrations). Inhalation of vapors is similar to ingestion causing drowsiness, impaired vision, ataxia and central nervous system disorder.'
Ethyl Acetate - this is in aftershave lotion, cologne, perfume, shampoo, nail polish and remover, fabric softener and dishwashing liquid. 'A narcotic. Irritation of eyes and respiratory tract, causes headache and narcosis, defatting of skin causing drying and cracking. May cause anemia leukocytosis and damage to liver and kidneys.'
Limonene - this is in perfume, cologne, disinfectant spray, bar soap, shaving cream, deodorants, nail polish and remover, fabric softener, dishwashing liquid, air fresheners, after shave, bleach, paint and varnish remover. 'Carcinogenic. Irritant and sensitizer for eyes and skin. Recommendation is to thoroughly wash after use and not to inhale vapor.'
Linalool - this is in perfume, cologne,bar soap, shampoo, hand lotion, nail polish remover, hairspray, laundry detergent, dishwashing liquid, lotions, air fresheners, bleach powder, fabric softener, shaving cream, deodorant and aftershave. 'It is a narcotic. Is an ingredient in many essential oils coming from a range of plants. On their own they seem safe enough and have been tested in controlling cancers. The problem is when it combines with oxygen it causes eczema and rashes. Also may cause central nervous system disorder.'
Methylene Chloride - this is in shampoo, cologne, paint and varnish remover. 'Carcinogenic. Absorbed and stored in body fat metabolizes to carbon monoxide reducing oxygen carrying capacity of blood. Headache, giddiness, irritability, fatigue, tingling of the limbs - causes central nervous system disorder.'
a-Pinene - this is in bar and liquid soap, cologne, perfume, shaving cream, deodorants, dishwashing liquid and air freshener. 'Sensitizer and damaging to the immune system.' Toxicity information is vague.
g-Terpinene - this is in cologne, perfume, soap, shaving cream, deodorant and air freshener. 'Causes asthma and central nervous system disorders.'
a-Terpineol - this is in perfume, cologne, laundry detergent, bleach powder, laundry bleach, fabric conditioner, stick air freshener, lotion, soap, hairspray, aftershave and deodorant. 'Highly irritating to mucous membranes, breathing into lungs can cause pneumonitis or even fatal edema, excitement, ataxia. Loss of muscular coordination, hypothermia, central nervous system and respiratory depression, and headache. Prevent repeated or prolonged skin contact.'
I apologize for the amount of reading and the complicated names but I do not apologize for post this on my blog.
This subject has widespread implications to the health of some people and it is always a dangerous thing to fight corporates - especially with the financial backing that they have.
The chemical companies protect themselves by not stating the content of their fragrances because their recipe is secret and commercially confidential.
These chemicals are harmful enough but they are mixed as well and who knows what those combinations do?
So I will continue.
