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Senior News January, 2003 Vol. 22. No. 1
Published by the Humboldt Senior Resource Center in Eureka, California. HSRC is a non-profit community-based organization offering services for senior citizens, multi-generational families and caregivers.
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Humboldt Senior Resource Center Back issues Table of Contents
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What is community health? Fragrances in public places-a challenge for some by Barbara Clark I've known for years that I had physical reactions to odors of perfume and other household products, but didn't realize it could be life-threatening until last summer. When I stayed in the dorm for a class at Graduate Theological Union Berkeley, I slept in an old building with fresh sweet-smelling bedding-fragranced by one of those dryer sheets. The second night I awoke at 2 a.m. hardly able to breathe. I got away from the sheets and gradually my airways cleared. Whenever I go out in public now, I have to think first about fragranced products and how a simple hug from a friend at church can practically knock me out. I have gone to HSU's Van Duzer and found myself stuck in an audience where people have dressed up for the evening - men and women both - emitting clouds of fresh after shave or perfume behind or next to me. I sat there breathing through my scarf or sweater, creating a mask to be able to stay. Now I have to carry my own hand soap for public bathrooms because I can't use anything that is offered. Multiple Chemical Sensitivity is the name of the problem that thousands of us suffer. The introduction to a 2001 book by Gail McCormick called Living with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity explains the challenge this way: "Most people understand traditional allergies that bring intolerances to pollens, dust, animals and foods. Yet, the medical profession and the general public remain for the most part unaware of and unable to empathize with the inability to tolerate the products of industrialism that characterize Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS). Pesticides, petrochemicals, fragrances, cleaning products, new carpet and other substances laden with volatile organics are in use everywhere and pose varying degrees of threat to those with MCS." Dr. Pamela Gibson who wrote the introduction, an MCS researcher from James Madison University, continues, "Survival with MCS demands a clean environment, something that has vanished in a culture that is constructed by, protects and benefits the dominant few.... Those who deviate in any way ... are marginalized to the extent that they are perceived as a threat to the economic and social status quo." One fact to understand is that fragrance ingredients are considered trade secrets of private companies. As such, the companies do not have to release the list of contents for independent testing. So products will be introduced and remain on the market for years before ever being tested by anyone but the manufacturer. Congressional bill HR 1947 has been introduced to require lists on fragranced products of all known toxins or allergens, but it is not going anywhere. In one article I can barely scratch the surface of the fragrance products issue, and I leave it in readers' hands to investigate further. What could we as a community do about something as vague and as pervasive as this that would create a safe public and private environment? Some work and public places have banned fragrance products. The book, Living with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (616.07 McCormick) is available from the Humboldt County Library-or will be as soon as I return it. You can put in a hold request for this book in the catalog at www.humlib.org. Barbara Clark is editor of Senior News. Thank you for not wearing perfume, cologne or after shave when you come to our offices! Her e-mail is srnews@northcoast.com. Resources http://www.AAEM.com American Academy of Environmental Medicine. http://ciin.org Chemical Injury Information Network maintains a list of MCS support groups, attorneys in chemical injury cases and a roster of physicians. Interesting MCS history at http://ciin.org/what.htm. Membership includes subscription to Our Toxic Times monthly newsletter. http://www.ehcd.com Environmental Health Center is an MCS treatment center in Dallas, Texas. Resource guide: Less Toxic Alternatives. http://www.fpinva.org Fragrance Products Information Network, celebrating its 5th year. Old site has good info too: www.ameliaww. com/fpin. You can download a brochure that covers a number of studies about MCS, or come get a copy at the Senior News office. http://www.mcshealthenviron.org MCS Health and Environment membership includes a subscription to Canary News, a quarterly newsletter that offers resources. http://www.mcsrr.org MCS Referral & Resources Inc. focuses on recognition, prevention and research of MCS and carbon monoxide disorders. http://www.nottoopretty.org Discusses phtalates, affirmed by Cosmetics Ingredients Review Panel in US products in November, just days after European Commission decided to order companies to remove the two worst phthalates from cosmetics because the chemicals are considered to be reproductive toxins under European Union law. http://www.sharecareprayer.org Share, Care and Prayer is a nonprofit Christian organization encouraging educating and equipping the environmentally sensitive. Link to a Bare Basics Diary to identify and relieve symptoms of MCS. |
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