Mr. Asthma

Question:

>Many perfumes have isocynates in them.  This class of chemicals are >what is known as sensitizers as they  can provoke a chronic allergic >response in non atopic people.

HI Colin, I found this statement very interesting. Do you have an source of documentation that perfumes contain isocyanates? I collect all the information I can on perfumes and that tidbit would be very interesting. Betty For information on the chemicals contained in fragrances and the health effects of fragrances visit: http://pw1.netcom.com/~bcb56/fpin.htm

Response:

Has anyone else out there contracted asthma from chemical exposure >and had a slew of other problems accompany it? Have you had any luck with >getting rid of it? I have been able to control the asthma through inhalers >(azmacort, tylaide, and ventolin) but my ability to concentrate and >memorize is horrible.   Thanks. >Kevin

Yes, many others have problems similar to what you describe. Getting rid of it mainly consists of avoiding the things that trigger it and that is often difficult. Do any of these things sound familiar? Going out the "in" lane in a shopping center. Forgetting where to turn. Not remembering if you actually did something or only thought about doing it. Some other not so fun symptoms after an exposure: Incredible fatigue Irritability Muscle/joint aches like catching the flu While the asthma medusa suppress the respiratory symptoms, they do little for the other things. Olfactory pathways provide a pretty direct connection to the brain that bypasses blood brain barriers. I fully believe my brain has allergy symptoms just like my lungs do. Once you are sensitized to a substance you react to incredibly low amounts of the substance. Levels that no one else is aware of. If you need information on diisocyanates which were probably one of the things you were exposed to in auto body work, I have quite a bit of info. Betty Bridges For information on the chemicals contained in fragrances and the health effects of fragrances visit: http://pw1.netcom.com/~bcb56/fpin.htm

Response:

I was wondering if anyone else out there has experienced this. I was a vehicle autobody mechanic (used plastic fillers and painted) in the military. Within weeks of being in this new career I started having breathing problems and chest pains, memory loss, etc. Adventually it turned into full blown asthma and I started forgeting chunks of time (like driving home after work). To make a long story short the military had provided inadequate respirators and I was basically unitensionally getting high off the chemicals. Adventually was medically discharged. Apparently I had a heightened sensitivity to the Isocyanates (paint hardener) in the paints. Now despite still having asthma problems my memory is better but not perfect (memorization is difficult and somewhat quirky). Oh yes, and perfumes make me wheez and give me headaches and I get sick more often than I use to. I had none of these problems prior to my exposure, heck I even graduated from high school Cum Laude and now can barely maintain a 2.0 in college. Has anyone else out there contracted asthma from chemical exposure and had a slew of other problems accompany it? Have you had any luck with getting rid of it? I have been able to control the asthma through inhalers (azmacort, tylaide, and ventolin) but my ability to concentrate and memorize is horrible.   Thanks. Kevin

Response:

>Now despite still having asthma problems my memory is better but not >perfect (memorization is difficult and somewhat quirky). Oh yes, and >perfumes make me wheez and give me headaches and I get sick more often than >I use to. I had none of these problems prior to my exposure, heck I even >graduated from high school Cum Laude and now can barely maintain a 2.0 in >college. Has anyone else out there contracted asthma from chemical exposure >and had a slew of other problems accompany it? Have you had any luck with >getting rid of it? I have been able to control the asthma through inhalers >(azmacort, tylaide, and ventolin) but my ability to concentrate and >memorize is horrible.   Thanks.

Many perfumes have isocynates in them.  This class of chemicals are what is known as sensitizers as they  can provoke a chronic allergic response in non atopic people. However there appears to be no evidence that they have a long term effect on mental function.  (Of course, if you were exposed to isocynates then you were probably exposed to other chemicals, which may or may not account for your memory problems). BTW, I am a senior NCO and I have a really tough time getting the troops to use the safety equipment they are issued.  (I have watched soldiers stick bare hands into solvent tanks). Maybe if you had an NCO who was a real SOB and 1) made sure proper safety equipment was available and 2) that you used it.  Then this wouldn’t have happened.  People in the military tend to take a casual approach to safety.  We need to teach ourselves that we are supposed to take the necessary risks, but not the unnecessary risks.

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