Mr. Asthma

Question:

>I’ve printed out your message—to show far and wide.  You forgot to >mention the ladies rest rooms that REEK of cleaning compounds–all >smelling like lilacs or roses.  The nicest department store in the >town where I live, has a rest room that is so over powering—well, I >try to hold my breath, but I can’t last that long!  Its awful.  Can’t >we band together to send warnings to some of these places?  Alone, I >sound like just another whiney female.  Any ideas?  

It is probably not the cleaning compounds that you smell rather is the air freshening system that reeks.  Notice if there is a nice little rectangular box some where on the wall close to the ceiling.   File a complaint with the manager both written and verbal.  Get her/his bosses’s address and send a copy to him/her.  Also send a copy to the company headquarters. Encourage anyone else that is bothered to do the same.  If it effects their business enough they will make changes.  A simple exhaust fan would help much more than the "air fresheners" that do anything but make the air fresh. And you are right I did forget to mention them.  It is so rare for me to go out in a public area such as a store or mall that I did not think of them.  I usually can’t get past the front door where all the perfumes are. If anyone is interested in participating in the survey I am doing on perfumes you can get a copy by e-mailing me or sending a message to: In the message area put: get Allergy QPerfume Please send the responses back to me and not to the allergy list. Betty Bridges

Response:

I’ve printed out your message—to show far and wide.  You forgot to mention the ladies rest rooms that REEK of cleaning compounds–all smelling like lilacs or roses.  The nicest department store in the town where I live, has a rest room that is so over powering—well, I try to hold my breath, but I can’t last that long!  Its awful.  Can’t we band together to send warnings to some of these places?  Alone, I sound like just another whiney female.  Any ideas?   Jane R.

Response:

>   You forgot to > mention the ladies rest rooms that REEK of cleaning compounds–all > smelling like lilacs or roses.  

I have no solutions, but I want to say that women are not alone with this problem–all too many men’s rooms have the same odors (and often worse).

Response:

> I have, or rather my father had, a deadly reaction to perfume worn by a >nurse in a hospital.  I am concerned that those who experience the >effects of asthma know that a hospital is potentially the most dangerous >place you might find yourself.  After the nurse there were a series of >moves in the hospital that anyone who actually knows even the least >amount about asthma would have known to do otherwise.  Any technical >information you know of that I can research? thanks, take care.  B.

There definitely needs to be a massive education of the medical system.  As more and more people are becoming sensitive to perfumes and synthetic fragraces it is a real issue.   I frankly do not understand the wearing of fragrances and fragranced products by staff in a medical facility.  I am a RN.  In the late 70’s when I was in training we were told that you did not wear fragrances to work.  The reasons given were that people that are ill are much more sensitive to odors and it can cause nausea, that it often caused problems for respiratory patients, and it simply was not appropriate. Some of the worse reactions to perfumes I have had has been in medical facilities because of perfume staff had on.  The most recent being when I sought medical attention because of persistant chest tighness and shortness of breath that had lasted over a week (triggered by a perfume exposure).  The Nurse Practitioner that saw me had on perfume and subsequently I had a severe reaction with peak flows dropping below 100.  I was pretty scared.  The doctor was on vacation and the NP was the person in charge.  Luckily for me a breathing treatment worked. The same medical facilities that ban cigarettes allow their staff to wear perfume and cologne.  WAKE UP!!!!  Many of the chemicals are the same.  Fragrance chemicals are used in cigarettes to enhance the flavor.  Acetaldehyde, acrolein, and cyanide compounds are both in cigarettes and fragrances.  Some scientists think more harm results from the additives in cigarettes than the tobacco. (This is not an endorsement of tobacco) It is time that those of us that are effected become vocal about this. It is bad enough to be ill with out being further exposed to perfumes and irritants by medical care providers.  There needs to be a massive education campaign.  Perfumes and fragrances are not harmless extractions from flowers.  Follows is a bit of information on perfumes. I have reputable sources for this information if anyone needs it. 85-90% of the ingredients in perfumes are synthetic compounds.  One fragrance formula may have over 300 different chemicals in it.  There is no required safety testing or regulation of fragrances.  All that has to be put on the label is the word "fragrance".  There are over 5000 chemicals used in the fragrance industry.  A high percentage of them being aldehydes (same family as formaldehyde) and solvents.  The fragrance industry is very secretive and no matter how ill a fragrance makes you they will give no information on it’s contents.  The major of of the MSDS sheets I have read on chemicals used in perfumes say the fumes are irritating to breathe.  Some are listed as having neurotoxic effects and some such as acetaldehyde have narcotic effects and are possible carcinogens. And for those of you that think, "well the quantities are so small in perfumes what harm could they do?"  Probably not a lot if you were exposed to only one or two fragranced products.  But think about it. Soap, shampoo, deodorant, hairspray, lotions, detergent, and fabric softener are products many people use daily.  In an office of twenty there would be exposure to over a hundred different fragranced products.  Just about every household product and personal care product has "fragrance" in it.  And the stuff lingers so there is a buildup in the air.  Fragrance use has increased drastically, so has asthma.  Is there a connection?  Strictly personal opinion here.  I think there is a big connection. I will step off my sopabox now.  Sorry for the length of this.  Anyone interested in participating in a survey on fragrances please contact me. Betty Bridges

Response: